Biological hotspots

Some marine habitats show extraordinary high biological diversity and activity. Some of these biological hotspots are found on large, man-made infrastructures, such as wind parks. Others are created by organisms themselves such as mussels, oysters, corals and seagrasses. These ecosystem engineers modify the environment to their own needs, while at the same time providing a substrate for associated species. We are interested in the interaction of these organisms with their environment, and to what extent their presence affects other organisms and the functioning of the marine environment.

Mussel & oyster beds

In temperate estuaries and deltas, bivalve beds play the role of coral reefs: the provide a home for many intertidal species, and form an important basis for the marine food web.

Coral reefs

Coral reefs play a disproportionately large role in tropical seas and the deeper oceans. We try to understand why they flourish in these nutrient-limited environments.

Artificial structures

Artificial structures such as offshore wind farms and oil platforms form hotspots of benthic life, which extend into the water column and are attractive for fishes and birds. This has obvious implications for the local ecosystem both in the water and nearby sediments.

Changing North Sea

The North Sea is a hotspot in transition: a shallow highly productive, heavily fished and increasingly turbid sea with a changing species composition.