AI-Powered Incubator Enhances Understanding of Ocean Carbon Dynamics

The intricate processes occurring in the ocean’s depths hold the key to understanding how carbon is cycled on our planet. Microscopic marine organisms, vital to maintaining Earth’s carbon balance, have long been difficult to examine due to the challenging nature of their environment. A new tool promises to overcome these hurdles, offering scientists the ability to replicate oceanic conditions with remarkable precision, and uncover the hidden mechanisms that drive the global carbon cycle.

Researchers have developed a groundbreaking device called the AI-Light Spectrum Replicator (LSR) to revolutionize the study of marine primary productivity, which plays a critical role in the global carbon cycle. This innovative incubator, created by a team led by Professor Staša Puškarić from Rochester Institute of Technology, Croatia, along with collaborators Dr. Mateo Sokač from Aarhus University, Dr. Živana Ninčević and Heliodor Prelesnik from the Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Croatia, and Dr. Knut Børsheim from the Institute of Marine Research, Norway, utilizes advanced AI algorithms to replicate the in situ light spectrum found in the ocean, allowing for more accurate and rapid measurements of carbon uptake by marine phytoplankton. The work detailing the development and testing of the LSR was recently published in the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering.

The LSR represents a significant advancement over traditional methods used to study primary productivity, which often struggle to accurately replicate the complex light environments of the ocean. According to Professor Puškarić, “The primary motivation behind the LSR was to address the limitations of existing incubators, which cannot replicate the rapid variations in light that occur in natural settings. Our system enables precise control over the light spectrum and temperature, allowing researchers to study carbon fluxes with unprecedented accuracy.” The work is seen as a vital step in better understanding the processes that govern carbon fluxes from the atmosphere to the deep ocean, a key factor in climate regulation.

The LSR uses a combination of LED technology and AI-driven algorithms to precisely mimic the light conditions at various ocean depths. The system features twelve channels of full-spectrum LEDs, which can be individually adjusted to match the irradiance measured at different depths. This capability is critical for accurately simulating the natural light conditions that marine phytoplankton experience, which in turn allows for more reliable measurements of their photosynthetic activity. Professor Puškarić and his team tested the LSR in the Adriatic Sea, comparing its performance to traditional in situ methods. The results showed a strong correlation between the two, confirming the LSR’s effectiveness.

One of the most innovative aspects of the LSR is its use of AI to optimize the light spectrum replication process. The system employs a neural network trained on a database of light spectrum curves, which are then refined using a genetic algorithm to find the optimal configuration for each sample. This process ensures that the LSR can quickly and accurately replicate the desired light conditions, even compensating for the absence of certain wavelengths in the LED array. “The ability of the LSR to find the best-fitting light spectrum within just 10 minutes is a game-changer for primary productivity studies,” said Professor Puškarić. “This allows researchers to conduct experiments with a level of precision and efficiency that was previously unattainable.”

The LSR not only replicates natural light conditions but also addresses several challenges associated with traditional incubation methods, such as maintaining stable temperature and light intensity during experiments. The system’s design allows for short incubation periods, which is crucial for capturing rapid changes in carbon uptake that occur in response to fluctuating environmental conditions. Initial tests revealed that the LSR could produce highly accurate measurements that align closely with those obtained from traditional in situ incubations.

The potential applications of the LSR extend beyond just primary productivity studies. Its precise control over light conditions could be used to explore a wide range of oceanographic processes, including the effects of light on the production of dissolved organic carbon and the role of microbial communities in the carbon cycle. The research team is optimistic that the LSR will become an essential tool for marine scientists, providing new insights into the mechanisms that drive carbon sequestration in the ocean.

In summary, Professor Puškarić and his colleagues have developed the AI-Light Spectrum Replicator, representing a significant leap forward in the study of ocean primary productivity. By combining cutting-edge AI technology with innovative LED lighting systems, the LSR provides researchers with an unprecedented level of control over experimental conditions, paving the way for more accurate and efficient studies of carbon fluxes in the ocean.

Journal Reference

Puškarić, S., Sokač, M., Ninčević, Ž., Prelesnik, H., & Børsheim, K.Y. (2024). AI-Light Spectrum Replicator (LSR): A Novel Simulated In Situ Lab/On-Deck Incubator. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 12(2), 339. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12020339