WOR 1 Authors
WOR 1 Living with the oceans. A report on the state of the world’s oceans | 2010

WOR 1 Authors

> For this first World Ocean Review, published in 2010, the authors have presented generally accepted scientific knowledge from their specialist fields of research. Most of the authors are engaged in interdisciplinary research in the Cluster of Excellence „The Future Ocean“, which investigates aspects of ocean change.
Authors WOR 1
Prof. Dr. Thomas Bosch
Biologist at the CAU Kiel. Prof. Bosch’s specialty fields are developmental biology, evolutionary biology and comparative immunology. He investigates questions of pattern formation and the evolution of stem cells as well as immune defence mechanisms in simple organisms such as the cnidarians and Urochordata (tunicates). In his research, evolution is viewed as a fundamental discipline for medicine. Within the field of molecular biosciences he specializes in investigating the evolution and function of genes that are disease-related in humans. > web
Prof. Dr. Franciscus Colijn
Biologist at the Research and Technology Centre (FTZ) of the CAU Kiel and Director of the Institute for Coastal Research at the GKSS Research Centre in Geesthacht. Prof. Colijn engages in scientific analyses of the current condition as well as the development of coastal seas. His specialty fields include the development of survey methods in the marine environment, long-term changes in the Wadden Sea and North Sea, and marine pollution issues. > web
Prof. Dr. Ralf Ebinghaus
Chemist at the Institute for Coastal Research of the GKSS Research Centre in Geesthacht. Prof. Ebinghaus is head of the centre’s Department for Environmental Chemistry. He is also Professor (h.c.) at the Faculty of Environmental Science at the Leuphana University of Lüneburg. His research fields include transport, deposition, and air/sea gas exchange of persistent chemical substances in coastal, marine and polar environments. He is editor of the journal „Environmental Chemistry“. > web
Prof. Dr. Arne Körtzinger
Marine chemist at the Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences, IFM-GEOMAR, Kiel. Prof. Körtzinger’s research focuses on the marine carbon cycle and its anthropogenic perturbation, the role of oxygen as a biogeochemical switch and sensitive indicator of global change in the ocean, and the development and application of new methods and sensors as well as approaches to autonomous ocean observation, such as profiling subsurface floats. > web
Prof. Dr. Mojib Latif
Climatologist at the Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences, IFM-GEOMAR, Kiel. Prof. Latif engages in research on the mechanisms and predictability of natural climate variability at different time scales (from seasons to centuries) and anthropogenic impacts on the climate. He develops complex climate models and analyses observations to investigate phenomena such as El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) or the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). > web
Dr. Birte Matthiessen
Marine biologist at the Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences, IFM-GEOMAR, Kiel. Dr. Matthiessen investigates ecological regulatory mechanisms of species coexistence and the consequences of biodiversity loss for ecosystem functioning. She also engages in research on the effects of global change on biodiversity and its consequences for ecosystem functioning. > web
Prof. Dr. Frank Melzner
Marine biologist at the Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences, IFM-GEOMAR, Kiel and head of the working group on “Ocean Acidification” as part of the Kiel “Future Ocean” Excellence Cluster. Prof. Melzner studies the physiological tolerance mechanisms of marine animal species. In this field his focus is on the response of organisms to the increasing acidification of the oceans resulting from the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide. Sea urchins, coleoids, mussels, and starfish are used as model organisms. > web
Prof. Dr. Andreas Oschlies
Physicist at the Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences, IFM-GEOMAR, Kiel. Prof. Oschlies develops ecological and biogeochemical ocean models to study the sensitivity of the marine biology and the oceanic carbon uptake to environmental changes. His current research interests include oxygen-sensitive processes and their impact on the global nitrogen and carbon cycles. He is also participating in the evaluation of various climate engineering proposals and the development of relevant governance schemes. > web
Dr. Sven Petersen
Mineralogist at the Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences, IFM-GEOMAR, Kiel. Dr. Petersen studies the formation and evolution of seafloor hydrothermal systems and their associated ore deposits. Apart from the study of potential marine resource exploitation, his particular interest in this field is focused on the exploration of the underlying geological setting of such deposits by drilling, and the use of autonomous underwater vehicles in the exploration of black and white smokers. > web
Prof. Dr. Alexander Proelß
Professor for public law with a focus on the law of the sea at the CAU Kiel and head of the working group on “Law of the Sea” of the Kiel “Future Ocean” Excellence Cluster. In his research, Prof. Proelss focuses on the international law of the sea and international environmental law as well as on selected areas of European law and constitutional law. His current activities include a number of projects in the areas of the law of the sea and international environmental law (i.a. on Common Fisheries Policy, European species protection, and climate engineering). > web

