Research

Funding: DBU, CULT-Stiftung, 81.550 EUR

Project Details:
This project serves the long-term purpose of protecting the species of the yellow-bellied toad, Bombina variegata, which is highly endangered in Germany and Central Europe. In many areas, the yellow-bellied toad only occurs in secondary, i.e. anthropogenically modified, habitats such as quarries. The populations are often isolated, too small, and suffer from inbreeding and genetic impoverishment. Previous studies have also shown that yellow-bellied toads use different life cycle strategies in different habitats. These differences suggest that the species has adapted to local ecological conditions, and these adaptations are potentially manifested in the genome. The project aims to improve the genetic and ecological information available about the species in order to make practical conservation more effective. For this purpose, DNA samples from German, French and Swiss yellow-bellied toad populations, which have already been sampled in previous projects, are examined using genomic methods (RADSeq). In addition, toads in Germany will be sampled in the few natural habitats where they still occur. The genomic results are then correlated with ecological data (habitat type, local climate). The results provide evidence as to whether yellow-bellied toads are adapted to their local habitat (anthropogenic vs. natural) or to their local climate at the molecular level. The aim is to identify specific candidate genes that mediate this local adaptation. Furthermore, species distribution models based on climatic data should show where suitable habitats are for the yellow-bellied toad today and in the future - also with a view on climate change. The results obtained will be discussed with scientists and species protection specialists in a workshop. In follow-up projects, so-called genetic rescue will be used for small, isolated occurrences to stabilize them, and larger populations will be genetically upgraded. Genetic rescue projects based on genomic information are innovative since so far they have been successfully implemented in species protection in only a few countries.

Cooperation Partners:

Prof. Jean-Paul Léna, Dr. Hugo Cayuela, Benjamin Monod-Broca, University of Lyon;

Dr. Mirjam Nadjafzadeh, NABU Niedersachsen; Fabian Droppelmann, Chance 7

Project Details:
Equine tendon and ligament lesions are known to have an utmost unsatisfactory healing potential if they are located within synovial structures such as tendon sheaths and bursae. Potential causes have only been sparsely described. In addition to surgical debridement of altered tendon tissue as part of a tenoscopy or bursoscopy, adjunctive medical and regenerative therapy have been described. The aim of the project is to investigate the effect of the mentioned therapeutic strategies in a controlled manner and to identify factors that contribute to improved healing of intrasynovial tendon damage.

Cooperation Partners:

Andrea Noguera-Cender, PhD, Hanseklinik für Pferde, Sittensen

Funding: European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) , 275.552 EUR

Project Details:
Incidental bycatch represents a significant threat to marine species worldwide, particularly for Endangered, Threatened and Protected (ETP) species, which include marine mammals, birds, turtles and elasmobranchs. To date, efforts to minimize the bycatch of ETPs have had limited success. LIFE CIBBRiNA is a cross-border and cross-sectoral project in which research institutions, environmental authorities, fishing industry and non-governmental organizations from 13 European countries collaborate to reduce the incidental bycatch in fisheries that have a high risk of bycatch of ETPs in the North Sea, Baltic Sea, and Mediterranean Sea. The objective is to develop new bycatch mitigation methods and to promote their implementation. As part of LIFE CIBBRiNA, the ITAW will develop tools for monitoring and collection of bycatch data. The incidence of bycatch will be assessed through pathological investigations of casualty animals. Carcass drifting models will allow the identification of bycatch hotspots, and a database will be developed to collate strandings data and to enable a temporospatial analysis of the information. Furthermore, the ITAW is engaged in the dissemination of project outcomes to relevant stakeholders (including the development of research boxes as didactic material for schools), networking with other projects and publishing the scientific results of LIFE CIBBRiNA.

Project Details:
Forschung und Zielsetzung

Die deutsche Nordseeküste als Teil des "UNESCO Weltnaturerbe Wattenmeer" ist ein weltweit einmaliger mariner Lebensraum mit einer bisher weitgehend unbekannten Biodiversität. Aufgrund seiner besonderen Eigenschaften (z.B. hinsichtlich Gezeiten und klimatischen Bedingungen) stellt dieser Lebensraum eine besondere Herausforderung für eine Vielzahl von Organismen dar und die besonderen und diversen ökologischen Nischen im Bereich der deutschen Nordseeküste versprechen das Vorkommen von endemischen Arten und vielen bisher noch unbeschriebenen Organismengruppen. Dieser einmalige Lebensraum ist jedoch permanent durch anthropogene Einflüsse bedroht, und speziell die Auswirkungen der globalen Erderwärmung und der zunehmenden Versauerung der Meere stellen eine existenzielle Bedrohung für viele marine Organismen dar.
Dies ist weltweit das erste Mal, dass ein bedeutender Lebensraum über 25 Jahre in Folge kontinuierlich, umfassend und vergleichend quantitativ in seiner Biodiversitätsdynamik beschrieben wird und zwar in Bezug auf ein Vierteljahrhundert globaler Veränderungen.
Wir schaffen Daten statt Spekulationen.

Arbeitsmethoden
Field work, Envrironmental Genomics, Metagenomics, Bioinformatics

Cooperation Partners:

Dr Helen Spence-Jones (she/her)

Postdoctoral Researcher

Coastal Ecology/Ökologie der Küsten

Alfred-Wegener-Institut

Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research

Wadden Sea Station

25992 List auf Sylt, Deutschland

Dr. Michael Tessler

AMNH New York

Funding: Nds. Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur über Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, 1.811.726 EUR

Project Details:
This initial project within the ZERN research and transfer network is dealing with the future-oriented keeping and use of fattening pigs. There are deficits in current fattening pig husbandry, particularly in the areas of animal welfare, emissions and nutrient efficiency. This project has therefore set the objective of scientifically evaluating relevant aspects of sustainable pork production synergistically and gaining new, practice-relevant knowledge.

