Carapics: A Web-based Platform for Semi-quantitative Analysis of Structural Change in Biological Samples

Area of Science:

• Marine biology
• Environmental science
• Crustacean research

Background:

• Environmental stressors, such as ocean acidification, can cause significant damage to marine organisms.
• Tanner crabs exposed to low pH conditions for two years exhibited apparent claw damage, prompting further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a reliable method for quantifying complex, three-dimensional damage to crab claws.
• To create a user-friendly software tool for generating and managing image-based surveys of biological damage.

Main Methods:

• A survey-based approach was designed, enabling evaluators to score the extent of claw damage from images.
• A software tool was developed for batch uploading images, parsing file names, and generating structured surveys.
• Data collected from the surveys were returned to users, linked to specific experimental conditions.

Main Results:

• The developed software facilitates efficient image survey creation and data collection.
• The survey method allows for the quantification of complex, three-dimensional damage patterns in crab claws.
• Data analysis can be directly associated with environmental treatment conditions, such as low pH exposure.

Conclusions:

• The new software tool provides an effective solution for assessing environmental stress-induced damage in marine invertebrates.
• This approach enables quantitative analysis of complex morphological changes, crucial for understanding the impacts of ocean acidification.
• The methodology supports further research into the functional consequences of environmental stress on marine ecosystems.