Prof. Dr. Martin Quaas
Economist at the CAU Kiel and head of the working group on “Fisheries and Overfishing” of the Kiel “Future Ocean” Excellence Cluster. Prof. Quaas’ specialty fields are environmental, resource and ecological economics. With his research he aims to develop new fisheries management concepts and new market-based instruments of fisheries policy that promote sustainability in the fishing industry. > web
Prof. Dr. Till Requate
Economist at the CAU Kiel. Prof. Requate works in the fields of environmental policy and climate protection. While his research focus is on the efficiency and impact of climate policies, he also investigates the problem of overfishing and works on fisheries management concepts based on his findings. > web
Prof. Dr. Thorsten Reusch
Marine biologist at the Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences, IFM-GEOMAR, Kiel. Prof. Reusch is head of the research unit for “Evolutionary Ecology of Marine Fishes”. His research interests are in the fields of evolutionary biology and population genetics as well as marine genomics. He also investigates the biological effects of global change and works on invasion biology and host-parasite interactions. > web
Prof. Dr. med. Philip Rosenstiel
Medical doctor and molecular biologist at the CAU Kiel and head of the working group on “Marine Medicine“ of the Kiel “Future Ocean” Excellence Cluster. Prof. Rosenstiel works on the clinical implementation of molecular biological research approaches. He investigates the mechanisms used by simple marine and aquatic organisms to shield themselves from their environment. He hopes to be able to use the findings in therapies for human illnesses involving boundary tissues. > web
Prof. Dr. Kerstin Schrottke
Geologist at the CAU Kiel and head of the working group on “Sea-Level Rise” of the Kiel “Future Ocean” Excellence Cluster. Prof. Schrottke’s research focus is on the earth’s coasts, and especially on estuaries and highly dynamic Wadden coasts and coastal cliffs, which undergo swift changes due to both natural forces and human impacts, often with major consequences. Together with her working group she analyses the processes occurring at the interfaces of land and sea, freshwater and saltwater, and water column and sediment with a view to determining coastal development, threats and protection measures. > web
Dipl.-Volkswirt Henning Sichelschmidt
Economist at the Institute for the World Economy of the CAU Kiel. H. Sichelschmidt studied institutional aspects of transportation, and economic effects of transportation infrastructure and shipping economics. Contact via: ruediger.soltwedel@ifw-kiel.de
PD Dr. Ursula Siebert
Veterinarian and leader of the section Ecology of Marine Mammals and Birds at the Research and Technology Centre (FTZ) of the CAU Kiel. Dr. Siebert investigates the distribution, health status, and behaviour of marine mammals. Her ecological research focuses on the impacts of environmental pollutants and other anthropogenic activities on marine organisms. > web
Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Soltwedel
Economist at the Institute for the World Economy of the CAU Kiel. Prof. Soltwedel’s research focus includes spatial aspects of European integration, innovation and cluster formation, and liberalization of network infrastructures. He has also studied the shipping industry in the context of an analysis of the transportation industry. > web
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Sommer
Marine biologist at the Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences, IFM-GEOMAR, Kiel. Prof. Sommer investigates the impact of climate change on aquatic ecosystems and carries out research on marine ecosystems and food webs. The focus of his work is on interractions among species, and especially on competition and feeding relationships. > web
Prof. Dr. Karl Stattegger
Marine biologist at the Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences, IFM-GEOMAR, Kiel. Prof. Sommer investigates the impact of climate change on aquatic ecosystems and carries out research on marine ecosystems and food webs. The focus of his work is on interractions among species, and especially on competition and feeding relationships. > web
Prof. Dr. Horst Sterr
Geographer at the CAU Kiel. Prof. Sterr’s specialty field is coastal geography with focus on climate-change impacts and natural hazards research. His aim is to assess the impacts of coastal disasters and find risk management solutions. He also carries out analyses and cost assessments of the expected damage caused by climate change and natural hazards in potentially threatened regions of the Earth. > web
Dr. Renate Sturm
Food chemist at the Institute for Coastal Research of the GKSS Research Centre in Geesthacht, Environmental Chemistry Department. The focus of her work is on the occurrence and fate of organic pollutants (POPs) in coastal and marine regions. > web
Prof. Dr. Tina Treude
Biological oceanographer, with a special focus on benthic microbial and biogeochemical processes, at the Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences, IFM-GEOMAR, Kiel. Head of the working group on “Seafloor Warming” within the Kiel “Future Ocean” Excellence Cluster. Prof. Treude investigates the potential impacts of climate-induced seafloor warming on the stability of gas hydrates and associated biogeochemical processes in both the seabed and water column. Other topics of her research include microbial processes in sediments of cold seeps and within oxygen-minimum zones as well as microbe-mineral interactions. > web
Prof. Dr. Athanasios Vafeidis
Geographer at the CAU Kiel and head of the working group “Coastal Risks and Sea-Level Rise” of the Kiel “Future Ocean” Excellence Cluster. Prof. Vafeidis investigates the risks associated with sea-level rise in coastal areas and looks at how these risks are exacerbated by increasing human pressure. In particular, his research focuses on the analysis, modelling and assessment of both physical and socio-economic impacts of accelerated sea-level rise in coastal regions, at different spatial and temporal scales. > web

