Completed projects aquatic

The number of dead harbour porpoises in the Schleswig-Holstein North and Baltic Seas increased enormously in 2016. (more information)

The aim of this project was to determine the extent of the negative effects of the anthropogenic underwater sounds by isolating them. (further information)

The aim of the study was to assess the potential masking effect of operational sounds of offshore wind turbines on the perception of important signals by the animal, especially potential communication signals of harbour porpoises. (more info) 

In this project the ITAW assumes the acoustic examinations for the NPV as part of the conjoint marine mammal monitoring within the framework of the BLMP. (more information)

Due to the arrangement of the federation- state marine program (Bund-Länder-Meeresprogramm (BLMP)), a program was agreed upon to conduct the corporate monitoring of marine mammals in January 2011. At this juncture the ITAW assumed acoustic studies for the NPV as part of corporate marine mammal monitoring within the scope of the BLMP. (more information)

The project´s aim was to obtain an exact survey of the number of harbour porpoises found dead or bycaught.(more info)

In this project research was conducted to investigate and quantify the impact of the construction and operation of offshore wind farms on marine mammals. (more info) 

The aim of the project is to develop novel indicators for animal health and good ecological status (more information)

The ITAW as subcontractor, with its present expertise in the subarea of marine mammal monitoring shall establish and advance the system existing within the BfN for data keeping and utilisation. (more information)

An application-oriented research concerning a potential influence of anthropogenic noise on wildlife is conducted in this cluster. The aim of this study was to develop verifiable standards for the evaluation of the impact of underwater noise on marine wildlife.(more info)

Within Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) of offshore wind farms, intensive studies in and around the planning area of potential sites are being conducted. (more info)  

This project analyses data from Australian and German aerial surveys in sea ice regions of the Southern Ocean. (more information)

Harbor porpoises are displaced, especially during the driving phase of the windmill foundations, and are subjected to further disturbance expected during wind farm construction. (more information)

Actions for the different target groups shall be developed in the intended supplement project “Volkswagen Science Transfer“ to communicate the results and strategies acquired within the “Marine Mammals in a Changing Environment“ project to the public (more information)

Aim of this by Volkswagen Foundation supported cooperative project is to examine changes in the health of marine mammals that have taken place over the past decades (more info)

Information on distribution and density of cetaceans in Antarctic waters is limited. Especially the ice-covered parts of the Southern Ocean are poorly studied. (more info)

Young seals in the North and Baltic Sea are frequently infected by lung nematodes which can threaten their health tremendously. (more info)

The potential impacts of underwater noise on marine mammals are to be investigated in several work units during this project. (further information)

A database was developed which combines existing databases on post-mortem findings, incidental and planned sightings (more information)

To further increase young people’s interest in natural science and to prevent shortage of specialists in the STEM area nine scientific educational and research institutes joined forces in the Horizon 2020-project “Marine Mammals”. (more information)

This project aims to integrate nature conservation into maritime spatial planning. In order fully understand the spatial claims of all three marine mammal species inhabiting German waters, a method of assessment will be developed.(more information)

In this project the findings regarding grey seal predation, which were obtained in an earlier pilot study, shall be applied and extended. (more information)

Habitat models (e.g. GAMs) were created for whale species which react sensitively to underwater noise, based on compiled sighting and environmental data. (more information)

Infectious diseases and other illnesses of harbour seals in Schleswig-Holstein will be investigated in this research project. (more information)

Little is known about the influence of anthropogenic stressors on the health status of marine mammals. (more information)

It was hypothesized that the hydrodynamic design of a tag could
provide stable attachment to the dorsal fin of dolphins. (more info) 

This project aims to develop models for the minimization of sound radiation under water. (more info)

In order to assess and monitor the positive status of Baltic marine mammals, indicators for the determination of the good environmental status (GES) shall be developed further in the framework of HELCOM. (more information)

Rescued harbor seals were examined to determine health status, emphasizing acquisition of zoonosis and infectious agent data. (Further information)

The Doggerbank, the largest sandbank of the central North Sea, is an important habitat of the minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), which is the most frequently occurring baleen whale species in the entire North Sea.(more information)

Investigations of the acoustic organs of Baltic harbour porpoises shall be conducted during this study and be included in a health assessment of these animals.(more information)

The permanent changes in the immediate environment of mammals by so-called “environmental stress” have become an important part in veterinary research.(more information)

Study of the potential drag-reducing properties of dolphin skin (more information) 

One of the major threats to marine environment is pollution. This involves especially the discharge of marine debris, such as plastic items. (more information)

The general objective of MINOS plus was to gain basic knowledge with regard to possible impacts that the construction of offshore windmill-parks could have on the marine environment. (more information)

Within the scope of this project not yet recorded registration forms from the seal hunters shall be digitalised and transferred into a database in order to link them with standardly recorded data from dead animal monitoring. (more information)

Several sensitive parameters for the assessment of the status of the seal population in the National Park can only be determined on the living animal. (more information)

Aim of the project is monitoring and status assessments of marine vertebrates.. (more information)

In this project aerial and ship surveys are conducted to estimate the German harbour porpoise population size and to investigate the relationship between occurrence of pelagic fish and porpoises. (more info)

In this pilot study the newly recognised predation behaviour of grey seals will be examined and evaluated. (more information)

The ITAW assumes the acoustic examination of harbour porpoises in the context of a conjoint marine mammal monitoring during this project (more information).

(more information)

Cetaceans are found regularly near South African coasts and are bycaught in anti shark nets in KwaZulu-Natal frequently. The aim of the project is to develop a necropsy protocol in order to record and document the animals´ health status. (more information)

The anatomy and pathology of ears of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) coming from German and Danish waters of the North and Baltic Seas are being comprehensively investigated in this study (more information)

The aim of this subproject within the DEPONS project (Disturbance Effects on the Harbour Porpoise Population in the North Sea; www.depons.au.dk), was to identify areas in the North Sea with high porpoise densities (more information)

Wild animal welfare, their diseases and zoonotic potential have become an increasingly important issue among wildlife populations, health investigators and authorities of the German coastal environment. (more information)

Harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) occupy a top position in the marine food web. Therefore, they accumulate high levels of harmful chemicals such as organochlorides or heavy metals. (more info)

The SCANS projects aim to acquire the abundance and distribution of small cetaceans in the North Sea and adjacent waters coordinately in regular intervals.  (more information)

The grey seal population and its distribution in the Lower Saxonian Wadden Sea was registered during the breeding season (more info)

The project aims to count the grey seals and harbour seals occurring in the whole wadden sea of Lower Saxony and Hamburg in spring (April).   (more info)

Morbillivirus infections are found consistently in marine mammals.(more info) 

Construction of offshore wind turbine generators (WTGs) in the German North and Baltic Seas is accompanied by extensive noise input to the marine environment.In the aim of this project  a threshold value for the auditory tolerance of harbour porpoise should be astablished.(further information)

In this project harbour porpoises were to be recorded visually during the noise intensive construction phase of the future offshore wind farm "Butendiek". (more information)

Visitors to the Helgoland dune are encouraged to keep a minimum distance of 30m to the grey seals. (more information)

Aim of the project is monitoring and status assessments of marine vertebrates.. (more information)

The project "Whale Monitoring in the Southern Ocean" focusses on the collection of data relevant for management and protection of cetaceans. (more information)

The aim of the project was to investigate the extent to which opportunistic sightings can be used to confirm existing model predictions or even improve them. (further information)

Grey seal and harbor seal populations in the Wadden Sea reached peak size in 2013.

The project aims to investigate how these populations continue to develop and whether their growth influences health status of the seals. (more information)