Comparing Seed Quality in Orchids Using AI-Based Image Analysis
- Beschreibung
The orchid genus Ophrys provides a fascinating system for studying plant reproduction, ecology and evolution. Ophrys orchids use sexual deception for pollination, which involves chemical, visual and morphological signals to attract specific male insect pollinators. These specialised plant-pollinator interactions make Ophrys an interesting system for investigating how differences in pollination and reproductive strategies may contribute to variation among species.
But successful pollination is only the beginning: plants must subsequently produce well-developed seeds that can contribute to the next generation. In orchids, seed development is particularly interesting because their tiny seeds contain little to no nutritional reserves and depend on interactions with mycorrhizal fungi for successful germination and establishment.
In this student project, seed capsules from different Ophrys species will be compared to investigate whether species differ in seed production and seed quality. Seed capsule size will be analysed, and seeds will be prepared on microscopic slides to quantify the proportion of seeds containing a viable embryo. An AI-based image analysis approach will be used to classify individual seeds as embryo-containing or embryo-free, allowing large numbers of seeds to be analysed efficiently.
To assess the reliability of the automated classification, a subset of slides will also be analysed manually. The manual counts will serve as a reference against which the AI-based results can be compared.
The project combines evolutionary ecology, plant reproductive biology, microscopy and AI-based image analysis. Students will investigate variation in reproductive output among Ophrys species while gaining practical experience in microscopy, quantitative data collection, basic statistical analysis and the critical evaluation of AI-based methods.
- Projektzeitraum
- Wintersemester 2026/2027
- Bewerbungszeitraum
- 12. bis 26.10.2026
- Durchführung
- semesterbegleitend
- Details zu Projektzeitraum und Durchführung
The project includes the preparation of microscopic slides, AI-based and manual seed quantification, and statistical analysis of the results. The results will be compared among different Ophrys species and interpreted in a broader ecological context. Students will also evaluate the accuracy, potential and limitations of AI-based image analysis by comparing automated classifications with manual counts.
- Studienfach
-
Agrarbiologie
Agrarwissenschaften
Biologie
Biologie - Lehramt
Crop Sciences
Landscape Ecology - Betreuende
- Noa Schwabe-Model
- Institut
- Institut für Biologie (190) (Pflanzliche Evolutionsbiologie (190b))
- Sprache
- deutsch/englisch
- Teilnehmendenanzahl
- min. 1, max. 2
- Arbeitsaufwand
-
ca. 90 Stunden pro Teilnehmende:r
| 3
ECTS-Punkte
Arbeitsaufwand (Stunden und ggf. ECTS) sind ungefähre Angaben. Die tatsächlich vergebenen ECTS-Punkte ergeben sich aus der tatsächlich geleisteten Arbeit.
- Für dieses Projekt ist kein Motivationsschreiben des Studierenden erforderlich
- Projektart
- experimentell
- Lernziele
-
Die Teilnehmende lernen in diesem Projekt:
- Explain the role of seed production and seed quality in plant reproductive success, with a particular focus on orchids
- Prepare and examine orchid seeds using microscopic techniques and produce suitable microscopic slides for quantitative analysis
- Apply AI-based image analysis to biological image data and understand its potential applications and limitations
- Compare seed capsule characteristics and seed quality among different Ophrys species using appropriate statistical methods (using R)
- Interpret biological variation in seed production and embryo development among orchid species
- Anmerkungen für Studierende
No prior knowledge or experience is required. Students should be curious, willing to learn, and able to work in a structured and organised manner. Guidance and support will be provided throughout the project.