Scientists at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences are spearheading a groundbreaking initiative aimed at revolutionizing our understanding of the ocean’s enigmatic midwater realm. This ambitious project received a substantial funding boost of $2.2 million over three years from the Ocean Shot Research Grant Program, funded by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation’s Ocean Policy Research Institute with support from the Nippon Foundation. Combining cutting-edge imaging technology with advanced underwater robotics, the team seeks to uncover and characterize elusive gelatinous and other exotic marine animals that inhabit the deep sea’s vast, largely unexplored territory.
This collaborative effort brings together a multidisciplinary group of specialists from six premier institutions, including Harvard University, the University of Rhode Island, Baruch College, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), and Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology. Their collective expertise spans underwater imaging, robotics, taxonomy, and genomic sequencing, uniting to develop innovative tools that enhance the precision and efficiency of marine species identification and classification in their natural environment. This initiative promises to push the boundaries of oceanographic research by capturing unprecedented levels of detail on the behavior, morphology, and genetic makeup of fragile midwater organisms.
At the heart of this endeavor is the application and continual refinement of a multi-pronged approach initially presented in a 2023 publication in Science Advances. That study detailed the first deployment of the team’s innovative methodology during a 2021 expedition off the coast of San Diego. By integrating high-resolution 3D imaging with non-destructive sampling techniques, researchers could observe and collect genetic material from gelatinous animals without compromising their structural integrity. John Burns, the lead scientist at Bigelow Laboratory, envisions this approach as a paradigm shift that will enable exploration and discovery in a portion of the ocean that has traditionally remained out of reach for scientists.
More than a technological leap, the project represents an evolution in biological exploration. The team is redesigning an origami-inspired robotic encapsulation device equipped with a biopsy mechanism modeled after the mantis shrimp’s unique biology. This tool is capable of gently enclosing soft-bodied organisms in a protective chamber and extracting tissue samples without harm, enabling “catch and release” procedures that preserve live specimens while gathering critical genetic data. This non-invasive sampling technique addresses longstanding challenges associated with studying delicate deep-sea fauna, where conventional collection methods risk destruction or contamination.
Equally transformative is the integration of advanced data processing pipelines and artificial intelligence into the workflow. Complex multidimensional imaging datasets generated during expeditions require sophisticated algorithms for analysis and interpretation. The team is engineering AI-driven tools designed to automatically identify and classify imaged organisms, drastically reducing the time and labor traditionally required for taxonomic work. Furthermore, the development of a novel shadowgraph imaging system allows the capture of internal anatomical features using light and shadow contrast, a technique providing vital taxonomic information that complement external morphology.
The project’s next phase includes field deployments to under-investigated regions such as the South Atlantic and Southern Oceans. These midwater habitats have long been neglected due to technical and logistical obstacles, but they are believed to harbor a multitude of undocumented species. By venturing into these unexplored zones, the scientists anticipate the discovery of numerous novel organisms, thereby enriching global marine biodiversity catalogs and expanding foundational knowledge about midwater ecosystems.
In addition, the team plans to form synergies with other international groups funded by the Ocean Shot initiative, including research consortia in Australia, Japan, and other parts of the United States. While their partners focus on direct morphological and behavioral studies aboard research vessels, the Bigelow-led group concentrates on underwater digitization and high-fidelity reconstructions of marine life, offering complementary perspectives. This holistic approach magnifies the collective capacity to tackle the complexity of midwater biodiversity and supports the establishment of robust, multidimensional taxonomic frameworks.
This visionary project embodies the very spirit and ambition of the Ocean Shot Research Grant Program, which seeks to catalyze transformative ocean exploration by assembling leading experts and fostering innovative technologies and methodologies. John Burns emphasizes that such funding not only accelerates discovery but also empowers scientists to venture into previously inaccessible areas, using novel tools that generate rich datasets integral for advancing marine science.
The implications of this work extend beyond academic curiosity. By enabling accurate, high-throughput species identification and non-destructive genetic sampling, the project lays the groundwork for improved conservation strategies and a deeper understanding of how midwater organisms interact within their ecosystems. The unprecedented resolution of behavioral and structural analyses made possible by the imaging and robotics components will likely yield insights into biological processes crucial for sustaining ocean health.
Attending the One Ocean Science Congress at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, will allow Burns and colleagues to share preliminary progress, exchange ideas with peers, and solidify partnerships critical for the project’s success. There, the assembly of researchers and policymakers underscores the global recognition of the ocean’s midwater zone as a frontier ripe for exploration and discovery, demanding innovative scientific inquiry and international cooperation.
In conclusion, the blend of sophisticated robotics, advanced imaging, AI-powered data analytics, and genetic sequencing at the core of this initiative signals a new era for oceanographic research. This transformative methodology not only enables scientists to observe and catalogue marine life in situ with unprecedented detail but also preserves specimens for extended genetic and ecological analyses. With forthcoming expeditions poised to explore uncharted ocean depths, this project is on course to substantially enrich our understanding of biodiversity and the intricate dynamics of the world’s oceans.
Subject of Research: Advanced ocean exploration technologies for discovering and characterizing midwater marine species.
Article Title: Unlocking the Ocean’s Midwater Mysteries: Robotics and Imaging Reveal Hidden Marine Biodiversity
News Publication Date: 2024
Web References:
- Ocean Shot Research Grant Program: https://www.spf.org/opri/en/projects/oceanshot.html
- Original multi-prong approach publication: https://www.bigelow.org/news/articles/2024-01-17.html
- Designing the Future project: https://schmidtocean.org/cruise/designing-the-future-2/
Image Credits: Brennan Phillips, University of Rhode Island
Keywords: Marine biology, Robotics, Imaging, Technology, DNA sequencing, Taxonomies
