Marine Botany

The Department of Marine Botany at the University of Bremen studies ecological and physiological responses of marine algae towards environmental change. Our objects of interest extend from giant kelps to Antarctic phytoplankton.

We are addressing physiological acclimation patterns under altered radiation, temperature and nutrient conditions. As the species-dependent tolerance towards environmental (stress-) factors also determines competitive success of a species in a given habitat, we are also studying changes on the community to ecosystem level. Conclusively, our studies can contribute to predict the future development of coastal ecosystems under global and regional environmental change.

Our department coordinates the long-term research program on the Biology of Arctic benthic algae at the French/German Arctic AWIPEV research station. In cooperation with the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) the department hosts the Helmholtz-University Young Investigators Group “EcoTrace”.

The Department of Marine Botany contributes to teaching in the Bachelor program of Biology, as well as the Master programs Marine Biology and International Studies in Aquatic Tropical Ecology (ISATEC).