Introduction to theMarMic Course 2004

MPI Bremen

AWI-Sylt

The Wadden Sea: a threatened Ecosystem?

• Human pressure (fisheries, tourism, etc.)

• Land reclamation

• Invading species

• Climate change / sea level rise

• Eutrophication

Nutrients in the Rhine

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000YEAR

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40M

ea

n P

ho

sph

ate

loa

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Actinocyclus octonarius

Actinoptycus senarius

Coscinodiscus radiatus

Actinoptychus splendens

Actinoptychus splendensRound, Crawford, Mann 1990

Phaeocystis globosa

Phytoplankton, Western Dutch Wadden Sea

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600

1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Year

PP (g

C m

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-1)

Data: Cadée, NIOZ

Pleurosigma sp.

Diploneis sp.

Delphineis sp.

Data: Cadee, NIOZ

Phytobenthos, Western Dutch Wadden Sea

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1965 1970 1975 1980 1985

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PP

(g

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Black Spots

The Course Philosophy

• Provide a multiple perspective on the system– Spatial and Temporal Scales– Different Techniques– Interdisciplinary Approach/Team Work

• Pivot of the experimental work:– Water vs. sediment– Exposed vs. sheltered– Bioturbators: Experimental plots where the occurrence one

of the major “bio-engineers” was manipulated.

• 1. Week Rotation (3 Groups)– Microsensors/Macrobenthos (Henk Jonkers/Nils

Volkenborn)– Chamber/Oxygen Dynamics (Perran Cook/ Steff Hedtkamp)– Water Processes(Tina Löbl/Justus van Beusekom)

• 2. Week: Advanced Biogeochemistry techniques

• Ultimate goal: To put all the pieces together in the form of a Report

Provisional Programme, First Week

• Tuesday: Wadden Sea Excursion (lectures depend on weather)– 07:45 Excursion: Königshafen– 10:30 Lecture: Wadden Sea Hydrography (Justus)– 11:30-13:00 Lunch Break– 13:00 Excursion + Intro on Geology: Morsum/Wenningstedt– 16:00 Preparation for Group Rotation

• Wednesday: Group Rotation

• Thursday: Group Rotation

• Friday: Group Rotation

• Saturday: Presentation of results (three groups) 12:00-13:00– 1) Microsensors/macrobenthos– 2) Chamber-Experiments– 3) Water column processes

• Sunday: Off/Free/Sleep/Check out the Island

Productivity and functioning of sandy sediments and the water column

Comparison of 4 habitats: water column

subtidal sand

bioturbated intertidal

not bioturbated intertidal

subtidal sand “Hausstrand”(day 3)

Lugworm exclusion and control site (day 1 and 2)

water sampling with MS Mya

(Day 1,2 & 3)

Sediment parameters

Organic content

Water content

Chlorophyll a concentration

Permeability

Oxygen dynamics and penetration depth

Microsensors

Chamber incubation

Processes in the water

Macrofauna sampling

Provisional ProgrammeSecond Week

• Monday– 08:00: Water sampling on Mya

– Tim Ferdelman/Volker BrücherBiogeochmical techniques

– Jens Harder Microbiology techniques

• Tuesday: Continuing Biogeochemistry

• Wednesday: Continuing Biogeochemistry

• Thursday:– Departure to Bremen