German Marine Research

Our Seas and Oceans

The world oceans cover more than 70 % of the earth’s surface, and more than 40 % of the world’s population lives in coastal regions in close contact with the sea. Our Earth should therefore actually be called “Planet Ocean”. Driven by an expanding world population and increased scarcity of resources on land, utilization of the marine realm by humans is being intensified in many ways, although less is known about the deep seas and oceans than the back of the moon.

There is a great need for sound knowledge about the seas. In view of the special relation-ship between humans and the sea, this leads to growing demands on marine sciences. In this context, the German marine research community considers itself a partner for society, policy making and economy in the effort for a sustainable use and protection of the sea.

This brochure introduces the German Marine Research Consortium (KDM) with its 15 member institutions. Founded in 2004, KDM represents the broad spectrum of marine sciences in Germany with complementary research topics and regional foci. The KDM mem-bership comprises all large research institutions, universities and non-university institutes and museums as well as one Federal authority, which are engaged in marine, polar and coastal research.

The main tasks of the German Marine Research Consortium are

• Research planning and development • International cooperation• Cooperation with decision makers in the national and international context• Infrastructure management• Provision of information and public outreach

KDM concentrates the marine science expertise of its member institutions in order to represent it jointly to policy makers and research funding organizations and to present it to the public. With its research work, its contributions to higher education as well as its transfer of knowledge and technology, marine research serves as a stimulus for innovations and contributes significantly to the standing of the maritime sector in the northern German coastal states.

Our Seas and Oceans

The German Marine Research Consortium promotes all aspects of German marine re-search. With offices in Berlin and Brussels, KDM is the recognized national point of contact for the Federal Government and has close connections at the European level with EU in-stitutions. In this way, KDM contributes actively to the development of relevant programs and marine policies and strives towards more visibility of German marine research at the international level.

Sound scientific knowledge is a prerequisite for political action for the protection and sustainable use of the seas. KDM makes this knowledge available. By analysing present and future research needs, the German marine research community participates through KDM in national and international research planning.

Via the advanced technology necessary for work at sea and on land, marine research is a driving force for the development of the newest methods and instruments. KDM is com-mitted to promoting the availability, coordination, efficient use and further development of the most modern infrastructure. This applies to the modernization of the German research fleet, to the development of measurement systems with innovative sensors for remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles, the establishment of complex ocean ob-servatories for long-term observations in sensitive key regions of the oceans and in coastal waters, as well as to supercomputers and satellite-based remote sensing.

All of these components taken together are essential for excellence in the marine sciences. They are a prerequisite which enables German marine research to make its contribution in finding solutions for the grand challenges of society.

Marine Science rises to the challenges to societyThe German marine science community combines its expertise in KDM in order to address the grand challenges facing our society, which prominently affect the oceans and the seas. It creates the preconditions for the protection and sustainable use of the seas, for which the following research foci are of particular importance.

Role of the oceans in the global climate systemThe oceans play a central role in the regulation of the climate. The human contribution toclimate change is eminent and can exacerbate extreme natural events such as storms and

Our Seas and Oceans

floods. It has an effect on rising sea levels, the erosion of coasts and the changes in ecosys-tems through global warming and the acidification of the seas.

Sustainable use of marine resourcesThe world oceans contain vital resources from food to energy and minerals. Biological and genetic resources have great potential for biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications, and the sea floor harbours valuable metal deposits. KDM supports innovative technologies and makes knowledge and measurement data available for the exploration of resources and their sustainable use.

Conservation of biodiversity and protection of marine ecosystemsThe oceans, as the largest habitat on the planet, are still mainly unexplored, but are subject to constant change through human interference and natural processes. Basic research is the only way to gain knowledge about marine biodiversity and marine ecosystems with their unique element cycles and to preserve them for the future.

