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01/2012
-Newsletter
New topic: Why are invasive species so stress tolerant?
The GAME network
GAME (Global Approach by Modular Experiments) is an international research and stu-
Two previous GAME projects revealed that
question is: Are groups of marine inverte-
invasive species are more tolerant towards
brates, which have previously been ex-
environmental stress than comparable
posed to environmental stress, more ro-
complish their Master projects in its frame-
native species. Furthermore, and this was
bust than naïve groups? To test this, the
work, while they benefit from the internatio-
a surprise, we found that invasive popula-
GAME teams will experimentally expose
nal
tions of cosmopolitan species are more
groups of, e.g., mussels, barnacles, ascidi-
teaching modules offered in GAME. GAME is
resistant than native populations. There-
ans or shore crabs to stressful conditions
based at GEOMAR|Helmholtz Centre for
fore, pronounced differences in tolerance
for several weeks. Mortality during this
towards stress do not only exist between
time should change the genetic structure
different species, but also between popu-
of the groups and by this also their overall
dent training programme in marine ecology.
Undergraduate students are invited to ac-
exchange
and
the
comprehensive
Ocean Research Kiel and collaborates with 33
marine research institutions in more than 20
countries.
robustness. A subsequent evaluation will
then verify whether pre-stressed groups
show a higher resistance towards stress
than non-stressed groups.
GAME participant Yasser Ahmed takes water samples in the harbour of Jakarta. Photo: Armin Fabritzek
Another common invader in many coastal ecosystems: The crab Pachygrapsus marmoratus.
Photo: Marie Garcia
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
TOPICS
The slipper limpit Crepidula fornicata is an invasive
mollusc in Europe. Photo: Mark Lenz
 New research topic
1
the translocated individuals. As a conse-
 City hall reception for GAME 2
quence, the frequency of robust geno-
 Research started at 5 sites
2
types rises in the non-native population
 Inside GAME
3
that is going to arrive in the target area.
 GAME tests remote teaching 4
This should lead to an increase in the pop-
 More about Bogor
4
ulation’s mean resistance towards stress.
 10 years of global research
5
The 10th GAME project is going to test the
 GAME says THANK YOU
5
relevance of this mechanism. Our study
 Imprint
6
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City hall reception for GAME students
City council vice president Rainer Tschorn
welcomed the group of GAME participants in the name of the SchleswigHolstein capital. On this occasion, he emphasized the unique character of the
programme and recognized its contribution to the international academic life of
the city. Kiel is hosting GAME for ten
years now and during this time 130 stu-
GAME participants with city council vice president
Rainer Tschorn (m). Photo: Jan Steffen
dents from more than 20 different countries came to see the place when they
joined GAME activities at GEOMAR.
“GAME plays an important role in internationalizing research and
teaching in Kiel.”
Rainer Tschorn, vice president of the Kiel city council
These year’s research projects take place at 5 sites
GAME KEEPS GROWING
In 2013 the GAME research
network will welcome a new
partner. Since 2008 GAME collaborates 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
In 2012 GAME teams conduct research
Madeira and he has already supervised
work in Finland (Tvaerminne near Hanko),
two GAME projects during his post-doc
Portugal (Lisbon), Indonesia (Bogor), Bra-
period at the Smithsonian Environmental
zil (Niteroi) and Chile (Coquimbo). While
Center in Maryland, USA. Now he brought
four of the five sites have been hosting
GAME back to Portugal. The research
teams already several times, the Universi-
facilities are located 30 km from the cen-
ty of Lisbon is new in the game. Here, at
ter of Lisbon in Guia-Cascais, directly at
the Center of Oceanography, Dr. Joao
the Atlantic coast, and provide a perfect
Canning-Clode is supervising projects
research environment for GAME.
from this year on. Though the site is new,
the supervisor is an old stager. Dr. Canning-Clode took part in GAME when he
was studying biology on the island of
and is directly adjacent to the
Yellow Sea.
The harbour of Qingdao. In the next year, the
Chinese metropolis will host a GAME project.
Photo: Mark Lenz
The Center of Oceanography in Guia-Cascais overviews the sea like a medieval fortress. Photo: Marie Garcia
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Inside GAME: Participants write about the introductory course in March
2012.
IFM-GEOMAR IS NOW
By Sandra Eichhorn, Marie Garcia und Lisa Oberschelp
GEOMAR
Since January 1st 2012 the for-
For us GAME X started on March 5th when
unique attempt to restore a large brackish
mer IFM-GEOMAR is member
the international group of participants first
lagoon at the German Baltic sea coast, a
of the Helmholtz Association
gathered for a welcome breakfast at
habitat type that almost became extinct
and changed its name to
GEOMAR. We are five German students
during past centuries.
and one from Brazil, Chile, Portugal and
The month passed very fast and finally we
Indonesia, respectively. Unfortunately, no
had developed a conceptual framework for
local student was found in Finland to com-
our experiments and decided – after in-
plete the team, so that poor Daniel is facing
tense discussions - on the workflow for all
his fate as a lonely wolf out in the Finnish
teams. Now it is time to leave Kiel after this
woods during this summer. This first get-
instructive first weeks to get prepared for
GEOMAR|Helmholtz Centre for
Ocean Research Kiel.
together was the starting point of a fourweeks-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 institute, while a reception in the Kiel city hall
gave us a first impression of the place that
Project manager Nils Kobarg (r) explains the Geltinger
Birk restoration concept.
Photo: Mark Lenz
will be our home during four months in
2012. The following weeks were packed
our new tasks at the different localities.
with paper-reviews and paper-content-
Last but not least we want to thank Mark,
presentations, discussions and exchange of
Martin and the whole GAME team for hav-
information that brought us closer and
ing instructed us so well. Sail ahoy, until
closer to our research topic. Furthermore,
October!
