M. Sc. Femke Thoben | RD 3 Marine Ecology | RU Experimental Ecology

Doctoral Researcher | Fish Physiology | Topic 6

Research Focus

I am interested in the phenotypic plasticity of cod under different environmental influences - in particular the effects of ocean warming, ocean acidification and hypoxia on erythrocytes. I am particularly intrigued by the changes at the cellular level and how these affect the entire organism and the performance of the fish. In order to understand these relationships, I use a wide range of methods - from molecular biological and microscopic procedures to biochemical analyses - and combine these with physiological measurements of metabolic rate and performance under defined stress tests.

Projects

PhD Project “Phenotypic plasticity of red blood cell function in fish”

Vita

Since June 2025	PhD Candidate Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel & GEOMAR Helmholtz Zenter für Ozean Forschung Kiel, Deutschland. PhD Project “Phenotypic plasticity of red blood cell function in fish.” Working Group "Fish Physiology", Supervisor: Dr. Till Harter
October 2020 – July 2024	Master of Science Biological Oceanography Christian-Albrechts-Universität & GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Deutschland Master Thesis as part of the working group “Marine membrane transport physiology” (Kiel University) "Oh my Gut! Morphology, excretion, and homeostasis of the alkaline larval sea urchin midgut under changing oceanic conditions" Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Frank Melzner, Dr. Marian Hu
October 2015 – September 2019	Bachelor of Science Biology Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Deutschland Bachelor Thesis as part of the working group “Comparative Immunobiology” (Kiel University) “Impact of seawater acidification on pigment cells abundance and Vibrio diazotrophicus induced pigment cella activation in Strongylocentrotus purpuratus larvae.”  Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Matthias Leippe, Dr. Meike Stumpp

Publications

Stumpp, M., Petersen, I., Thoben, F., Yan, J. J., Leippe, M., & Hu, M. Y. (2020). Alkaline guts contribute to immunity during exposure to acidified seawater in the sea urchin larva. Journal of Experimental Biology, 223(9), jeb222844. doi.org/10.1242/jeb.222844

Uthicke, S., Patel, F., Thoben, F., Dee, A., & Lamare, M. (2025). The last generation: F3 of Echinometra sea urchins under experimental climate change. Marine Biology, 172(1), 1-16. doi.org/10.1007/s00227-024-04578-0

Petersen, I., Jonusaite S., Thoben, F ., & Hu, M. Y. (Reviewed). Evidence for HCO3- and NH3/NH4+ dependent pH regulatory mechanisms in the alkaline midgut of the sea urchinlarva. American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology. doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.00222.2024