Prediction and mitigation of natural hazards such as storm surges, coastal erosion and tsunamisEarthquakes and volcanic eruptions can trigger mudslides and tsunamis with catastrophic consequences for the people living at the coasts. In order to investigate these phenomena with modern instruments and sophisticated observatory systems and to improve the predic-tion of natural hazards, KDM institutions are developing appropriate measurement systems extending from the deep sea to the land.

The member institutions of the German Marine Research Consortium On the following pages, the 15 member institutions of KDM introduce themselves. They belong to scientific organizations such as the Helmholtz and the Leibniz Associations, public and private universities, museum foundations and a Federal Ministry.

The overview demonstrates the excellent, broad scientific scope of German marine research – also in international comparison – and its great expertise in complementary research fields.

Our Seas and Oceans

Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research

The Alfred Wegener Institute conducts research in the Arctic, the Antarctic and in temper-ate latitudes. It coordinates polar research in Germany and contributes to knowledge on the complex interrelationships in the earth system. Understanding the driving forces and changes in the climate system has become an increasingly central focus in the scientific work. As a member of the Helmholtz Association, 90 % of its funding is provided by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, 8 % from the state of Bremen and 1 % each from the states of Brandenburg and Schleswig-Holstein. The institute employs around 900 people. Central headquarters are in Bremerhaven, with regional branches Potsdam, Helgoland and List on the Island of Sylt.

Characteristic of the research work at the institute are its strong international ties and the broad scientific basis upon which it is carried out. At the Alfred Wegener Institute, there is close cooperation between the biosciences, the geosciences and climate research. From research on the atmosphere to the deep sea, almost all disciplines in polar and marine basic science are covered. Since polar research and marine research are logistically demanding, the institute operates an excellent infrastructure for polar research, such as the research ice-breaker POLARSTERN, which is made available by AWI for national and international scientific work.

Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research

C E N Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability

University of Hamburg

The Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability of the University of Hamburg, in short CEN, combines the expertise of nine different institutes and research units. CEN is the successor to the Center for Marine and Climate Research, and, as such, it has been a member of the German Marine Research Consortium since 2004.

CEN scientists include oceanographers, meteorologists, geophysicists, marine biologists, geologists, soil scientists, geographers and biogeochemists, a total of around 450 employees. They are all involved in earth system and climate research and in questions of sustainability.

Through the “Excellence Initiative” of the Federal Govern-ment and the Länder, the cooperation between them has been substantially intensified, and the number of partners

has increased. CEN cooperates closely with non-university research institutions as part of the KlimaCampus Hamburg.

CEN has the goal of extending and consolidating the university’s marine, environmental and climate research through collaboration on overreaching topics and the con-crete planning of cooperative research foci. In the Control Station German Research Vessels, CEN organizes opera-tions of the research vessels “Meteor”, “Maria S. Merian” and in the future the new “Sonne”.

Department Maritime Systems

In 2007 the Department of Maritime Systems was founded at the University of Rostock with the goal of combining the university’s resources in maritime research, representing about 40 professorships from 8 faculties. The interdiscipli-nary cooperation in this department centers around three main foci.

The research area “Coastal Zones in Global and Regional Change” concentrates on important ecosystem trends, such as changes in the hydrodynamics and sediment dynamics, in element cycles and in biodiversity. Causes and effects of these trends are determined and prognoses are made for scenarios of expected change.

In the area “Sustainable Development and Manage-ment”, the interests of stakeholders in the coastal region are regarded in their ecological, economical, political and societal context. Holistic strategies aim at contributing to the development of the coasts as ecologically intact and economically prosperous living spaces.

In the research area “Utilization of Maritime Systems”, technical solutions are developed for the maritime economy. The spectrum ranges from the investigation and modeling of hydrodynamic processes to the construction of large maritime structures, innovations in shipbuilding and the conception of coastal defense measures. Innovative strate-gies are also being developed for fisheries and aquaculture.

