It is hoped the breakthrough will make it easier to protect biodiversity, replenish wildlife and safeguard public health.
A new study published in Environmental DNA looks at the impact a pioneering AI technology developed at the University of Birmingham can have on analysis of fresh water bodies in the UK.
Looking at 52 lakes across the country, the system was able to efficiently and effectively sort through highly complex data sets to determine patterns between pollution type presence and nature loss. The results show insecticides and fungicides have the most devastating impact, alongside another 43 physico-chemical factors including heavy metals and alkalinity.
‘Up until now, DNA-based methods have been used to estimate changes in indicator species, or species groups (e.g. diatoms), but have tended to focus on individual environmental factors like temperature or pH, overlooking the complex interaction between biodiversity and environmental change,’ said Dr Niamh Eastwood, the study’s lead author.
‘This narrow approach is now insufficient to address the complexities of a world facing multiple stressors and rapidly emerging threats to water and wildlife,’ added Eastwood. ‘The results from our study highlighted the severe impact that insecticides and fungicides from agricultural runoff have on aquatic ecosystems. It is clear that these chemicals are harming many more species than those which they are intended for, which makes them of great concern.’
Continued investigations in this area could help to produce stronger, more effective measures to protect biodiversity and ecosystems, based on solid data and historic patterns rather than observations susceptible to changing conditions.
‘This study utilises advanced statistical learning to integrate complex multimodal datasets, showcasing how AI-powered approaches can revolutionise environmental science,’ said Dr. Zhou, senior author of the study. ‘By enabling the prioritisation of species for conservation and identifying the chemicals most harmful to biodiversity, this approach opens new pathways for protecting our natural world. This breakthrough showcases how cutting-edge technology can drive practical solutions in conservation and environmental protection, setting the stage for a healthier, more sustainable planet.’
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