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-Newsletter
TOPICS
New research topic 1
City hall reception for GAME 2
Research started at 5 sites 2
Inside GAME 3
GAME tests remote teaching 4
More about Bogor 4
10 years of global research 5
GAME says THANK YOU 5
Imprint 6
Two previous GAME projects revealed that invasive species are more tolerant towards environmental stress than comparable native species. Furthermore, and this was a surprise, we found that invasive popula- tions of cosmopolitan species are more resistant than native populations. There- fore, pronounced differences in tolerance towards stress do not only exist between different species, but also between popu-
lations of the same species. One possible explanation for this observation is that adverse conditions during transport, e.g.
in the ballast water tanks of cargo vessels, select for stress tolerant genotypes among the translocated individuals. As a conse- quence, the frequency of robust geno- types rises in the non-native population that is going to arrive in the target area.
This should lead to an increase in the pop- ulation’s mean resistance towards stress.
The 10th GAME project is going to test the relevance of this mechanism. Our study
question is: Are groups of marine inverte- brates, which have previously been ex- posed to environmental stress, more ro- bust than naïve groups? To test this, the GAME teams will experimentally expose groups of, e.g., mussels, barnacles, ascidi- ans or shore crabs to stressful conditions for several weeks. Mortality during this time should change the genetic structure of the groups and by this also their overall robustness. A subsequent evaluation will then verify whether pre-stressed groups show a higher resistance towards stress than non-stressed groups.
01/2012
GAME (Global Approach by Modular Experi- ments) is an international research and stu- dent training programme in marine ecology.
Undergraduate students are invited to ac- complish their Master projects in its frame- work, while they benefit from the internatio- nal exchange and the comprehensive teaching modules offered in GAME. GAME is based at GEOMAR|Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel and collaborates with 33 marine research institutions in more than 20 countries.
New topic: Why are invasive species so stress tolerant?
The GAME network
Another common invader in many coastal eco- systems: The crab Pachygrapsus marmoratus.
Photo: Marie Garcia
The slipper limpit Crepidula fornicata is an invasive mollusc in Europe. Photo: Mark Lenz
GAME participant Yasser Ahmed takes water samp- les in the harbour of Jakarta. Photo: Armin Fabritzek
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GAME KEEPS GROWING
In 2013 the GAME research network will welcome a new partner. Since 2008 GAME col- laborates successfully with the University of Hongkong and is now about to invite a second partner from China. The Ocean University of China is located in Qingdao/Shandong province and is directly adjacent to the Yellow Sea.
In 2012 GAME teams conduct research work in Finland (Tvaerminne near Hanko), Portugal (Lisbon), Indonesia (Bogor), Bra- zil (Niteroi) and Chile (Coquimbo). While four of the five sites have been hosting teams already several times, the Universi- ty of Lisbon is new in the game. Here, at the Center of Oceanography, Dr. Joao Canning-Clode is supervising projects from this year on. Though the site is new, the supervisor is an old stager. Dr. Can- ning-Clode took part in GAME when he was studying biology on the island of
Madeira and he has already supervised two GAME projects during his post-doc period at the Smithsonian Environmental Center in Maryland, USA. Now he brought GAME back to Portugal. The research facilities are located 30 km from the cen- ter of Lisbon in Guia-Cascais, directly at the Atlantic coast, and provide a perfect research environment for GAME.
“GAME plays an important role in internationalizing research and teaching in Kiel.”
Rainer Tschorn, vice president of the Kiel city council City hall reception for GAME students
These year’s research projects take place at 5 sites
City council vice president Rainer Tschorn welcomed the group of GAME partici- pants in the name of the Schleswig- Holstein capital. On this occasion, he em- phasized the unique character of the programme and recognized its contribu- tion to the international academic life of the city. Kiel is hosting GAME for ten years now and during this time 130 stu- dents from more than 20 different coun- tries came to see the place when they joined GAME activities at GEOMAR.
GAME participants with city council vice president Rainer Tschorn (m). Photo: Jan Steffen
The Center of Oceanography in Guia-Cascais overviews the sea like a medieval fortress. Photo: Marie Garcia The harbour of Qingdao. In the next year, the
Chinese metropolis will host a GAME project.
Photo: Mark Lenz
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IFM-GEOMAR IS NOW GEOMAR
Since January 1st 2012 the for- mer IFM-GEOMAR is member of the Helmholtz Association and changed its name to GEOMAR|Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel.
