Main research topics

Marine biology belongs to the academic topics of aquatic ecology. The scientists working here examine the environment at the sea bottom, i.e. the benthic zone. In contrast, the research devoted to the overlying water column, the pelagic zone, is conducted at the Institute of Baltic Research in Warnemünde (IOW), at the chair for Ecology and the chair for Applied Ecology.

The Marine Biology department hosts scientists who are specialised on analysing the faunal composition in view of describing the ecosystem structure, whereas other colleagues are working on function and fluxes within this ecosystem. An essential part of the research is carried out in the region, especially student research projects and doctoral dissertations. Among the available facilities, a field station is available at the Salzhaff in Boiensdorf.

In addition, research activities on a global scale are focus on the deep sea (Indian Ocean and Atlantic). An essential topic, which holds true for a majority of the work done in the department, is how the exchange of matter between the water and the sediment is affected by benthic organisms. This field of research constitutes a valuable input for ecosystem modelling efforts, but it also has applied benefits like e.g. environmental considerations related to the offshore dumping of harbour dredge material or the renaturation of exploited coastal waters.

Fields of research and contact persons