© 2006 - 2009 CORE
Research
CORE working group investigates cycles of elements (C, N, P) in warm and cold water coral reefs with an emphasis on sediment-water coupling and interactions between fauna and microbes. A special research focus lies on the question how corals influence the reef environment and act as engineers of their ecosystem, in particular through the release of different kinds of organic matter.
CORE working group also conducts research on the ecological and biogeochemical consequences of regime shifts in coral reefs in a time of change. Research is conducted on an ecosystem level rather than on the species level. It is a primary goal of CORE working group to communicate scientific results to the public.
CORE - Field work
In situ experiments using underwater chambers are carried out to investigate benthic metabolism rates and degradation of organic materials in sandy reef sediments.
Mucus of skleractinian corals is collected from aquarium-kept Fungia and Acropora specimens to analyze contents, composition and release rates of these organic coral exudates.
Line transects of the reef substratum provide estimates of living coral cover and community composition at different reef locations and depths.