Lead institution:
Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment – South Africa
Picture Perfect will use image analysis to analyse plankton samples from 20 – 5000 microns (phytoplankton, microzooplankton, mesozooplankton and macrozooplankton) for the duration of the Ocean Decade (2021 – 2030).
Microscopy has been used to identify these organisms with a recent move to scanning technology. Due to the biomass of organisms in the highly productively waters and the time consuming nature of the work, even scanning technology could only analyse a sub-sample. This project aims to move to image analysis using a rapid flow through system, machine learning and AI technology that will allow an entire sample to be analysed for routine monitoring. The outcome of the project will be a decade-long time-series for these critical groups in three different ocean basins around Africa, enhance our understanding in these smaller size classes, allow us to better achieve our national priorities, supplement SDG monitoring and contribute to the Ocean Decade Marine Life 2030 Programme.
Start date: 01/02/2023
End date: 31/12/2025
Lead Contact: Keshnee Pillay (kepillay@dffe.gov.za)