For us GAME X started on March 5th when the international group of participants first gathered for a welcome breakfast at GEOMAR. We are five German students and one from Brazil, Chile, Portugal and Indonesia, respectively. Unfortunately, no local student was found in Finland to com- plete the team, so that poor Daniel is facing his fate as a lonely wolf out in the Finnish woods during this summer. This first get- together was the starting point of a four- weeks-long preparation phase that trained us for our experiments.
During the first days, we had some time to get to know each other and our new base at GEOMAR in Kiel. A tour around the deep sea research facilities and the vessel fleet informed us about the scope of the insti- tute, while a reception in the Kiel city hall gave us a first impression of the place that will be our home during four months in 2012. The following weeks were packed with paper-reviews and paper-content- presentations, discussions and exchange of information that brought us closer and closer to our research topic. Furthermore, we were taught the basics of how to use statistics in ecology and we had a first en- counter with the free statistical computing software “R“. Most importantly, we dis- cussed the “perfect experiment“– which, unfortunately, does not exist. To test the practicability of the approach we finally chose, we started a test-experiment with Baltic seastars (Asterias rubens) in the cli- mate chambers of GEOMAR. The test also provided a first glimpse into the challenges we will face during the practical part.
A highlight of the course was the excursion to Maasholm at the Schlei Fjord, where we also visited the landscape management project in the Geltinger Birk. The latter is a
unique attempt to restore a large brackish lagoon at the German Baltic sea coast, a habitat type that almost became extinct during past centuries.
The month passed very fast and finally we had developed a conceptual framework for our experiments and decided – after in- tense discussions - on the workflow for all teams. Now it is time to leave Kiel after this instructive first weeks to get prepared for
our new tasks at the different localities.
Last but not least we want to thank Mark, Martin and the whole GAME team for hav- ing instructed us so well. Sail ahoy, until October!
Inside GAME: Participants write about the introductory course in March 2012.
By Sandra Eichhorn, Marie Garcia und Lisa Oberschelp
Project manager Nils Kobarg (r) explains the Geltinger Birk restoration concept.
Photo: Mark Lenz
Kelp is an unfamiliar beach finding for Yasser Ahmed from Indonesia. Photo: Mark Lenz
Snorkeling at 5°C was a new experience for Felipe Ribeiro (r) from Brazil.
The museum in Damp. Geologist Johannes Janssen (r) illustrates the formation of sandy coastlines.
You need to take a careful look. Collecting fossils at the Schönghagen sand cliff.
All photos: Mark Lenz
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GAME is testing remote teaching
GAME teaching modules are time-tested and optimized during numerous projects during the last ten years. We are now looking for ways to let also non-GAME students at our partner institutes partici- pate in GAME-proven courses, especially in those that deal with experimental design and biostatistics. During April 2012, there was a test run in remote teaching together with our Indonesian partner, the Bogor Agricultural Universi- ty. Participants of the Marine Science and Technology Training Course (MST), which takes place in Bogor once a year, dealt with the question “How to design a successful experiment?”. Furthermore, they received a comprehensive introduc- tion into the free statistical computing software “R”. All the materials were sent from Kiel by email, while local support was provided by Dr. Karen von Juter- zenka, our scientific partner in Bogor, and Mareike Huhn, a former GAME-
participant, who will now do the practi- cal part of her PhD project in Bogor.
Questions by the course participants were broadcasted to Kiel by email or internet chat and were immediately answered by Dr. Mark Lenz, who co- tutored this pilot project. The test run was successful, so that we will now de- velop new and modify existing contents for remote teaching at our partner insti- tutes.
More about Bogor
GAME participant Mareike Huhn success- fully applied for a scholarship granted by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). She is now continuing her re- search work on the tropical greenlip mus- sel Perna viridis, which she started during her GAME time in Bogor in 2010, as a PhD student. Furthermore, in April 2012, Kiel student Giannina Hattich finished her internship, during which she worked on further aspects of the stress ecology of Perna viridis. This work was also based on previous GAME studies conducted by Nurina Ayu, Ramadian Bachtiar, Mareike
Huhn and Carolin Wendling in 2009 and 2010. Due to these projects, Perna viridis became the pet of the marine lab in Bo- gor, but the attention the scientists dedi- cate to this organism is justified by its relevance as an important coastal ecosys- tem engineer and aquaculture organism.
Dr. Karen von Juterzenka (m) with MST students in Bogor. Photo: Mareike Huhn
Harvest of greenlip mussels in the Bay of Jakarta.
Photo: Armin Fabritzek
The greenlip mussel Perna viridis is an important aquaculture organism in Indonesia.
Photo: Mareike Huhn
GAME on Facebook
Social media become more and more important – also for communicating science and for networking research- ers. GAME therefore launched its own Facebook page one year ago.
