In the face of increased human pressures and climate change, a team of Australian scientists led by Dr Georgina Wood at Flinders University have launched a new online tool to assist marine managers and restoration experts to bolster the resilience of marine habitat-forming species.
The ‘Reef Adapt’ initiative, developed by experts from the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (NSW DPIRD), Flinders University and The University of Western Australia (UWA), aims to expand the tools available to promote diverse, adaptable and resilient ecosystems.
Described in a new article in Communications Biology, Reef Adapt harnesses genetic data from diverse marine species – including key reef-building corals and habitat-forming kelps, but with scope to expand to other taxa – to map out areas likely to harbour populations adapted to current and future environmental conditions.
The innovative web platform is designed for the rapid inclusion of genetic, biophysical and environmental data into planning of marine restoration and assisted conservation initiatives.
The tool provides users with maps that identify areas with populations suited to their specific restoration sites under current and future climate scenarios. The platform will initially house data for 27 species collected from 420 sample locations across the globe. Users will also be able to upload their own data to the site, further supporting the conservation of other species and areas.
Credit
Photo courtesy John Turnbull
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