More and more experiments around the world are showing that artificial intelligence can help prevent species extinction. Because technology can be used to gain new insights into animals and ecosystems.
Artificial intelligence now seems omnipresent. Because more and more apps contain AI algorithms that promise to increase efficiency. But when it comes to environmental protection, governments and environmentalists are increasingly using AI tools to better understand ecosystems. Some applications could even prevent species extinction.
Through the targeted analysis of videos, images and sounds, AI can already analyze the behavior of animal and plant species. The data provides information about specific ecosystems and the occurrence and social behavior of certain species.
This can enable early detection of negative influences. Studies even show that AI applications can play a supporting role in 79 percent of our sustainability goals.
AI analyzes ecosystems in the fight against species extinction
An example is the BirdNet app. This is a project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the University of Chemnitz. The app uses AI to identify birds based on their calls. Artificial intelligence now recognizes the songs of around 6,000 bird species. This enables a detailed inventory of populations and their interactions within an ecosystem.
The birds' unique calls are not only used for communication, but also to warn of predators. By analyzing the noises, important conclusions can be drawn about the living conditions and potential threats to the bird species. This is an important development at a time when 20 percent of European animal and plant species are threatened with extinction.
AI tracks reproduction of endangered species
In addition to ornithology, AI is also used in the study of aquatic ecosystems. The Fraunhofer Institute uses AI to document the spawning path of sea trout. This is because several forms (brook, lake and sea trout) are now considered endangered.
By analyzing video material, artificial intelligence can answer questions that were previously difficult to answer. One example is the influence of dams and hydroelectric power plants on fish migration routes. The examples illustrate the extent to which AI technologies open up new possibilities in the area of species protection.
Such systems provide a more comprehensive overview of biodiversity and show the complex interactions in natural habitats.
Automated data evaluation makes it possible to process huge amounts of data efficiently and thus gain valuable insights for the protection of endangered species. In this way, AI makes a decisive contribution to overcoming the global biodiversity crisis.
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Source: https://www.basicthinking.de/blog/2024/04/03/ki-artensterben/