Faculty of Interdisciplinary Research University of Rostock

Founded in 1951 as a city natural history museum in the former Dominican monastery of St. Catherine in Stralsund, the German Oceanographic Museum has advanced to an internationally recognized museum during the past 60 years of its existence. Its basic concept makes it a unique institution, because there are only few museums worldwide specializing in such a comprehensive scientific work and presentation of the marine habitat.

In the summer of 2011 the OZEANEUM opened a large new permanent exhibition on current topics in marine research, the contents of which were developed together with the scientists of the German Marine Research Consortium.

By now, the foundation runs four museums with 140 staff members: The oceanographic museum in Stralsund, opened 1951, the NATUREUM Darßer Ort near Prerow, opened 1991, the NAUTINEUM on the Dänholm, Stralsund, which opened in 1999, and, since 2008, the OZEANEUM on the harbour island of Stralsund. The OZEANEUM Stralsund was awarded “Europe’s Museum of the Year 2010” for its in-

German Oceanographic Museum

novative concept and the effective interplay consisting of museum and aquarium. Since the opening of this new site, the German Oceanographic Museum has become one of the most popular museums in Germany, with over one million visitors annually.

German Oceanographic Museum

The GEOMAR | Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel is one of the world’s leading institutions in the field of marine sciences. The mission of GEOMAR is to investigate the physical, chemical, biological, and geological processes in the oceans and their interaction with the seafloor and the atmosphere. With this spectrum ranging from the deep sea to the atmosphere, GEOMAR is unique in Germany. Additionally, the institute is bridging the gap between basic and applied science in a number of research areas. Currently, GEOMAR has a staff of about 750, including 400 scientists.

The state-of-the-art infrastructure of GEOMAR includes four research vessels, two remotely operated underwater vehicles with diving depths down to 6000 meters, an

autonomous underwater vehicle with a depth range of 6000 meters, the only manned research submersible in Germany (400 m diving depth) as well as a large number of specialized instruments and technologies for ocean research.

The overarching research topics of GEOMAR include: (1) the role of the ocean in climate change, (2) human impact on marine ecosystems, (3) biological, mineral and energy re-sources as well as (4) natural marine hazards. GEOMAR works world-wide in all oceans within an international network of scientific partners.

GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel

Helmholtz-Zentrum GeesthachtCentre for Materials and Coastal Research

The activities of the Institute for Coastal Research embrace scientific and social questions in a local as well as a global context. By analysing the current condition and change of coastal systems scenarios for the management of this natural habitat and economic region are developed.

The Institute for Coastal Research is particularly con-cerned with the regional climate in northern Germany and the adjacent North Sea and Baltic Sea. For these regions, measurements of storms – their wind speeds as well as the associated sea states and storm surges – are of central im-portance for the economy and the environment. At the mo-ment, the HZG is developing the coastal observatory COSYNA (Coastal Observation System for Northern and Arctic Seas). COSYNA improves, for example, the observation of algae blooms or sand movements and gives coastal management important prediction models and scenarios.

In the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht (HZG), around 260 employees are working in the Coastal Research on the scien-tific basis for sustainable management of the coastal zones. The “LUDWIG PRANDTL” is the research vessel of the Helm-holtz-Zentrum Geesthacht. With its draught of 1.7 meters, it can be operated not only in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea but also in the Wadden Sea and in river mouths, making it an ideal platform for investigations in the coastal region.

The Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment of the University of Oldenburg (ICBM) investigates the oceans as part of the earth system with an interdiscipli-nary natural science approach in order to better understand the complex interrelationships in global elemental fluxes and the marine ecosystem. The analysis, theoretical description and modeling of these complex systems are the main elements of the basic research at the institute.

The ICBM, with its locations in Oldenburg and Wilhelmshaven, is the only university marine research institute in Lower Saxony. One of the ICBM foci is marine research in the transition zone between the land and the sea. Geochemists, microbiologists, ecologists and modelers investigate together the processes which govern the Wadden Sea and North Sea habitats in order to answer the questions arising as to the future of the North Sea area in times of global change. Basic research in microbiology and biodiversity of marine systems are further areas of scientific work. In addition, there are research groups at the institute developing technologies for marine research and monitoring.