There we are now frequently posting new information about the pro- gramme and the GAME activities go- ing on in Kiel and at our partner sta- tions. The contents can be shared and commented by others. Visit us on Facebook!
www.facebook.com/GAME.GEOMAR
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“GAME offers young marine researchers the opportunity to join an excellent science network and to achieve topical research results at an early stage of their career.”
Professor Dr. Gerhard Graf, University of Rostock
In 2012 GAME completes the first dec- ade of global modular research in marine ecology. To celebrate this anniversary, we plan several activities during the se- cond half of the year. In talks and exhibi- tions, we want to outline what has been achieved and we want to look into the future of the programme. What will be the research topics of the next decade?
How can we find new research partners especially in regions were basic ecologi- cal research is not well established? How can we enthuse students and supporters
for GAME in coming years? The activities start with an information desk on the research vessel Alkor during the Kiel Week on June 22nd 2012. All further events will also be announced on our website and on Facebook.
This year, two further maritime compa- nies based in the north of Germany became GAME supporters. HATLAPA (Marine Equipment, Uetersen) and Hy- drotechnik Lübeck (Marine Water Engi- neering) granted full sponsorships to GAME students. Furthermore, many of last year’s supporters continued their commitment: mare Verlags GmbH, Lighthouse Foundation and Okeanos – Foundation for the Seas. They also pro- vided full sponsorships. In addition to the students’ budget, Lighthouse Foun- dation and GEOMAR together finance the position of the GAME coordinator in 2012. Donations by Hydro-Bios, Terra- water, K.U.M., Contros, Oktopus GmbH
(all in Kiel) and Schramm Group (Brunsbüttel) completed the budget for this year.
GAME and all participants say THANK YOU FOR THE FANTASTIC SUPPORT!
GAME still seeks supporters for the next global project in 2013.
GAME celebrates 10 years of global modular research
Fundraising: Old and new supporters make global research and student exchange possible in 2012
GAME invites students:
Apply now for 2013!
Students looking for a Master project in marine ecology are invited to apply for GAME 2013. Applying is easy: Visit our website, download the application form, fill it in, attach a CV and cover letter and return the application to the GAME coordination office. In case of questions, please contact us by email or phone. Here are the answers to 3 important FAQs: 1. GAME projects fully comply to the curricula of German MSc studies in the field of biology, ecology and environmental sciences. 2. GAME participants remain enrolled at their home unis. 3. Due to the specific focus of the programme, GAME is not over- crowed!
A long time since.... The first (northern hemisphere) GAME group in spring 2003. The southern hemisphere group started already 6 months earlier.
Photo: Markus Molis
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The GAME newsletter is issued twice a year and informs students, scientists and the public about latest developments in the pro- gramme and our research work. All previous newsletters can be downloaded from our webpage: www.geomar/go/game.de
The next GAME newsletter appears in November 2012.
The newsletter
GAME Head
Prof. Dr. Martin Wahl Telefon: (0431) 600-4500 Telefax: (0431) 600-1671 mwahl@geomar.de
Coordination Dr. Mark Lenz
Telefon: (0431) 600-4575 Telefax: (0431) 600-1671 mlenz@geomar.de www.geomar.de/go/game
www.facebook.com/GAME.GEOMAR
Our scientific output -
publications of the last 12 months:
Kubicek A, Bessho K, Nakaoka M, Wahl M, Lenz M (2011): Inducible defence and its modu- lation by environmental stress in the red alga Chondrus yendoi (Yamada and Mikami in Mikami, 1965) from Honshu Island, Japan. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 397: 208-213.
Sareyka J, Kraufvelin P, Lenz M, Lindström M, Tollrian R, Wahl M (2011). Differences in stress tolerance and brood size between a non-indigenous and an indigenous gammarid in the northern Baltic Sea. Marine Biology 158: 2001-2008
Wahl M, Link H, Alexandridis N, Thomason JC, Cifuentes M et al. (2011) Re-structuring of marine communities exposed to environmental change: a global study on the interactive effects of species and functional richness. PLoS One 6: 1-9
Lenz M, da Gama BAP, Gerner NV, Gobin J, Groener F et al. (2011) Non-native marine invertebrates are more tolerant towards environemental stress than taxonomically related native species. Results from a globally replicated study. Environmental Research 111: 943- 952
Gröner F, Lenz M, Wahl M, Jenkins SR (2011) Stress resistance in two colonial ascidians from the Irish Sea: the recent invader Didemnum vexillum is more tolerant to low salinity than the cosmopolitan Diplosoma listerianum. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 409: 48-52
