Challenges 2023 - KUL01 Tracking Coral’s Health and Spawning

Challenges Description:

Tropical coral reefs are the main habitat providing important ecological services to human being – and hard coral is a crucial component of these reefs. Unfortunately, coral reefs are threatened by numerous anthropogenic factors that cause significant environmental change and may increase the rate of coral reef degradation. It is therefore to better monitor their health status and to improve our knowledge and understanding of their reproductive processes.

Currently, information about coral spawning in Malaysia (and South East Asia) is scarce and segmented, due to the fact that spawning events occur only in specific nights of the year, under very particular conditions (related to tidal cycle, sun and moon phases, seawater temperature and light intensity) and can be as short as few minutes.

The developed app will allow for passionate members of the diving community to strongly contribute into collecting extremely valuable information and recordings, ultimately increasing the effectiveness of conservation efforts (especially in the case of endangered coral species) and of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) management (e.g.: limit access to identified areas during spawning time to reduce human disturbances). Local communities and multiple stakeholders may also be involved in this initiative.

What the challenge owner would like to develop over 48h

• Create a website database with mobile apps

Which skills the challenge owner is looking for

• IT developer, Software Engineer, AI specialist, Oceanographer, Ecologist, Citizen science specialist, Graphic designer, Marketing specialist