Three new grants support 3D models, genetic analysis and a biobank to understand how reefs cope

Le Turks and Caicos are transforming one of their most precious natural resources into a highly precise three-dimensional archive. Thanks to three grants obtained under the program Darwin Plus Local 2025-2026, Turks and Caicos Reef Fund (TCRF) will strengthen scientific monitoring activities of coral reefs by combining underwater photogrammetry, genetic analysis, and tissue study. The goal is to build a continuously updatable digital model of the ecosystem, capable of documenting its evolution and guiding conservation interventions.

The program represents a significant evolution compared to traditional environmental surveys. It goes beyond simply collecting photographs or specific measurements, creating a true digital record of the coral reefs. Each acquisition campaign produces an extremely detailed three-dimensional copy of the seabed, which can be compared with those taken in subsequent years to identify even minimal changes in coral growth, morphology, and the overall health of the reef.

Alongside this activity, the TCRF will also invest in the expansion of its genetic biobank, in DNA sequencing of the species considered most vulnerable, and in histopathological analysis of samples collected during dives. This information will allow researchers to connect what happens on the surface of the colonies with the biological mechanisms that determine their ability to survive the effects of climate change.

From underwater photographs to digital twins of marine ecosystems

The core of the program consists in the realization of the so-called digital twin, or digital twins. These are three-dimensional representations obtained by processing thousands of images collected underwater using techniques photogrammetrySpecialized software precisely reconstructs the reef's geometry, surfaces, and relief, producing navigable and measurable models with millimeter accuracy.

The availability of these models allows researchers to compare surveys taken at different times without relying solely on visual observation. Minor erosions, loss of coral cover, growth of new colonies, damage caused by tropical storms, or bleaching events can thus be quantified more precisely, reducing the margin of subjectivity in assessments.

Part of the Darwin Plus funding will be used to purchase the computing power and software tools needed to process these three-dimensional surveys. The initiative aims to build a database that will be progressively expanded, allowing each new acquisition to be compared with the entire previous history of the monitored site.

For an island territory like the Turks and Caicos, where tourism, fisheries and natural coastal protection directly depend on the health of coral reefs, having such detailed information means being able to plan much more targeted interventions than traditional monitoring programmes.

DNA reveals why some corals survive better than others

The three-dimensional component is only part of the work. During the same dives, the operators will collect small biological samples destined for two different analysis paths. The first concerns the genotyping, which allows to identify the genetic characteristics of the different colonies; the second consists in thehistopathology, a discipline that studies tissue alterations caused by diseases, infections, or other stress factors.

Integrating this information will allow us to understand whether certain genetic characteristics are associated with greater resistance to extreme climate events or to the main diseases that affect tropical reefs. In other words, the digital twin will not only describe the shape of the reef, but will be progressively enriched with biological information capable of explaining the mechanisms that determine the survival or decline of individual colonies.

The program also includes the strengthening of the Coral Gene Bank, the gene bank developed by the TCRF to conserve the genetic heritage of the most threatened species. DNA sequencing will allow the identification of particularly valuable lineages for future reef restoration and repopulation programs, helping maintain the biological variability necessary for populations to adapt to changing environmental conditions.

This strategy reflects an increasingly evident shift in international marine research. Conservation is no longer limited to the passive protection of existing ecosystems, but combines three-dimensional modeling, genomics, systematic data collection and advanced IT tools to understand which interventions can produce concrete benefits in the long term.

A biobank to preserve the genetic heritage of reefs

One of the three grants awarded to the Turks and Caicos Reef Fund directly concerns the strengthening of the Coral Gene Bank, a biobank dedicated to preserving the genetic heritage of the archipelago's coral species. The program will expand sampling efforts and fund genetic sequencing of species considered most exposed to environmental changes, creating a useful scientific basis for future restoration efforts.

Biobanks have become an essential component of biodiversity research. By preserving biological samples and genetic information, it is possible to study the evolution of populations over time, identify any loss of diversity, and select the organisms best suited for repopulation programs. In the case of coral reefs, where rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, and the spread of new diseases are rapidly altering natural balances, this information is increasingly important.

The integration between digital twin, genetic data, and histopathological analyses also allow for the creation of a multidimensional scientific archive. Each observed colony can be described not only by location and morphology, but also by genetic characteristics, health status, and response to environmental stress. This is a wealth of information that would have been extremely difficult to collect in a coordinated manner just a few years ago.

Research, training and local community involvement

The TCRF newsletter highlights how these investments aren't just for scientific work. A portion of the resources will be used to strengthen the organization's operational capacity, expand educational activities, and better engage citizens, schools, and local stakeholders in coral reef protection.

The strategy reflects an increasingly widespread approach in marine conservation, where scientific data collection is complemented by public outreach and participation programs. The information generated through 3D surveys, genetic sampling, and continuous monitoring can support both local authorities' decisions and international research activities dedicated to tropical ecosystems.

for Turks and Caicos The value of coral reefs goes far beyond their naturalistic value. Reefs help protect coastlines from erosion, support local fisheries, and are one of the archipelago's main tourist attractions. Improving our understanding of them therefore means having more effective tools for economic and territorial management.

A small archipelago experiments with tools already adopted elsewhere

The use of digital twins In marine sciences, it represents one of the most interesting applications of 3D modeling technologies. In industry, these models are already used to monitor plants, infrastructure, and production processes; applying the same principle to natural ecosystems allows us to follow the evolution of extremely complex environments with a precision that is difficult to achieve using traditional observations alone.

In the case of Turks and CaicosThe program takes on a unique dimension because it combines techniques typically developed in different fields. Underwater photogrammetry, genomics, histopathology, and biobank management converge in a single research infrastructure, capable of producing data usable by marine ecologists, geneticists, and conservation specialists alike.

The results won't be immediate. Building a historical series will require repeated monitoring campaigns over the years, allowing us to compare three-dimensional models and verify how different colonies respond to extreme weather events, emerging diseases, and any restoration interventions undertaken.

This long-term perspective is the most significant aspect of the initiative. Rather than documenting the current state of coral reefs, the program aims to build a knowledge base destined to be progressively enriched. Each new survey, each genetic sequencing, and each biological sample will contribute to increasing our understanding of the functioning of tropical reefs and inform future decisions regarding their conservation, transforming a small Caribbean archipelago into a permanent laboratory for research on marine ecosystems.

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