Today, scientists are turning to drones in order to survey oyster populations in a more efficient way. In the past, surveying oyster beds involved divers manually counting the oysters on the sea floor. This method is not only time consuming, but can also be dangerous. However, using drones to survey oyster beds gives scientists the ability to quickly and safely monitor oyster populations from the air. The drones use high resolution cameras to capture images of the oyster beds and then the images are analyzed using machine learning algorithms to accurately count and identify the oysters. This method is much faster and more accurate than manual counting. In addition, it can provide valuable data about the health of the oyster beds, such as water quality and availability of food. With this data, scientists can better understand the needs of oyster populations and take steps to ensure their long-term health and sustainability.

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source: Phys.org