Seagrass Ecology and Restoration Fascilities
Seagrass Seed Germination Facility:
The seagrass germlig station in a Geomar climate chamber.
The seagrass (also 'eelgras') seed germination facility consists of up to 30 independent 60-L aquariums housed in a climate chamber. Each aquarium can accommodate six sub-containers, which can optionally be further divided into six smaller compartments, allowing multiple experimental treatments to be conducted simultaneously. The design ensures that each aquarium functions as an independent experimental unit with continuous water circulation, enabling precise manipulation of environmental conditions such as temperature (via individual heaters) and nutrient concentrations.
All aquariums are equipped with plant-growth LED lighting systems with adjustable photoperiod to simulate seasonal or experimental light regimes. The facility also allows flexible selection and manipulation of substrate type and composition, enabling controlled experiments on sediment characteristics and their influence on eelgrass (Zostera marina) seed germination and early seedling development. Together, these features provide stable, reproducible conditions for experimental work supporting eelgrass ecology and restoration research.
Seagrass Culture in Wave Tanks:
The wave tanks were designed at Geomar to cultivate seagrass (Z. marina) under controlled conditions that closely simulate the Western Baltic Sea. 12 experimental tanks hold and / or circulate 500 L of filtered seawater via a direct inflow from Kiel Fjord and contain boxes of natural sand, recreating an authentic natural habitat. Daylight conditions are reproduced using programmable lamps with a natural diel cycle. An artificial wave system generates orbital water movements typical for shallow coastal environments.
The facility also allows for precise manipulation of water temperatures, enabling us to conduct heat wave experiments. The aim is to investigate heat stress resilience of seagrass and to identify best practices for future seagrass meadow restorations.
