Learning from our pollution history: a plea for a proactive approach to tackle microplastics
In a viewpoint paper recently published in the scientific journal “Environmental Science and Technology”, two researchers from IOW argue on why it is reasonable to work towards legislative steps, even though the toxicity potential that microplastics may have on nature environment is still not yet conclusively determined.
New IOW study: Do microplastics harbour additional risks by colonization with harmful bacteria?
The alarming omnipresence of microplastics in rivers, lakes, and oceans increasingly gains the critical focus of research. So far, however, there has been no reliable knowledge as to whether microplastic particles in aquatic ecosystems promote the development of special bacterial communities or even the spread of pathogens. A recent study within the project MikrOMIK* under the lead of IOW has now for the first time systematically investigated whether bacterial biofilms on microplastic particles differ from those on natural materials and how various environmental factors influence the community composition.
Environmental history told by sludge: Global warming lets the dead zones in the Black Sea grow
Geoscientists IOW, the universities of Oldenburg and Hannover as well as Rutgers University (USA) succeeded now in reconstructing the depositional environment of the last interglacial (Eemian, 128,000 years ago) in the Black Sea with unprecedented details. This enabled for the first time a direct comparison between the current oxygen-depleted conditions in the deep water with those during the Eemian when the water temperatures in summer were 3° higher. It shows that the dead zones of the Black Sea will most probably expand by a future global warming, leading to a significant shrinking of the productive zone in the surface water.
How do megacities impact coastal seas? Searching for evidence in Chinese marginal seas
Two research projects, which join several German and Chinese partner institutions, were launched into action with a kick-off meeting in Guangzhou, China, from December 4 to 8, 2017. They are supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research with a total of 1.25 Mio. Euros and aim at recognising the fingerprint of megacities in the marine sediments of Chinese marginal seas. On the German side, both projects are coordinated by IOW.
New book from IOW experts: “Carbon dioxide glasses” sharpen view on the state of the Baltic Sea
Bernd Schneider and Jens Müller from IOW recently published a book on the biogeochemistry of the Baltic Sea. What is special is its novel perspective: The marine chemists use investigations into the marine CO2 cycle to obtain comprehensive and highly detailed analyses of marine biogeochemical processes. This new concept strikes new paths towards an efficient ecological monitoring of the sea.
Rapid mid-Holocene warming triggered the onset of a farming society in Northern Europe
In a recently published article in the renowned journal Scientific Reports, IOW scientists present the outcome of detailed studies on the temperature development during the Holocene in the Baltic region which they conducted together with an international team of geologists, geochemists, archaeologists and fishery biologists. The resulting temperature record reveals explanations for simultaneously occurring human demographic and cultural changes.
A new indicator for marine ecosystem changes: the diatom/dinoflagellate index
Marine biologist from Warnemünde presents indicator for the state of foodwebs in the Baltic Sea on the basis of long-term data series on the composition of spring blooms
New BMBF funded project MicroCatch_Balt launched
Where does all the plastic come from? The new project "MicroCatch_Balt" funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research will investigate the sources of plastic particles within the catchment area of the Baltic Sea by taking the Warnow river catchment basin as an example.
Anja and Michael Zettler are the authors of the recently published 83th volume of book series “Die Tierwelt Deutschlands” (“Fauna of Germany”). The two IOW macrozoobenthos experts complemented the extensive encyclopaedia, which was established in 1925, with an English-language monograph on Baltic Sea amphipods. It covers a total of 243 species, which are morphologically characterised down to the last detail, and also contains notes on their ecology and behaviour. The book therefore is a valuable tool for the monitoring of indicator species of this group.
It is the biggest “fare” for exchanging scientific findings in the field of Baltic Sea research: Every second year, scientists from all littoral states and beyond meet under the umbrella of the Baltic Sea Science Congress (BSSC) in order to present their new research results. This year, the BSSC is hosted by the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde and the University of Rostock.