Artificial intelligence from an internet search engine giant could prove crucial in efforts to restore giant kelp that once thrived in Australia's southern waters.
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Warming oceans in recent decades have wiped out more than 95 per cent of the species, which can grow up to 40m tall, off Tasmania's east coast.
Scientists are studying whether giant kelp that is more tolerant of warmer water can be successfully grown in the wild.
The CSIRO, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) and other research and conservation bodies have partnered with Google Australia.
The company's AI programs will be used to analyse 7000 sq km of ocean satellite imagery to map remaining giant kelp populations.
AI will also be used to help conduct DNA research to understand what makes some kelp more heat resistant.
IMAS Professor Craig Johnson said detailed mapping of the species would be "gold" in understanding trends.
Along with Tasmanian waters, he said there were giant kelp patches near the Victoria and South Australia border and potentially Bass Strait.
"We don't have a national picture of where it is. We've got a rough idea ... but where are the bits that are left? (That) is a key question," he said.
"If we know where it is we can focus our efforts on ... conservation."
Prof Johnson was optimistic restoration in Tasmanian waters could occur at a systemic level in five years, but warned progress would not matter if waters kept warming.
"The take-home message is hopefully this will buy us some time while the world deals with the climate change problem," he said.
"If we don't do that, certainly by the end of this century giant kelp will be gone from Australia (as well as) probably some other kelps as well."
Prof Johnson indicated determining the genetic basis for warm-water tolerance was crucial, saying a recent marine heatwave off Tasmania had "knocked back" remaining populations.
Work is ongoing to restore the kelp on natural reefs off Tasmania, as well as a project investigating growing in an aquaculture setting for commercial purposes.
Prof Johnson said giant kelp provides unique habitat and supports biodiversity and fisheries, including abalone and rock lobster.
He said the species' demise was like "taking the trees out of the forest".
"The trees are the foundation species that create the habitat in which all those other things live," he said.
Australian Associated Press
