Australian scientists have launched Reef Adapt, an online platform designed to enhance marine habitat restoration using genetic data. Developed by Flinders University and partners, this tool maps out climate-resilient marine species, offering a significant boost to conservation efforts.
In an ambitious bid to counteract the adverse effects of climate change and human activities on marine environments, Australian researchers have unveiled an innovative web tool called Reef Adapt. The platform is poised to revolutionize marine habitat restoration by equipping marine managers and restoration experts with essential genetic and environmental data.
Georgina Wood, an early career Australian research council fellow at Flinders University and adjunct research fellow at the University of Western Australia, leads the project alongside collaborators from the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (NSW DPIRD) and the University of Western Australia (UWA). The initiative aims to foster diverse, adaptable and resilient marine ecosystems through an accessible online interface.
Wood underscores the importance of incorporating cutting-edge science into restoration projects.
“Alongside the increase in scale of marine restoration projects, there is a need to ensure that restoration practices keep up with the latest available science, including the use of cutting-edge genomic information to make informed decisions about where to source restoration stock material,” she said in a news release.
Addressing Urgent Environmental Needs
The newly developed Reef Adapt tool uses extensive genetic data from key marine species, offering a comprehensive map that highlights areas with species suited for restoration under current and future climate conditions. Initially, data for 27 species from 420 global sample locations will be available, with provisions for users to upload additional data to expand its utility.
This approach reflects similar efforts in terrestrial ecosystems, such as the U.S. National Seed Strategy and Australia’s Florabank, but Reef Adapt is among the first of its kind for marine environments.
Melinda Coleman, senior principal research scientist at NSW DPIRD, emphasized the tool’s forward-looking capabilities.
“The revolutionary new Reef Adapt tool will use cutting-edge genomic data and seascape analyses to help marine managers, restoration practitioners and other stakeholders, including aquaculture, make informed decisions about where to source stock for restoration or aquaculture, as well as help select climate-proof stock that will withstand future ocean conditions,” said Coleman in the news release.
Transformative Potential
The impact of Reef Adapt could be monumental, as it supports the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to have 30% of degraded ecosystems under effective restoration by 2030. By simplifying access to essential data, the platform empowers government bodies, not-for-profit organizations and community groups to enhance the outcomes of both immediate and long-term marine restoration projects.
This tool has already seen substantial contributions, with nearly 10,000 reference data points collected from published population genetic literature and extensive environmental data and oceanographic models. Case studies involving species like staghorn coral (Acropora kentii), golden kelp (Ecklonia radiata) and crayweed (Phyllospora comosa) illustrate practical applications.
Wood will showcase the transformative potential of digital tools in marine restoration during the 10th Western Society of Naturalists’ annual meeting in Oregon, United States, this November.
For a more detailed look into their findings, the article is published in Communications Biology.