Research on monitoring | SeadragonSearch

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Science works in a way that builds and improves upon previous efforts. It’s helpful to see this journey through time, and understand how knowledge grows. All of this work on individual monitoring led up to the launch of SeadragonSearch.

2002

Connelly et al. tracked the abundance and movement of individual leafy seadragons at West Island, Fleurieu Peninsula, for 14 months using facial markings.
Connelly et al. used ultrasonic tags on adult leafy seadragons for 10 days at West Island and determined most animals had relatively small home ranges

2004

Sanchez-Camara & Booth used both fluorescent elastomer paint injected under the skin and a combination of natural markings to track individuals of weedy seadragons from three sites in around Sydney for 12 months; they also found restricted home ranges for this species

2006

Forsgren & Lowe showed that that spot patterns stabilized at 6-7 months and that females could produce more than one clutch per season.

2011

Martin-Smith utilised spot pattern recognition software to identify individuals for 18 months at two sites near Hobart; populations were relatively stable, with two consecutive broods recorded from one individual, and a revised maximum estimate for life spans at over 10 years.

2020

Baker used citizen science images to carry out manual facial marking matching at Rapid Bay, SA, in a non-peer-reviewed report, and suggested leafy seadragons may live at least 7 years, and have up to two broods per reproductive season.
Launch of SeadragonSearch, using artificial intelligence-assisted pattern recognition of seadragons across their whole geographic range, using community science images

Updates

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