Aurelia Koch » Germany
Succession of macroalgae at artificial reefs in Vejle Fjord, Denmark
Macroalgae are some of the world´s most important primary producers. Generating more than half of the world´s oxygen, the protection of marine flora is more important than ever in the face of a changing climate. Warming temperatures in the oceans threaten marine species globally. Therefore, the protection of marine ecosystems is crucial to combat and mitigate effects of climate change. Furthermore, a change in environmental conditions and the globalization of commerce lead to an increase in invasive species. My project focuses on the identification of macroalgae at artificial reefs in Vejle Fjord, Denmark. I am identifying different species of algae from the implementation of the reefs up to this year, looking for the change in size and species as well as determining the natural succession and potentially invasive species. Additionally, I am trying to detect possible correlation of anthropogenic and environmental influences by considering several environmental parameters, such as nutrient load, temperature, and salinity. My work takes place in the lab for marine algae at the University of Coimbra (UC) working with the team of Professor Leonel Pereira. As I now have completed most of my research in the lab, I am working a lot from home or different cafés in Coimbra writing and analysing my data.
Michaela Petropoulou » Greece
Assessment of mammalian and avian diversity in forests: exploring the relation with ecosystem services through remote monitoring techniques.
Assessing differences in composition of mammalian and avian diversity, using remote monitoring techniques, between forest types in Central Portugal and estimating potential for biodiversity-related ecosystem service provision.
Darragh M. Farnan » Ireland
Age and Growth of Colossal squid Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, Robson 1925
"My project focuses the significance of the Colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni in the Southern Ocean, particularly in terms of its ecological importance and the general role of cephalopods within the food web. As the largest cephalopod and invertebrate on the planet by weight it makes up a large proportion of the total cephalopod biomass in the Southern Ocean. Cephalopods, including squid and octopods, occupy multiple trophic levels in the Southern Ocean ecosystem. They act as a link between small mesopelagic fish, crustaceans, to higher predators such as albatross, seals, and whales. Despite their significance, many cephalopod species, including the Colossal squid, remain understudied. Traditional sampling methods for cephalopods are ineffective, necessitating alternative approaches, such as analysing cephalopod beaks. Beak microstructure analysis provides valuable insights into cephalopod age and growth patterns. This non-invasive approach contributes to the study of cephalopod populations and enhances our understanding of their ecology and dynamics."
"In my project I’m going to take the 30 beaks samples that had already been collected from the stomachs of predators in the Antarctic and analyse the micro increments in the beak structure. This is to establish an estimate for their growth at different life stages and an overall average lifespan of the species. I have 10 samples from the three different sectors of the Antarctic and will compare the data from these to determine if there are any regional differences in growth and age."