The ICBM comprises a staff of about 140 who have at their disposal a variety of most efficient equipment. Besides highly modern instrumentation for geochemi-cal and microbiological analyses, including one of the most powerful mass spectrometers (FT-ICR-MS), a well-equipped time-series station in the Wadden Sea as well as research vessels up to a length of 13 metres and particularly well suited for the use in the tidal flats are major items of the technical infrastructure.

Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine EnvironmentUniversity of Oldenburg

Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine EnvironmentUniversity of Oldenburg

Jacobs UniversityBremen

Jacobs University combines a broad spectrum of disciplines to achieve a modern, integrated approach in education and research. 1300 students from more than 110 nations are engaged in the 19 Bachelor and 20 Graduate programs, receiving their training from 130 professors. At the university, students or researchers primarily working in one field can benefit greatly from the cross-disciplinary focus of the university. The majority of study areas are closely linked with another, examples including natural science with engineering science, electrical engineering with computer science, geosciences with astrophysics, and biochemistry with cell biology.

Scientists from Jacobs University are active in the areas of oceanography, geology, geo-chemistry and geophysics. Work in the OceanLab focuses on improving our understanding of carbon and trace element cycles in the areas of the continental shelf and the deep sea, within hydrothermal vent ecosystems, and in surface waters. By understanding these systems better we can also develop new strategies for the utilisation of marine algae both as a resource and for CO2 mitigation. OceanLab has been successful in the field of under-water robotics development for internet monitored deep sea observatories, and continuing such development in the future will be a major foci of the groups work. Currently around 60 people (faculty, technicians, graduate and undergraduate students) are involved in ocean sciences at Jacobs University. OceanLab provides a 12 m seawater-flume, a large saltwater test basin, a 7 m research boat, a water column simulator, 200 m2 of microalgae production plant and access to two cabled online observatories (one in the NE Pacific, one in the Norwe-gian Skagerrak). Several internet operated vehicles (IOVs) can be used to study processes in the bottom waters and surface sediments of the oceans.

Johann Heinrich von Thünen-InstituteAquatic Resources Hamburg, Rostock

The three fisheries research institutes of the Johann Hein-rich von Thünen Institute (vTI), Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries, carry out applied research on the effects of fisheries, aquaculture and other forms of marine utilisation on fish stocks and aquatic eco-systems.

The Institute of Baltic Sea Fisheries in Rostock currently hosts 23 scientists, the Institute of Sea Fisheries in Ham-burg 33 scientists, and the Institute of Fishery Ecology in Hamburg, Ahrensburg and Cuxhaven 16 scientists. The most important infrastructure available for vTI fisheries re-search comprises three research vessels (FRV Walther Her-wig III, 64.5m vessel length; Solea, 42.4m; Clupea, 28.8m), operating in the Baltic Sea, North Sea and North Atlantic as well as aquaculture facilities in Ahrensburg.

The main objective of vTI Fisheries Research is to assess the status of fish stocks and to provide a scientific basis for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. This work is interna-tionally deeply embedded and coordinated by intergovern-mental bodies. A further goal is to develop and implement fisheries management systems which are in accordance with the principles of precautionary resource utilisation.

vTI Fisheries Research is a member of the network of European fisheries and aquaculture research institutes and interacts with international committees and conventions (e.g. ICES, NAFO, OSPAR, HELCOM, CCAMLR). Nationally, it contributes to the Federal-States Monitoring Programme for the Marine Environment in the North Sea and Baltic Sea.

Johann Heinrich von Thünen-InstituteAquatic Resources Hamburg, Rostock

The Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology (ZMT) is dedicated to research and education on tropical coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, sea grass meadows, coral reefs, river estu-aries and upwelling areas.

In close cooperation with project partners in the tropics, the ZMT carries out basic re-search on the structure and function of tropical coastal ecosystems, on their resources and on their reactions to human impacts and natural changes. With this, it contributes to con-cepts for sustainable use and protection of these habitats.

