New video: SPP 2299 “Research & Future Directions”

Tropical coral reefs are one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth, but they are under threat. As the oceans warm, climate change is pushing these vibrant habitats to their limits. Within the Priority Programme, more than 40 scientists from across disciplines are joining forces to find answers.

SPP 2299 brings together researchers from 15 institutions across Germany to improve the understanding of tropical marine climate variability and its impacts on coral reef ecosystems in a warming world. Using innovative geochemical and isotopic methods applied to coral skeletons, alongside advanced statistical methods and Earth system modelling, the programme investigates past, present, and future climate dynamics and coral responses to heat stress.

The “Research & Future Directions” video provides a snapshot of key scientific achievements to date and discusses emerging questions that will shape the next phase of the programme’s work. It offers insights into how interdisciplinary members integrate different approaches and collaborate across projects, while also highlighting key opportunities available to programme members to explore future trajectories of tropical marine climate and coral reef ecosystems.

Dr. Thomas Felis from MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences at the University of Bremen is coordinator of the first phase of the Priority Programme since 2022. In addition to the coordination, MARUM is involved in the programme’s first phase with a number of scientific projects and researchers. The second phase begins during this year, where MARUM will be involved again, with two scientific projects and three researchers. The Priority Programme “Tropical Climate Variability & Coral Reefs” (SPP 2299) is funded for a six-year period by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation).