AMBIOS
AMBIOS
Autonomous Marine Biodiversity Mapping and Bioprospecting Platform
Highlights 2024
During 2024, our research focused on planning, and establishing technology for, the first AMBIOS case study in Trondheim harbor, where we used the research ship RV Gunnerus and a long-range autonomous underwater vehicle (L-AUV) for obtaining physiochemical, imaging, and water and sediment eDNA data. These data are used for mapping gradients (such as salinity and plankton abundance) and for biodiversity mapping and modelling of marine macro- and microfauna. Autonomous navigation along gradients has been conducted using a smaller ship in Southern Norway, and the aim is to integrate the technologies to form a combined autonomous mapping and bioprospecting platform by the end of the project. Another research focus has been on international agreements regulating genetic resources, and digital sequence information in particular, and how to transform research insights into actionable governance at local and national levels.
A highlight of 2024 was the successful expedition in September, which included setting up a suite of sensors and data collection strategies for sampling water and sediment at various depths and locations in the Trondheim fjord. Other highlights include a workshop at Hitra discussing legal, environmental and social aspects around the project, establishing PromethION nanopore sequencing for eDNA samples, and getting included in DLN activities e.g. via the annual conference.
The added value of being part of a transdisciplinary center lies in the integration of diverse expertise and perspectives, such as RRI and data management practices, enhancing the project's impact and broadening considerations around environmental and social effects. We also appreciate the value of an extended network for collaborative efforts, alongside assistance with communication and dissemination. We are looking forward to an exciting 2025!
Project overview
Project leads: Marius Eidsaa and Alexander Wentzel
Institution: SINTEF Industry
Partners:
- SINTEF Ocean
- NTNU
- NINA, Trondheim
- Hitra kommune
- Fridtjof Nansen Institute
- Biodiscovery AS
- Marine Technologies LLC
Funding: 20 MNOK from The Research Council of Norway
Duration: April 2023 – April 2027
Project website: www.sintef.no/ambios
Publications
About the project
The collaborative project AMBIOS will develop the world's first fully autonomous platform for multi-layer mapping of biodiversity in the marine space and validate it on selected cases in Mid-Norway. This will provide key contributions to sustainable bioresource management and value creation in the Norwegian blue bioeconomy.
Autonomous marine exploration, biodiversity mapping, and bioprospecting
The envisioned platform is centered around the consortium's unique access to marine research vessels and autonomous ships by NTNU and advisors at Telemark Teknologipark. NTNU's vessels will be equipped with a comprehensive package of analytical, data processing, and sampling infrastructure by project partners Biodiscovery and Marine Technologies that enables monitoring of micro- and macro-biodiversity from the sea surface to the benthic zone as the basis for autonomous marine exploration, biodiversity mapping, and bioprospecting.
The project will deliver:
- A system for continuous acquisition and automatic analysis of physical, chemical, and visual data of marine waters and the benthos from onboard autonomous marine vessels.
- An improved 3D biophysical model framework with self-learning capacity that features new layers of biodiversity data and connects to the navigation systems on marine research vessels for autonomous navigation to and along biological features of interest.
- New knowledge on patterns of variation of physical, chemical, micro- and macro-biodiversity data in Mid-Norwegian marine waters that provide unprecedented insight into marine biology and ecology.
- Impact assessment and communication of opportunities and consequences of AMBIOS as a future concept for marine exploration and monitoring, biodiversity mapping, and bioprospecting.