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(From the left) Dr Judy Wan, Conservation and Community Partnerships Manager of the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong, Dr Chen Xi, Research Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Howard Chuk, Foundation Director of the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong, Prof Cheung Siu-gin, Associate Professor of the Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, and Kevin Laurie, IUCN Horseshoe Crab Specialist Group, Programme Officer, Steering Committee Member and Species Conservation Planning Focal Point conducted the first horseshoe crab field data collection with unmanned aerial systems at Ha Pak Nai.
(Hong Kong, 19 June 2024) On 20 June we celebrate International Horseshoe Crab Day. Over the years, the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong (OPCFHK) has collaborated with various scientific research teams to employ technology in support of horseshoe crab conservation efforts in Hong Kong. To enhance the effectiveness of horseshoe crab population surveys, OPCFHK, joining forces with the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the Department of Chemistry at City University of Hong Kong (CityU), has successfully secured funding from the Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF) for the interdisciplinary research, aiming to enhance the efficiency of population surveys by applying fully autonomous unmanned aerial systems (UASs) and artificial intelligence technology for the identification of horseshoe crabs.
The research team recently carried out field data collection using the UASs for the first time at the Ha Pak Nai mudflat, one of the crucial breeding and nursing grounds for local horseshoe crabs. The long-run goal is to develop and train an artificial intelligence detection algorithm to recognise horseshoe crabs, enabling a more comprehensive assessment of the population's changing trends and timely implementation of conservation measures.
Current horseshoe crab population surveys, held at least quarterly, primarily involve conducting counts of all visible horseshoe crabs on the mudflats. However, such method often faces challenges posed by natural factors, such as the tides and adverse geographical conditions, as well as the probability of under-counting due to horseshoe crabs’ cryptic colouration, which often made them less recognisable in the mudflat environment. Not only could the application of UASs and artificial intelligence technology in relevant surveys aid in more accurate counting of horseshoe crabs, but it could also reduce disturbances to their habitats caused by surveyors walking through the mudflats during survey. Besides, the research team could be able to expand the number of survey spots through predefining survey scopes and drone routes, as well as concurrent operations of multiple drones. Additionally, challenging-to-access areas like coastal mangrove strands could be covered, providing more valuable data on the study of distribution of local horseshoe crab populations.
“The collaboration between OPCFHK and two local universities for this interdisciplinary research, utilising UASs and artificial intelligence technology to assist in horseshoe crab population survey operations, remarks a significant milestone for the local species conservation efforts. Data on the local horseshoe crab population, including species, abundance, age, habitat usage, and distribution, serve as crucial information for guiding species conservation efforts. The more information collected on the population structure of horseshoe crabs, the better the understanding of their status in their local habitats. OPCFHK and the research team of CUHK and CityU has recently successfully conducted the first field data collection using the UASs. Our goal is to continuously enhance the system's efficacy in identifying horseshoe crabs, enabling us to recommend the formulation of strategic species conservation plan on the local horseshoe crab population with more comprehensive and accurate habitat data,” said Howard Chuk, Foundation Director of OPCFHK.
During the first field data collection conducted at the Ha Pak Nai mudflat, OPCFHK and the research team simulated a manual population survey and employed a drone to capture images and videos of the marked horseshoe crabs at different heights. These horseshoe crab-imagery and videos will be later analysed by the artificial intelligence model to recognise the various forms of horseshoe crabs in their habitats. To collect more horseshoe crab-imagery and videos and establish a comprehensive database, OPCFHK and the research team have planned to conduct a minimum of two field data collections per month and expand the scope of data collection to other local horseshoe crab habitats, further supporting the artificial intelligence algorithms in learning the most effective methods for species survey and identification.
The Unmanned System Research Group (USRG) from the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering of CUHK successfully developed the UASs and artificial intelligence technology for building applications in 2022. Subsequently, this technology was integrated into the conservation efforts of endangered species. “We are pleased to see the expanded application of UASs and artificial intelligence into horseshoe crab conservation, which is a remarkable advancement in conservation endeavours. The establishment of a comprehensive and accurate database requires human labelling. Therefore, the research team will continue to gather field data to enable the artificial intelligence system to account for environmental factors such as water depth and natural lighting, which may impact the identification process of horseshoe crabs. We anticipate that it will take a minimum of 1 to 2 years to enhance the precision of our artificial intelligence model. Once accomplished, we will integrate this intelligent management system with stable, highly automated UASs and associated charging stations for effective implementation,” said Dr Chen Xi, Research Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering of CUHK.
Prof Cheung Siu-gin, Associate Professor of the Department of Chemistry of CityU and Co-investigator of the study, significantly contributes to the project by providing horseshoe crab data for artificial intelligence training. Additionally, he serves as a subject advisor on habitat modelling and correlating factors with horseshoe crab distribution, leveraging his expertise in marine ecology, conservation, and marine environmental studies. “With the expanding horseshoe crab database and further field data collections, we envision the system being able to search for horseshoe crabs with greater speed and accuracy by identifying their distinctive features or unique tracks. With a substantial amount of data, we could even analyse the survival status of the local horseshoe crab population by identifying their age, species, and behaviour. Besides, the aerial-view images of the natural environment captured through the UASs could be further utilised for horseshoe crab habitat studies, and even mudflat ecology and environmental monitoring work. Assisting by data handling technologies powered by machine learning, we believe that the system can holistically support related in-depth analysis and conservation work plan formulation,” said Prof Cheung.
Horseshoe crabs have significant ecological and research value in wetland biodiversity and evolutionary history. However, they are facing threats to their survival due to human activities. To conserve this ‘living fossil’ which has thrived on Earth for 475 million years, OPCFHK has been conducting the juvenile horseshoe crab population survey since 2014. As a member of the Asian Horseshoe Crab Observation Network, initiated by the IUCN SSC Horseshoe Crab Specialist Group in 2021, OPCFHK also conducts surveys at least quarterly in designated areas of local mudflats, including Ha Pak Nai and other locations.
In addition to conducting scientific research for horseshoe crab conservation, OPCFHK takes proactive steps to promote educational and community engagement programmes. This includes the Juvenile Horseshoe Crab Rearing Programme, which involves participation from secondary school students and businesses in caring for artificially bred juvenile horseshoe crabs until they reach maturity and can be released into the wild. Alongside this programme, OPCFHK organises mudflat cleaning activities to remove marine debris that can entangle horseshoe crabs, reducing habitat pollution and rallying public support for conservation efforts.
To support the preservation of the local horseshoe crab population, OPCFHK encourages citizens to actively participate in conservation efforts in their daily lives. This can be as easy as cleaning up litter on mudflats, reducing pollution to safeguard horseshoe crab habitats, and refraining from capturing, disturbing, or purchasing wild horseshoe crabs. By reducing human activities that impact the nature, we can contribute to the preservation of the ecosystem and show our care for the environment.
The study is conducted under the name of Environment and Conservation Fund – Developing a Digital Twin Empowered Approach for Horseshoe Crab Survey and Conservation with Drones and AI funded by the ECF.
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