In its projects, the ZMT uses an interdisciplinary approach. Its areas of research include ecology, biogeochemistry, geology, ecological modeling and social sciences. The educational activities are carried out in cooperation with universities and research institutions both in Germany and abroad in the form of university lectures and special courses. In the tropical partner countries, the ZMT contributes to the improvement of expertise and infrastructure in the area of coastal zone management.

The institute runs a marine experimental facility (MAREE) with several independent recirculating systems and a mesocosm. About 85 staff members are employed by ZMT.

Leibniz Center for Marine Tropical Ecology, Bremen

Leibniz Center for Marine Tropical Ecology, Bremen

The Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde is a non-university research institute dedicated to interdis-ciplinary marine research in the coastal and marginal seas. The main focus is on the investigation of the Baltic Sea ecosystem. The IOW is a member of the Leibniz Association (WGL). It is jointly funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and by the State Ministry of Education of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. In an agreement with the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency, IOW has taken over the monitoring of the Baltic Sea, to which the Federal Republic of Germany and the other Baltic Sea countries have committed themselves in the framework of the Helsinki Convention.

At the IOW, all four basic disciplines of marine research (Physical Oceanography, Marine Chemistry, Biological Ocean ography, Marine Geology) are represented. The lead-ing scientists also teach at the University of Rostock in the faculties of biology, chemistry and physics and at the geo-sciences department at the Ernst Moritz Arndt University of Greifs wald. In total, the IOW staff comprises approxi-mately 200 persons. The two research vessels “Elisabeth Mann Borgese” und “Maria S. Merian” are available for IOWs work at sea.

Leibniz-Institutefor Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW)

MARUM aims at understanding the role of the oceans in the Earth’s system by employing state-of-the-art methods. It examines the significance of the oceans within the frame-work of global change, quantifies interactions between the marine geosphere and bio-sphere, and provides information for sustainable use of the ocean. MARUM comprises the DFG research center and the cluster of excellence “The Ocean in the Earth System”.

MARUM has about 430 employees and operates one of three sediment core archives existing worldwide within the framework of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program IODP. Together with the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research MARUM oper-ates the data information system PANGAEA.

MARUM applies state-of-the-art instruments for deep sea research which are constantly being refined. These include the deep sea drill rig MARUM-MeBo, remotely and autono-mously operated underwater vehicles.

The international Graduate School GLOMAR (“Global Change in the Marine Realm”) aims at educating excellent young scientists. Last not least MARUM maintains a science communication department to serve the general public, media, teachers, and students.

MARUM Center for Marine Environmental Sciences

The Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology is a mod-ern marine research institute of the Max Planck Society. At the institute in Bremen more than 160 scientists from over 20 nations work in the three departments “Biogeochemis-try”, “Microbiology” and “Molecular Ecology”. They investi-gate the role, diversity and properties of microorganisms from the sea.

The habitat for microbes is gigantic, since more than 70 % of the earth’s surface is covered by the seas. A multi-tude of unknown microorganisms have adapted to the dif-ferent ecological niches. From extremely hot ones near the black smokers to Arctic cold ones in polar waters – these specialists can survive under the most extreme conditions.

There is a tremendous biological potential to be dis-covered in the sea. Particularly the marine sediments are sites of intensive and diverse metabolic processes, since most biomass ends up here. Just as diverse are the bacteria contributing to these processes, which possess consider-able biochemical capabilities that are not to be found in the plant and animal kingdoms. Using modern methods in genetic engineering, microbiology and geochemistry, the scientists are analyzing these processes.

An additional focus is the education of Master and PhD students at the International Max Planck Research School “Marmic” of the University of Bremen and the Jacobs University.

Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen

The main objective of the Max Planck Institute for Mete-orology (MPI-M) is to understand how and why the Earth’s climate changes. It investigates with 260 employees what determines the sensitivity of the Earth system to perturba-tions such as the changing composition of its atmosphere, and work toward establishing the sources and limits of predictability within the Earth system.

