Projects

Interacting consortia of detritus feeding invertebrates and micro-organisms: towards a linkage of species composition and functional parameters for aquatic communities

• The present study unites detritovorous invertebrate species and detritus degrading microbes. These two groups of organisms are known to be vitally linked through the repetitive digestion of detritus particles and therefore fauna and microbes act strongly facilitating and interdependent. Species diversity of invertebrates has a causal link to bacterial diversity and to the overall community function. This project links functional parameters to develop a conceptual model that may complement current standards in ecological monitoring.

Ecology and Ecophysiology of mangrove sponge communties

• Submerged roots of the mangroves along (sub-)tropical coasts support a diverse, dense, yet typical sponge community. Our research efforts in this area focus on physiological responses of mangrove roots to sponge colonization, and implications of mangrove-derived DOM for sponge community dynamics.