Kohlenstoffpumpen im Ozean steuern das Klima. Globale Erwärmung

Here we describe how microscopic marine algae and animals, the plankton impact global climate and how the changing concentration of the climate relevant gas carbon dioxide (CO₂) result in shifts in the marine carbonate system, including a drop in the pH (ocean acidification). Three processes, summarily called the carbon pumps transfer carbon between the surface and the deep ocean: The solubility pump moves inorganic, dissolved carbon to depth. The biological pump transports organic, particulate carbon downward. The carbonate counter pump describes the formation and sedimentation of carbonate tests, whereby CO₂ is released into the surface ocean. On geological timescales the biological pump was strengthened during glacial times due to an increase in the iron supply, which lead to a (continued) decline in temperatures. Hence, the idea to fertilize the ocean with iron thereby strengthening the biological pump and mediating today's climate change has been discussed for the past 20 years.     

Biotreibstoffe aus Entwicklungsländern

Biofuels from developing countries The pressure for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, rising oil prices, but also the lobbying by the agricultural sector and the automotive industry have induced the recent boom on biofuels. Due to limited land availability, competition with food production and high overall environmental impacts, the sustainability market potential for biofuels is assumed to be significantly smaller than 10% of global fuel consumption. Nevertheless, niches for the sustainable production and use of biofuels exist especially in developing countries. It is often more sustainable to use biomass feedstock for local supply of electricity and heat than producing biofuels for export.     

Neues Leben im Weltnaturerbe Wattenmeer. Globalisierung unter Wasser

Globalization under water: Alien species in the Wadden Sea World Heritage Recent investigations reveal an increasing number of non‐native species in the Wadden Sea which profit from warmer water temperatures caused by global change. These exotic species achieve highest occurrence and densities in shallow waters near the low tide water level. In this tidal zone, a highly diverse species community of algae and invertebrates became established and will continue to alter in composition. This leads to enhanced complexity of biogenic habitats and to a prevalence of filter feeding organisms. Thus, we observe a fundamental change of the whole Wadden Sea ecosystem which is without return.     

Modelle für den Wandel der Natur

Ecological Modelling – Scenarios of future environmental changes Climate change affects ecosystems at different levels. Changes in species phenology, distribution and interactions are today well described phenomena documenting species responses to increasing temperatures. Environmental niche models (ENMs) have developed as powerful tools to address various questions in macroecology. Aiming at a species environmental niche, statistical modelling can be employed to predict a species' potential occurrence by projecting environmental information recorded at locality records over space and time. In climate change biology, ENMs are used to identify individual species' fates as range expansions or retractions as well as features that affect the structure of species assemblages and species interactions within and across different taxonomic groups. ENMs help to promote the persistence of species by identifying spatial patterns of species richness or endangerment to target conservation priorities. Moreover, they are an essential part of risk assessments to set up preventive measures against non‐native species most likely to adversely impact native ecosystems.     

Infektionsgefahr aus dem Süden. Globale Erwärmung

The import of infectious diseases from the Mediterranean region is a possible effect of global warming. At the moment, vector‐borne diseases represent the most important threat. These include tick‐borne Mediterranean spotted fever as well as visceral Leishmaniasis and Pappataci‐fever, which are transmitted by sand flies. Dogs act as main reservoir hosts for the first two diseases; therefore, these pathogens are constantly imported to Germany with unregulated dog transports. In the same way, the vector of Mediterranean spotted fever, the “Brown dog tick”, is imported and may establish in the future. Sandflies, in contrast, are already endemic in the Rhine valley, the warmest region of Germany. Autochthonous cases of Leishmaniasis and Pappataci‐fever indicate that these diseases are already present in Germany.     

Pinguine – Überlebenskünstler in der Antarktis. Klimawandel

The future of penguin population development in the Western Antarctic Peninsula (= WAP) is largely depending on ecological factors like food availability (mostly krill) due to primary production of algae which itself depends on sea ice conditions, water‐ and air temperature and salinity. The extraordinary rise in temperature in the WAP area seems to cause a change in population numbers of Adelie and Gentoo Penguins: Adelies are declining in the north and Gentoos were occupying these sites instead. Gentoos have already reached the southern polar circle. These trends occurred in parallel with regional long‐term warming and significant reduction in sea ice extent. There is a lack of available information for penguin populations breeding possibly more south in the WAP area. We still have large gaps in our present knowledge in Adelies and Emperor Penguins southernmost breeding distribution.     

Die Wälder der Antarktis

Forests of Antarctica Antarctica is a continent of extremes, demanding a lot from the organisms living there. Antarctic macroalgae, as an important component of the coastal ecosystem of the Southern Ocean, have adapted their metabolism to permanent cold and to long periods of darkness. Due to the long cold‐water history and the isolation of the continent, a high number of endemic species developed in Antarctica. Antarctic macroalgae are important primary producers and serve as food for many organisms. Their more detailed investigation began relatively late and is far from complete. Climate change is visible in Antarctica as well, threatening the fragile ecosystem. Increased UV radiation e. g. can lead to changes in the depth zonation and increased temperature to changes in the geographical distribution of the individual macroalgal species.     

Die Invasion der Stechmücken

Invasion of exotic mosquitos in Germany The scientists of the “German Mosquito Control Association” (KABS) and the University Heidelberg detected between 1995 and 2011 four new species of mosquitoes as neozoa for Germany. Aedes albopictus and Ochlerotatus j. japonicus have been introduced to new territories such as Germany in the context of globalization with trade goods, increased mobility of humans by means of vehicles. In particular the spread of the originally tropical species Ae. albopictus is favored by global warming. The rapid spread of Ae. albopictus and Oc. j. japonicus and the related risk of transmission of human pathogens, especially of arboviruses, increased the awareness of scientists, health authorities and the public and led to an intensive surveillance program for exotic mosquito species in Germany.     

Polares Plankton

Polar plankton Climatic changes such as the rise in temperature and ocean acidification have already severely impacted the planktonic life of the Southern Ocean. Our studies demonstrate that Antarctic plankton is changing. Large diatoms contribute most to primary production in the current Southern Ocean, whereas in the future small flagellates could become more abundant. Also zooplankton is impacted. Recent studies reveal a shift from a krill- to a salp-dominated food web in the Southern Ocean and the replacement of polar cold-water species by warm-tolerant species of adjacent regions.     

Der Kaiserpinguin – ein Vogel der Superlative

Emperor Pinguin – a bird of superlative The antarctic ecosystem is home of 200 million seabirds. 26 million of them belong to the penguins and only 600.000 are Emperor Penguins. They breed along the remote coasts of Antarctica. Their first colony was discovered in 1902. In the course of the 1950ies more colonies were detected and today with the help of satellite technique we know more than 54 in total. The breeding cycle starts during winter, when a 1.000 kilometer sea ice belt surrounds the continent. Emperor Penguins use Polynjas during this time to get access to the food sources in the sea. During incubation and breeding they are very hard to study due to stormy weather and temperatures of sometimes below minus 30° Celsius. From October onwards the first big icebreakers are capable to reach some of these places and biologists can start to study breeding success by counting chicks and adults. The few best monitored colonies are in the reach of Antarctic winter stations. Remote sensing of faeces stain on the ice give an introspection of the spacing of colonies all over the coasts. Counts in the colonies give figures of population sizes in relation to faeces covered areas. So we got a rough idea about the number of individuals. Satellite imaging over the last 40 years has provided data on the sea and glacier ice loss: Most loss is to be found in western Antarctica, but also in eastern Antarctica we can find more and more melting due to raising temperatures.