The department “The Ocean in the Earth System” inves-tigates all aspects of the ocean’s role in climate dynamics. This includes glacial and interglacial cycles as well as the behavior of the ocean meridional overturning in a future world with enhanced greenhouse gas concentrations.

For this, processes in the atmosphere, on land and in the ocean are simulated using highly complex Earth system models. Such models are important tools in climate re-search and serve in international assessments of climate change. In order to improve the understanding of the past, current and future ocean, coupled ocean-atmosphere and Earth system models are the main research tools. In addi-tion, satellite observations, in situ measurements, statistical analyses and data assimilations are also employed.

Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, Hamburg

Senckenberg am Meer Wilhelmshaven has been the ma-rine station of the Senckenberg Society since 1928. The in-stitute consists of the departments “Marine Research” and “German Centre for Marine Biodiversity Research (DZMB)”, which was founded in 2001, and it operates the research vessel Senckenberg. Including the department “Marine

SenckenbergGesellschaft für Naturforschung

Zoology” in Frankfurt, Senckenberg employs 100 staff members who work on marine topics.

The department “Marine Research” carries out socially relevant research in actuopalaeontology, marine sediment-ology, marine biology and marine geology – from the Wadden Sea to the shelf margin in the North Sea. Inter-nationally, it participates in geo-biological research of continental margins and seamounts in the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. The department “Marine Zool-ogy” investigates the megabenthos and the macrobenthos, particularly in the deep sea and at hydrothermal vents. It is active in the Arabian Sea and in the North Sea as well as in East Asian seas.

The German Centre for Marine Biodiversity Research (DZMB) focuses on taxonomic and systematic research on marine organisms and on biodiversity in the ocean. With botanical, zoological, ecological and molecular-taxonomical expertise, it analyses samples from the deep sea, polar regions or seamounts. The sample material is archived and made available to German marine research. The DZMB has a further location at the Zoological Institute and Museum (ZIM) of the University of Hamburg.

Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research www.awi.de

CEN Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability, University of Hamburg www.cen.uni-hamburg.de

Department of Maritime Systems, Faculty of Interdisciplinary Research, University of Rostockwww.inf.uni-rostock.de

German Oceanographic Museumwww.meeresmuseum.de

GEOMAR | Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kielwww.geomar.de

Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht Centre for Materials and Coastal Researchwww.hzg.de

Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, University of Oldenburgwww.icbm.uni-oldenburg.de

KDM-Institutes

Jacobs University, Bremenwww.jacobs-university.de

Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute, Aquatic Resources – Hamburg, Rostockwww.vti.bund.de

Leibniz Center for Marine Tropical Ecology, Bremenwww.zmt-bremen.de

Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW)www.io-warnemuende.de

MARUM Center for Marine Environmental Sciences www.marum.de

Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremenwww.mpi-bremen.de

Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, Hamburgwww.mpimet.mpg.de

Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschungwww.senckenberg.de

KDM-Institutes

Editing:Rolf Peinert (KDM)

Photos:Title: AM_ELLUSION/iStockphoto; CEN: left UHH/KlimaCampus/ J. Hebeler, right UHH/KlimaCampus/ T. Wasilewski; University of Rostock: left fotoMonkee/iStockphoto, right bottom G. Nied z-wiedz; German Oceanographic Museum: J.-M. Schlorke; Jacobs University: left AndreasReh/iStockphoto; IOW: left R. Reinicke; ZMT: left. Y. Sawall and M. Vaisanen, right D. Maier; MPI Marine Microbiology: D. Fink and N. Dubilier; Senckenberg: left A. Rose, right A. Markert

Translation:Susan Beddig (CEN)

Design:HAAGEN design, www.haagendesign.de

German Marine Research ConsortiumMarkgrafenstraße 37, 10117 Berlinwww. deutsche-meeresforschung.de

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