GEOMAR  Research  Marine Biogeochemistry  Biological Oceanography  Infrastructure  Plankton Imaging

Plankton Imaging

Optical methods such as underwater camera systems have established as a valuable tool in studying zooplankton and marine particles. One of the major advantages of imaging systems is the ability to examine plankton community composition or certain key taxa of interest in situ, particularly regarding their small-scale spatial distributions. Moreover, the non-invasive nature of imaging avoids perturbing or physically contacting target organisms (in contrast to traditional net sampling), making it ideally suited for studying fragile organisms such as gelatinous plankton.

 

Figure 1: Deployment of the in situ camera systems PIScO (“Plankton Imager with Scanning Optics”)
Figure 1: Deployment of the in situ camera systems PIScO (“Plankton Imager with Scanning Optics”)
Figure 2: KielVision
Figure 2: KielVision


My group is working on the development of novel imaging technologies to further exploit the potential of this method. Our instrumentation includes several in situ and laboratory-based imaging systems to examine plankton community composition ranging from microzooplankton (>20µm) to mesozooplankton of several cm body size.

Furthermore, we are applying and refining modern data analysis methods, such as “deep learning” to process the huge amounts of image data and convert them into biologically and ecologically meaningful quantities.
 

 

Figure 3: Sample images of different plankton taxa (PIScO)
Figure 3: Sample images of different plankton taxa (PIScO)


Recent projects:

  • GEOMAR Postdoc Research Group “Plankton Imaging Technology”
  • Future Ocean Cluster of Excellence Projects:
  • “All-in-focus: Combining lightfields and shadowgraphs for advanced underwater imaging”
  •  “Combining deep learning, in situ imaging and citizen science to resolve the distribution of giant protists in major upwelling regions”
  •  “MicroZooImager: An integrated optical system for microzoo- plankton analysis”

 

The plankton imaging group currently consists of:

Dr. Jan Taucher (group leader)
Dr. Veit Dausmann (scientist)
Anton Theileis (engineer)


back

RD2
Marine Biogeochemistry

  • Head of the Research Division Biological Oceanography (FB2-BI)

    Prof. Dr. Anja Engel
    GEOMAR Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung Kiel
    Seefischmarkt / building 5, room 5-2.116
    Wischhofstr. 1 - 3, 24148 Kiel
    Phone:++49/( 0)431 600-1510
    email: aengel(at)geomar.de

    Administrative Assistant/Department Office FB2-BI
    Silvana Gagliardi, room 5-2.310
    Phone: ++49 (0)431 600-4445
    Telefax: 0431 600-134445
    email: bi-sekr(at)geomar.de

    W Mikrobielle Biogeochemie (FB2-BI/MB)

    Prof. Dr. Anja Engel
    GEOMAR Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung Kiel
    Seefischmarkt / Gebäude 5, Raum 5-2.116
    Wischhofstraße 1 - 3, 24148 Kiel
    Telefon: 0431 600-1510
    E-Mail: aengel(at)geomar.de

    Assistenz/Geschäftszimmer FB2-BI/MB
    Monika Peschke, Raum 5-2.310
    Telefon: 0431 600-4447
    E-Mail: mpeschke(at)geomar.de

    Arbeitsgruppe Biogeochemische Prozesse (FB2-BI/BP)

    Prof. Dr. Ulf Riebesell
    GEOMAR Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozenforschung Kiel
    Seefischmarkt / Gebäude 5, Raum 5-2.313
    Wischhofstraße 1 - 3, 24148 Kiel
    Telefon: 0431 600-4444
    E-Mail: uriebesell(at)geomar.de

    Assistenz/Geschäftszimmer FB2-BI/BP
    Silvana Gagliardi, Raum 5-2.310
    Telefon: 0431 600-4445
    Telefax: 0431 600-134445
    E-Mail: sgagliardi(at)geomar.de

    Arbeitsgruppe Plankton, Biogeochemie und Dynamik (FB2-BI/PBD)

    Prof. Dr. Rainer Kiko
    GEOMAR Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozenforschung Kiel
    Seefischmarkt / Gebäude 5, Raum 5-4.105
    Wischhofstraße 1 - 3, 24148 Kiel
    Telefon: 0431 600-1751
    E-Mail: rkiko(at)geomar.de

    Assistenz/Geschäftszimmer FB2-BI/PBD
    Silvana Gagliardi, Raum 5-2.310
    Telefon: 0431 600-4445
    Telefax: 0431 600-134445
    E-Mail: sgagliardi(at)geomar.de

Research Divisions
Core Themes
Integrative Research Foci
Programs and projects
Miscellaneous