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Biodiversity

discovering & preserving

Marine biodiversity encompasses the diversity of life in the oceans and seas, from tiny microorganisms to large marine mammals. It includes the genetic diversity within species, the diversity of species themselves and the diversity of habitats, such as coral reefs, deep-sea trenches and mangroves. This biodiversity is crucial for the functioning of ecosystems, oxygen production and climate regulation. It also provides livelihoods for millions of people, for example through fishing and tourism. The threats to marine biodiversity are numerous, including overfishing, pollution, climate change and habitat loss. The protection and sustainable use of marine biodiversity is therefore crucial to ensure the health of the oceans and the quality of life on Earth.

Typical questions are:

  • What will the future of biodiversity be like in a changing world?
  • What is the role of deep-sea communities in regulating biochemical fluxes on the sea floor?
  • Will the ecological services provided by the ocean remain under a warmer climate?
Cold-water corals off Ireland at a water depth of 750 meters, photographed with the diving robot MARUM-CHEROKEE, Photo: MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen

Cold-water corals off Ireland at a water depth of 750 meters, photographed with the diving robot MARUM-CHEROKEE, Photo: MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen

Selection of current research projects

Colourful coral diversity in the Red Sea. Photo: Anna Roik, annaroik.org

AGELESS

New concept for the protection of marine biodiversity

 

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Research in the Arctic. Photo: MARUM – Centre for Marine Environmental Sciences; University of Bremen, V. Diekamp

SEA-Quester

SEA-Quester is investigating marine carbon cycling in novel ecosystems in the polar seas that are emerging due to climate change

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Aquaba coral reef

SPP 2299

Tropical climate variability & coral reefs

(funded by DFG)

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Current news

Showing 29-32 of 71 items.
The research vessel SONNE and the remotely operated diving robot MARUM-SQUID in action during expedition SO306 in the West Indies. Photo: Tim Kalvelage

Jan 16, 2025

Cold-water corals off New Zealand

36 marine researchers are currently traveling with the German research vessel SONNE off New Zealand to study a previously poorly understood but ...

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The NASA Mars rover Perseverance has taken a selfie with some of the ten sample tubes that it has placed in a sample depot. The depot is a crucial milestone in the NASA-ESA Mars Sample Return campaign, which aims to bring Mars samples to Earth for closer study. the depot will serve as a backup in the event that Perseverance can’t deliver its samples to a future robotic lander. Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Jan 8, 2025

Life on Mars: the need for sample return

Is there life on Mars? This question will be addressed in a few years using state-of-the-art analysis techniques – when the samples are returned from the ...

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