Clement Taffin’s Post

It's always amazing to see the outcome of the samples we ran in the lab, especially when you can find new and unexpected results! Such a great project. For a video version, see the link below. #eDNA #Kelp #MarineBiodiversity #Science

How eDNA led us to discover an ancient species never before recorded in South African kelp forests Our collaboration with the Kelp Forest Foundation sets a new standard for understanding what a pristine, healthy kelp forest should look like. Working closely with their team, our eDNA technology produced a comprehensive baseline including 880 species. One of which was a Placozoa species previously undiscovered in South African kelp forests. Our water sampling kits are easy to use and completely non-invasive, making sampling in the remote Falkland Islands' kelp forests possible while the animals within the ecosystem remain undisturbed. Want to see how eDNA can help you manage your coastline and protect these vital ecosystems? Download our free Coastal Ecosystem Management Guide to learn actionable strategies: ➡ How eDNA establishes comprehensive biodiversity baselines to inform planning ➡ Real-world case studies demonstrating eDNA impact across vital habitats ➡ Actionable frameworks for tracking restoration outcomes over time for adaptive management ➡ Models for participatory monitoring to engage local communities ➡ https://lnkd.in/egnkuUyh

🌿 New study discovers never-before-seen species in the Great African Seaforest! Here's why we're excited about it: 🧬 Using the novel approach of eDNA Metabarcoding, a recent team of scientists explored South Africa’s kelp forests, detecting 880 species, including a few never before discovered. 🧬 At the Kelp Forest Foundation, we recently funded a study led by Dr. Narissa Bax. Dr. Bax collected eDNA water samples from the kelp forests in the Falkland Islands, one of the world’s most pristine and untouched kelp forests, without disturbing animals within the ecosystem. 🧬 Dive deeper into the study, and our work at the Falkland Islands with Narissa Bax and NatureMetrics below. Study: Detecting kelp-forest-associated metazoan biodiversity with eDNA metabarcoding. February, 2024. Emma I. Rossouw, Jannes Landschoff, Andrew Ndhlovu, Götz Neef, Masaki Miya, Kira-Lee Courtaillac, Rouane Brokensha & Sophie von der Heyden Help us in our mission to support kelp forests, the home to thousands of species in our marine ecosystems worldwide, through funding groundbreaking research: https://lnkd.in/ez5nRaNW #MarineBiodiversity #eDNA #BlueCarbon #UnlockingThePowerOfKelp #Kelp #Restoration

Over the next few days, Team BayWatch will be working day and night on the videos we have taken in the Saltö area. These underwater videos show various species of fish, so to understand which is which, we created a key to differentiate between the most common ones. Here are some of the fish species we have successfully identified on video so far: Common Bleak Couch's Goby Goldsinny Wrasse Three-Spined Stickleback Atlantic Cod (Juvenile) Our research is focused on understanding fish community composition and abundance, and how they are influenced by seafloor habitat characteristics. We are studying the differences in fish biodiversity between seagrass meadows and macroalgae beds by deploying cameras in selected habitats for one hour each. Stay tuned for more updates on our findings and insights! #MarineScience #FishIdentification #Biodiversity #OceanResearch #IMBRSea #TjärnöResearch

🌱 Biotope Environnement, a key player in the European Life DUNIAS project! The Life DUNIAS project (DUNe restoration by tackling Invasive Alien Species) has an ambitious goal: to restore the dune ecosystems along the Flemish coast by combating invasive alien species, which threaten local biodiversity. 👉 Following extensive mapping of invasive species along the entire Belgian coastline, a large-scale effort has been launched to remove them. From precise manual control to the excavation of large areas, every measure is being taken to give native pioneer plants a chance to thrive again. 💪 This is where Biotope Environnement steps in! Our team of botanists ensures the success of this restoration through their rigorous monitoring efforts. Armed with expertise, they traverse the dunes from Ostend to the Zwin, mapping every regrowth of invasive species. This data enables site managers to adjust their actions and optimize results. ✨ Looking ahead to 2025 and 2026! Biotope Environnement will continue its work, monitoring potential regrowth to secure the long-term sustainability of this unique ecosystem until the entire coastline is restored and under control. 🌊 Working in the dunes, with the fresh sea breeze... Few environments are as inspiring for contributing to the preservation of our natural heritage. #Biodiversity #Ecology #EcosystemRestoration #LifeDunias #BiotopeEnvironnement #SustainableEcosystems