Cooperation Partners:

Georg-August-Universität Göttingen

Deutsches Institut für Lebensmitteltechnik (DIL)

Funding: Nds. Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur über Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, 1.496.374 EUR

Project Details:
ZERN is a research network of the University of Göttingen, the University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover and the German Institute of Food Technologies in Quakenbrück, which aims to support the transformation of the agricultural and food system in Lower Saxony, which is under increasing pressure to adapt. Aspects such as animal welfare and sustainability must be given greater consideration in agricultural production in the future. The findings from the research network should enable the sustainable production, processing and marketing of food.

Cooperation Partners:

Georg-August-Universität Göttingen

Deutsches Institut für Lebensmitteltechnik (DIL)

Funding: Volkswagenstiftung, 657.600 EUR

Project Details:
Eine potentiell flächendeckende Wiedervernässung der Moore zwecks Revitalisierung und CO2-Speicherung führt über die extensive Nutzung zum Anfall ligninreicher Primärbiomasse, die nicht effizient für die klassische Tierhaltung nutzbar ist. Diese Biomasse kann bisher maximal energetischen Zwecken dienen, was aber in Zukunft im Sinne einer ehrgeizigen Energiewende und Kreislaufwirtschaft nicht mehr zielführend ist. Im Rahmen diese Projektes soll die Lignozellulosestruktur der organischen Rohstoffe technisch durch Vorbehandlungen aufgebrochen werden und die dann insgesamt besser verdauliche Biomasse anschließend für eine dezentrale Insektenproduktion genutzt werden. Modellhaft sollen Standard-Insektenlarven (schwarze Soldatenfliege) und Spezialitäten (Mehlwurm, Grillen etc.) aufgezogen werden. So sollen skalierbar hochwertige Rohstoffe für die Heimtierernährung oder perspektivisch neuartige Lebensmittel produziert werden.

Cooperation Partners:

Deutsches Institut für Lebensmitteltechnik e.V., Quakenbrück

Dr. Kashif ur Rehman

Funding: Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung (BLE), 630.245 EUR

Project Details:
The FUETURE project aims to efficiently utilize regional feed resources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency in broiler chicken production. It seeks to develop an innovative approach based on the use of adaptable and resilient sustainably cultivated feed crops and previously underutilized domestic crops. Sustainability will be strengthened by reducing imports of unsustainable soy products from overseas. The scientific objective is to formulate regional feed rations taking into account sustainability criteria and the availability of co-products to reduce the environmental footprint of chicken meat. The environmental impact will be significantly reduced through innovative feed technology and precise supplementation of feed additives. The project aims to strengthen more sustainable regional food production and supports the German sustainability strategy.

Cooperation Partners:

KWS Lochow GmbH, Technische Hochschule Bingen, IFF Braunschweig

Funding: Landesbetrieb für Küstenschutz, Nationalpark und Meeresschutz Schleswig-Holstein, 49.580 EUR

Project Details:
The ITAW has been conducting research on marine mammals for more than 30 years and, with over 50 employees at the institute in Büsum, has sufficient highly qualified professionels on hand. The aim of the scientists is to investigate the ecology and physiology of marine mammals and to assess the impacts of humans on the animals, their health and their population.
In the project "Monitoring of marine mammal strandings", all reporting forms completed by the seal hunters are digitized and transferred to a database. This reporting forms are filled in by the seal hunters of Schleswig-Holstein for every stranded marine mammal, both for stranded sick or dead animals, and contain information on stranding date, location, species and condition of the animal/carcass. This data is summarized and evaluated annually in order to investigate trends in stranding numbers for the three resident marine mammal species and to assess the possible causes for the stranding. Furthermore, the data is regularly cross-referenced with the data from the cases investigated at the ITAW. This enables a more comprehensive and objective assessment of the situation of the native marine mammal population. In addition, more complex scientific evaluations can be carried out than before and the resulting findings can be used directly by the responsible authorities for the further development of existing management plans.

Funding: Landesbetrieb für Küstenschutz, Nationalpark und Meeresschutz Schleswig-Holstein, Tönning, 83.205 EUR

Project Details:
As part of the seal live monitoring program, harbour seals and other seal species are caught with nets in the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea. In addition to staff from the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, this campaign is carried out with the help of experienced staff from the State Office for Coastal and Nature Conservation, seal hunters and other helpers. The seals are measured (including blubber thickness via ultrasound) and weighed. Blood, hair and faecal samples as well as swabs for bacteriology and virology are taken. Based on the samples, blood counts are drawn up and blood chemistry, cytology, microbiology, virology and serology tests are carried out. Furthermore, tests for heavy metals (hair and blood) and persistent organic pollutants are performed.In addition, parasitological examinations for the detection and species identification of parasites as well as cytological and pathological processing of changes in the animal body are done. If grey seals are caught during the seal catches, the named examinations will also be carried out on them.
The examinations are carried out in cooperation with the Institute of Virology and the Institute of Pathology at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, the Institute of Hygiene and Infectious Diseases at the Justus Liebig University Giessen, the Freshwater and OCeanic science Unit of reSearch (FOCUS) of the University of Liege (Belgium) and the department of Ecological Chemistry of the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research GmbH (UFZ) Leipzig. In addition to these investigations, seals are also equipped with telemetry devices as part of other research projects and doctoral theses.

Cooperation Partners:

Institut für Hygiene und Infektionskrankheiten der Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen

Freshwater and OCeanic science Unit of reSearch (FOCUS) der Universität Liege (Belgien)

Department Ökologische Chemie des Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung GmbH (UFZ) Leipzig