Lezing Christian Wiencke

Since 1991 the Seaweed Biology Group of the AWI has worked in Kongsfjorden on the ecophysi­ology and ecology of seaweeds. Since the beginning the study of global climate change effects has been an important research area beside basic research. In particular, we investigated the effects of enhanced UV radiation through stratospheric ozone depletion on seaweeds and their spores. More­over, we studied the biogenic formation of volatile organo-halogenic compounds potentially de­stroying stratospheric ozone. At present, we are investigating how global warming affects the ecology (depth and biomass distribution, succession, reproduction) of seaweeds and their commu­nities. In this respect the continuous monitoring of environmental parameters at the AWIPEV un­derwater observatory is an important component. A recent, also for other groups very important working field is an ecological network analysis of the seaweed community in Kongsfjorden.

Prof. dr. Christian Wiencke works for the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in Bremerhaven.