Lydia Scheschonk
Lydia Scheschonk, Dipl. Biol; MSc
PhD project:
Winter ecophysiology of Arctic kelps
I completed my studies in Biology (Diplom; Major: Zoophysiology and Behaviour) in Oldenburg, and graduated in Marine Biology (Master of Science; Major: Marine Botany) in Bremen.
Since 2016 (interrupted by parental leave) I’ve been working on my PhD project, which is primarily concerned with the responses of High Arctic kelp to the challenges of global warming due to the Climate Crisis.
The first part of my project investigated kelp eco-physiology during the Polar Night. Here we found the kelps’ long-term storage glucan, laminarin, to be crucial for the plants’ survival during polar night. Marked differences regarding storage amount and consumption were observed between the investigated boreal-temperate species (Saccharina latissima) and Arctic-endemic species (Laminaria solidungula), and further increases in ambient temperature due to the Climate Crisis were found to likely affect both species, but in different ways (Scheschonk et al. 2019).
The second part of my thesis investigates epigenetic variances in lab-grown and field sampled specimen of Saccharina latissima, for which a collaboration with Uni Nord in Bodø, Norway,could be established.
Publications:
Scheschonk L, Becker S, Hehemann JH, Diehl N, Karsten U, Bischof K (2019): Arctic kelp eco-physiology during the polar night in the face of global warming: a crucial role for laminarin. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 611: 59-74. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12860
Scheschonk L (submitted): Once upon a time – The Lands of Eternal Ice. Status quoof the Climate Crisis in 2019
Scientific contributions:
Winter is Leaving – Polar Regions in the Age of Climate Change. Session 13: Session Host,International Conference for Young Marine Researchers (ICYMARE), 24.-27.09.2019, Bremen, Germany
Scheschonk L, Becker S, Hehemann JH, Bischof K: High Arctic kelps maintain their photosynthetic functions throughout the polar night. Poster, International Conference for Young Marine Researchers (ICYMARE), 24.-27.09.2019, Bremen, Germany
Scheschonk L, Becker S, Hehemann JH, Diehl N, Karsten U, Bischof K: High Arctic Kelp Eco-Physiology during the Polar Night. FBA-Talk, 03.05.2019, Nord University Bodø, Norway https://mediasite.nord.no/Mediasite/Play/b647ae827b0a4d97b823eab213626e551d
Bischof K, Scheschonk L, Becker S, Hehemann JH, Diehl N, Karsten U: Arctic kelp ecophysiology in a warming winter scenario. 23rd International Seaweed Symposium, 24.04-03.05.2019, Jeju Island, Korea
Bischof K, Scheschonk L, Becker S, Hehemann JH, Diehl N, Karsten U: Arctic kelp ecophysiology in a warming winter scenario. Polar 2018, 15-26.06.2018, Davos, Switzerland
Scheschonk L, Becker S, Hehemann JH, Bischof K: High Arctic kelps maintain their photosynthetic functions throughout the polar night. Poster, 17thScientific Conference of the Phycology Section [DBG], 11.-14.3.2018, Berchtesgaden, Germany
Grants:
DAAD Grant ‘BremenIDEA out’ (Funding of research stays at international institutions), 2019
Honorary work:
Scientists for Future (S4F):
https://twitter.com/wozukunft/status/1227144518379679744
Talks and presentations for Primary School level http://files.scientists4future.org/index.php?verzeichnis=Themen%2F5.%20Grundschule