In the hidden wetlands of the Southeast, finding Spotted Turtles can feel like chasing ghosts. In this month's Science of Scales, Houston discusses our recent publication that dives into the mystery surrounding these elusive turtles. Across multiple years and numerous survey sites, we ventured into vast swamps where sightings were scarce and the search was often daunting. Despite the challenges, our research sheds light on Spotted Turtle habitats and offers essential insights for their conservation in these fragmented southeastern ecosystems. Read more about the Ghosts of the Swamp: https://lnkd.in/eF9Zfx4V Science of Scales is a monthly blog written by our Director of Science, Houston Chandler. The blog is written for a general audience and features articles on a variety of topics, including the latest in herpetofaunal conservation research, highlights of The Orianne Society’s ongoing projects, and discussions of important ecosystems and species. #OrianneSociety #science #turtle #spottedturtle #clemmysguttata #turtleconservation #wildlifeconservation

A scientific expedition in Peru’s Alto Mayo region has revealed 27 new species, including an amphibious mouse with webbed feet and a "blob-headed" fish. The findings highlight the importance of combining scientific research with indigenous knowledge to protect these unique ecosystems and the species they contain. Click to know more: https://lnkd.in/gNXzwYHv #urbananews #canada #usa #breakingnews #newsupdate #discovery #scienceexpedition #newspecies #perunature #biodiversity #wildlifeconservation #environmentalprotection #indigenousknowledge #sustainability #peruvianrainforest #altoayo #ecologicalresearch #naturelovers #wildlifediscovery #scientificbreakthrough

Super excited to share our latest #openaccess research on shellfish reef restoration in southern Australia! 🌊🐟 📹 Leveraging AI technology (FishID), our study, published in Journal of Applied Ecology, reveals the significant potential of restored reefs to enhance fish productivity. By comparing newly recruited juvenile fish densities on restored reefs vs. unstructured habitats, we found an average enhancement of 6,186 kg/ha/year, with commercially and recreationally harvested species contributing 98% of this production. The results vary among locations, with one location showing a record-breaking enhancement of 12,738 kg/ha/year! 🐟 🐟 🐟 This study underscores the importance of investing in shellfish reef restoration for enhancing fish populations, communities and marine conservation, and highlights the power of AI in environmental research. Read the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/gVKnBrgt Rod Connolly, Michael Sievers, Ryan Baring, Craig Sherman, Jasmine Rasmussen, Francisco Martínez Baena, Brad Martin, César Herrera, Christopher Brown, Christina A Buelow, Kristin A Jinks, Sebastian Lopez-Marcano The Nature Conservancy Asia Pacific, Griffith University, Global Wetlands Project, Flinders University #MarineConservation #ShellfishReefRestoration #AIinConservation #RestorationGeneration

Recent surveys in Freycinet and Huon Marine Parks using BRUV and ROV technologies have uncovered fascinating insights into the fish biodiversity across habitats like Joe’s Reef and the shelf-break reefs. The surveys have significantly improved the understanding of the benthic and demersal fish (those living on or near the ocean floor) in these waters, particularly on rocky reefs in the low-light mesophotic (around 30m to 70m) and rariphotic (around 70m to 200m) zones. Species like jackass morwong, striped trumpeter, and rock lobsters are thriving in these rich marine environments. With rocky, complex habitats supporting greater fish diversity, this research sets a solid foundation for future research efforts and helps track changes in these precious ecosystems. Paper title: Fish assemblages on the continental shelves of Freycinet and Huon Marine Parks: Insights from stereo BRUV and ROV surveys #greatsouthernreef

I'm thrilled to share that our new article "Estimating the spatial distribution of the white shark in the Mediterranean Sea via an Integrated Species Distribution Model accounting for physical barriers" has been published in Environmetrics!   In this study, we developed an integrated species distribution model to estimate the white shark's spatial distribution in the Mediterranean Sea while considering physical barriers. This new approach helps us better understand the preferred habitats of this rare species and identify critical areas for its conservation.   A big thank you to the whole team, especially Stefano Moro, and everyone else who contributed to this project!   The article can be found here: https://lnkd.in/dfU42-76 #Conservation #WhiteSharks #MediterraneanSea #Environmetrics #SpeciesDistributionModel