RT Journal Article
T1 Using artificial neural networks and citizen science data to assess jellyfish presence along coastal areas
A1 Castro Gutiérrez, Jairo
A1 Gutiérrez Estrada, Juan Carlos
A1 Báez Barrionuevo, José Carlos
AB Jellyfish blooms along coastal areas can pose significant challenges for beachusers and local authorities. Understanding the factors influencing jellyfish presence is crucial for effective management and mitigation strategies.In this study, citizen science data from the Andalusian coast (232 beaches, in 40different localities) and machine learning techniques are used to investigate if thepresence and absence of jellyfish along coastal areas can be predicted. A multi-layerperceptron (MLP) neural network was employed to classify user comments regarding jellyfish presence or absence, achieving an accuracy of approximately 96%.The MLP model demonstrated robustness in handling non-linear classificationproblems and noise, although it showed lower precision for predicting jellyfishpresence, likely due to an imbalance in the dataset. Environmental data werealso incorporated to characterise the influence of sea surface temperature, winddirection and wind speed on jellyfish distribution. The results align with previous studies, suggesting these environmental factors significantly impact jellyfishpresence. Synthesis and applications. This research provides actionable recommendationsfor beach management. The implementation of continuous monitoring of sea surface temperature and wind conditions will enable more accurate predictions ofjellyfish distribution. Adaptive management strategies that respond dynamicallyto environmental data will help mitigate the impact of jellyfish blooms on coastaltourism and public health
PB Wiley
SN 0021-8901
SN 1365-2664 (electrónico)
YR 2024
FD 2024-09
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10272/24701
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10272/24701
LA eng
NO Castro‐Gutiérrez, J., Gutiérrez‐Estrada, J. C., & Báez, J. C. (2024). Using artificial neural networks and citizen science data to assess jellyfish presence along coastal areas. In Journal of Applied Ecology (Vol. 61, Issue 9, pp. 2244–2257). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.14734
NO The authors would like to express their gratitude to the team atthe Aula del Mar in Malaga for their continuous support and assistance throughout this research and to the technical team behind theInfomedusa APP. We also extend our thanks to all the users whohave contributed their feedback on Infomedusa. The authors wouldlike to express our gratitude to the anonymous reviewers for theiruseful comments, which helped us to improve the paper's quality.Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Huelva / CBUA
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelva
RD 30 may 2026