Dipl.-Biol. Carlo van Bernem
Marine ecologist at the Institute for Coastal Research of the GKSS Research Centre in Geesthacht. His specialty fields are Wadden Sea ecology and coastal zone management. One of the focal points of his research is oil pollution in marine ecosystems.
Dr. Justus van Beusekom
Marine biologist at the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) in List/Sylt. Dr. van Beusekom’s scientific focus is on coastal ecology. He investigates the biogeochemistry and biodiversity of coastal areas in the face of global or regional change, coastal systems under global or regional pressure, and the integration of observations for the purposes of coastal management. > web
Prof. Dr. Martin Visbeck
Physical oceanographer, Deputy Director of the Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences, IFM-GEOMAR, Kiel and chairmen of the Kiel “Future Ocean” Excellence Cluster. Prof. Visbeck’s research focus is on ocean circulation and climate dynamics mostly in the Atlantic. He is also a member of numerous international working groups, the German Research Foundation’s (DFG) Senate Commission on Oceanography, and the National Committee on Global Change Research. > web
Prof. Dr. Martin Wahl
Marine biologist at the Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences, IFM-GEOMAR, Kiel. Prof. Wahl investigates benthic communities in terms of their interrelationships and their interactions with the environment. His main interests are in the areas of biodiversity and global change, stress ecology, and direct and indirect interactions in ecosystems. He also studies defence strategies of marine organisms against consumption and epibiontic colonization. > web
Prof. Dr. Klaus Wallmann
Geochemist at the Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences, IFM-GEOMAR, Kiel. Prof. Wallmann’s focal interests are marine gas hydrates and their formation and stability, as well as cold seeps and mud volcanoes on the seabed. He also investigates microbial degradation of sedimentary organic matter and the recycling of nutrients into the ocean. > web
Dr. Florian Weinberger
Marine biologist at the Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences, IFM-GEOMAR, Kiel. The focus of Dr. Weinberger’s work is on macroalgal defence regulation and innate immunity and macroalgal invasion ecology. He also investigates the interactions between invasive macroalgae and native biocoenoses. > web

Other contributors to this volume:
Moritz Bollmann
CAU Department of Economics
Dr. Rainer Froese
IFM GEOMAR
Kerstin Güssow
Walther-Schücking-Institute for International Law
Dr. Setareh Khalilian
Kiel Institute for the World Economy
Prof. Dr. Sebastian Krastel
IFM-GEOMAR
Dr. Martina Langenbuch
IFM-GEOMAR
Johanna Reichenbach
CAU Department of Economics
Dr. Jörn O. Schmidt
CAU Department of Economics
Dr. Rüdiger Voss
CAU Department of Economics