Biodiversity & Ecosystem Functioning

Predictions of change in marine biodiversity have raised substantial concerns over the consequences of biodiversity loss, or the appearance of invasive species on ecosystem processes functioning and services. When biodiversity loss jeopardizes the provision of ecosystem goods and services, it may ultimately affect human well-being. By performing laboratory and field experiments and observational studies, a better understanding of the marine ecosystem is aimed for, giving us the baseline and best practice to underpin sound ecosystem management.

Several specific subjects are investigated at the Marine Biology Research Group:

• Food webs

• Species interactions

• Dispersal ecology

• Population dynamics

• Acclimation and adaptation

• Taxonomy

• Patterns of diversity and community structure

• Diversity – functioning relationships

• Resilience of populations, communities and of ecosystem functioning