Snorkeling at 5°C was a new experience for Felipe
Ribeiro (r) from Brazil.
we were taught the basics of how to use
statistics in ecology and we had a first enThe museum in Damp. Geologist Johannes Janssen (r)
illustrates the formation of sandy coastlines.
counter with the free statistical computing
software “R“. Most importantly, we discussed 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-
Kelp is an unfamiliar beach finding for Yasser Ahmed
from Indonesia. Photo: Mark Lenz
mate chambers of GEOMAR. The test also
provided a first glimpse into the challenges
we will face during the practical part.
You need to take a careful look. Collecting fossils at
the Schönghagen sand cliff.
All photos: Mark Lenz
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
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GAME is testing remote teaching
GAME on Facebook
GAME teaching modules are time-tested
participant, who will now do the practi-
and optimized during numerous projects
cal part of her PhD project in Bogor.
Social media become more and more
during the last ten years. We are now
Questions by the course participants
important – also for communicating
looking for ways to let also non-GAME
were broadcasted to Kiel by email or
science and for networking research-
students at our partner institutes partici-
internet chat and were immediately
ers. GAME therefore launched its
pate in GAME-proven courses, especially
answered by Dr. Mark Lenz, who co-
own Facebook page one year ago.
in those that deal with experimental
tutored this pilot project. The test run
There we are now frequently posting
design and biostatistics. During April
was successful, so that we will now de-
2012, there was a test run in remote
velop new and modify existing contents
teaching together with our Indonesian
for remote teaching at our partner insti-
partner, the Bogor Agricultural Universi-
tutes.
new information about the programme and the GAME activities going on in Kiel and at our partner sta-
ty. Participants of the Marine Science
tions. The contents can be shared and
and Technology Training Course (MST),
commented by others. Visit us on
which takes place in Bogor once a year,
Facebook!
dealt with the question “How to design a
successful experiment?”. Furthermore,
www.facebook.com/GAME.GEOMAR
they received a comprehensive introduction into the free statistical computing
software “R”. All the materials were sent
from Kiel by email, while local support
Dr. Karen von Juterzenka (m) with MST students in
Bogor. Photo: Mareike Huhn
was provided by Dr. Karen von Juterzenka, our scientific partner in Bogor,
and Mareike Huhn, a former GAME-
More about Bogor
Harvest of greenlip mussels in the Bay of Jakarta.
Photo: Armin Fabritzek
GAME participant Mareike Huhn success-
Huhn and Carolin Wendling in 2009 and
fully applied for a scholarship granted by
2010. Due to these projects, Perna viridis
the German Academic Exchange Service
became the pet of the marine lab in Bo-
(DAAD). She is now continuing her re-
gor, but the attention the scientists dedi-
search work on the tropical greenlip mus-
cate to this organism is justified by its
sel Perna viridis, which she started during
relevance as an important coastal ecosys-
her GAME time in Bogor in 2010, as a
tem engineer and aquaculture organism.
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
The greenlip mussel Perna viridis is an important
aquaculture organism in Indonesia.
Photo: Mareike Huhn
Perna viridis. This work was also based on
previous GAME studies conducted by
Nurina Ayu, Ramadian Bachtiar, Mareike
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GAME celebrates 10 years of global modular research
In 2012 GAME completes the first dec-
for GAME in coming years? The activities
ade of global modular research in marine
start with an information desk on the
ecology. To celebrate this anniversary,
research vessel Alkor during the Kiel
we plan several activities during the se-
Week on June 22nd 2012. All further
cond half of the year. In talks and exhibi-
events will also be announced on our
tions, we want to outline what has been
website and on Facebook.
achieved and we want to look into the
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
future of the programme. What will be
letter and return the application to the
the research topics of the next decade?
GAME coordination office. In case of
How can we find new research partners
questions, please contact us by email
especially in regions were basic ecologi-
or phone. Here are the answers to 3
cal research is not well established? How
important FAQs: 1. GAME projects fully
can we enthuse students and supporters
comply to the curricula of German MSc
studies in the field of biology, ecology
and environmental sciences. 2. GAME
participants remain enrolled at their
“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
home unis. 3. Due to the specific focus
of the programme, GAME is not overcrowed!
Fundraising: Old and new supporters make global research and student
exchange possible in 2012
This year, two further maritime compa-
(all in Kiel) and Schramm Group
nies based in the north of Germany
(Brunsbüttel) completed the budget for
became GAME supporters. HATLAPA
this year.
(Marine Equipment, Uetersen) and Hydrotechnik Lübeck (Marine Water Engineering) granted full sponsorships to
GAME and all participants say THANK
YOU FOR THE FANTASTIC SUPPORT!
GAME students. Furthermore, many of
GAME still seeks supporters for the next
last year’s supporters continued their
global project in 2013.
commitment:
mare
Verlags
GmbH,
Lighthouse Foundation and Okeanos –
Foundation for the Seas. They also provided full sponsorships. In addition to
the students’ budget, Lighthouse Foundation and GEOMAR together finance
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
the position of the GAME coordinator in
2012. Donations by Hydro-Bios, Terrawater, K.U.M., Contros, Oktopus GmbH
5
The newsletter
GAME
The GAME newsletter is issued twice a year and informs students,
Head
scientists and the public about latest developments in the pro-
Prof. Dr. Martin Wahl
Telefon: (0431) 600-4500
Telefax: (0431) 600-1671
[email protected]
gramme and our research work. All previous newsletters can be
Coordination
downloaded from our webpage: www.geomar/go/game.de
The next GAME newsletter appears in November 2012.
Dr. Mark Lenz
Telefon: (0431) 600-4575
Telefax: (0431) 600-1671
[email protected]
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 modulation 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: 943952
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
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