Sea Turtles Reveal Hidden Seagrass Meadows for Better Marine Conservation

Seagrass meadows, which serve as critical marine ecosystemsHave been mapped more accurately using satellite-tagged green turtles Compared to Conventional Satellite Imagery, According to a Study Published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B. These underwater habitats are vital for biodesity, carbon storage, and stabilising However, their mapping has reminded a challenge due to technological limitations. The research was conducted in the red sea, an area with limited seagrass data, as reported by marine ecologists from the king Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).

Tracking Green Turtles to Locate Seagrass

The study Involved the tagging of 53 Green Turtles (Chelonia Mydas) on Saudi Arabian Beaches in the Red Sea. LED by Dr. Hugo mann, marine ecologist at kaust, the reserchers equipped the turtles with satellite transmitters after their nesting cycles to avoid disrupties.

The devices transmitted location data whenever the turfaced for air, revealing consistent movement patterns over specific sites. These ares we identified as seagrass meadows, with 34 previously unrecorded patches being discovered.

Validation Efforts confirmed seagrass in all visited locations identified by turtles, while only 40% of sites flagged by the alleen coral atlas, a remote sensing tool, was verified. As stated by carlos duart, a Senior Marine Ecologist at Kaust, The Findings Highlights the Limitations of Existing Mapping Techniques for Underwater Habitats.

Environmental and conservation implications

Seagrass Meadows Contribute Significantly to Carbon Sequestration, Storing up to 4 teragrams of carbon, the study estimated. Dr. Mann Emphahsized The Necessity of identifying these ecosystems to enhance conservation strategies. Seagrass is Increasingly Threatened by Human Activities, Making Accure Mapping Crucial for Its Protection.

Dr. Jennifer dijkstra, a marine ecologist at the university of new hampshire, noted in the study’s fundings that Animal Tracking Cold IMPROVE Artificial Intelligence For Resource-Constrained regions.

The researchers hope the method will lead to large-scale surveys, aiding efforts to conserve bot seagrass habitats and the green turtles that depend on them.