Marine Experimental Ecology
Our Research
Our research group is investigating impacts of climate change on important coastal ecosystems. We aim to understand to what degree foundation species and their associated communities can adapt to rapid climate change.
We will make use of mesocosms (see image below of KOB system in Kiel) in different locations to simulate, how entire coastal communities will react to simulated climate change. Such experiments allow us to integrate ecological effects (species interactions) while studying how fast species can acclimate and adapt to novel climatic conditions, especially ocean warming and increased prevalence and magnitude of heatwaves.
In addition, we will make use of natural thermal gradients across Europe to sample locally adapted populations of the same species to phenotype and genotype them in our new labs in Vienna.