Publications
NIBIOs employees contribute to several hundred scientific articles and research reports every year. You can browse or search in our collection which contains references and links to these publications as well as other research and dissemination activities. The collection is continously updated with new and historical material.
2025
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Authors
Laurie C. Hofmann Janina Brakel Inka Bartsch Gabriel Montecinos Arismendi Ricardo Bermejo Manuela I Parentef Emeline Creis Olivier De Clerck Bertrand Jacquemin Jessica Knoop Maike Lorenz Levi Pompermayer Machado Neusa Martinsk Sotiris Orfanidis Ian Probert Cecilia Rad-Menéndez Michael Ross Ralf Rautenberger Jessica Schiller Ester A. Serrao Sophie Steinhagen Ronan Sulpice Myriam Valero Thomas WichardAbstract
Biobanking (also known as germplasm banking) of genetic material is a well-established concept for preserving plant genetic diversity and also contributes to food security, conservation and restoration. Macroalgae currently represent a very small percentage of the strains in publicly accessible European germplasm banks, despite the increasing recognition of their contribution to achieving several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. There is no strategic coordination of existing macroalgal strains, which could have severe ecological and economic implications as species and their genetic diversity disappear rapidly due to local and global environmental stressors. In this opinion paper, we stress the importance of a coordinated European effort for preserving macroalgal genetic diversity and suggest the development of a three-pillared system to safeguard European macroalgal genetic material consisting of (1) a European Board of Macroalgal Genetic Resources (EBMGR) to provide supervision, support and coordination, (2) a network of germplasm banks consisting of currently existing and newly established infrastructures and (3) an interoperable databank integrating existing databanks. While it will be the task of the EBMGR to identify and coordinate priorities, we offer initial recommendations for preserving macroalgal genetic material, discuss the risks of inaction, and highlight the challenges that must be overcome. Highlights • A coordinated European effort is crucial to preserve macroalgal genetic diversity, addressing rapid species and genetic loss due to environmental stressors. • The initiative should include a European Board of Macroalgal Genetic Resources for oversight, a network of existing and new germplasm banks and an interoperable databank integrating current resources. • The effort supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
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Authors
Alexander Oliver Jüterbock Hin Hoarau Heemstra Karin Andrea Wigger Bernardo Duarte Christian Guido Bruckner Annelise Chapman Delin Duan Aschwin Engelen Clement Gauci Griffin Goldstein Hill Zi-Min Hu Prabhat Khanal Ananya Khatei Amy Leigh Mackintosh Heidi Meland Ricardo Melo Anne Margrete Leiros Nilsen Leonore Olsen Ralf Rautenberger Henning Reiss Jie ZhangAbstract
How to build a sustainable seaweed industry is important in Europe’s quest to produce 8 million tons of seaweed by 2030. Based on interviews with industry representatives and an expert-workshop, we developed an interdisciplinary roadmap that addresses sustainable development holistically. We argue that sustainable practices must leverage synergies with existing industries (e.g. IMTA systems, offshore wind farms), as the industry develops beyond experimental cultivation towards economic viability.
Authors
Alexander Jueterbock Clément Gauci Anne Margrete Leiros Nilsen Niko Steiner Ananya Khatei Griffin Goldstein Hill Leo Minini Christian Guido Bruckner Nikolai Buer Ralf Rautenberger Mark J. Cock Inka BartschAbstract
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Authors
Jan Phillipp Geißel Noé Espinosa-Novo Luis Giménez Nicole Aberle Gro Ingleid van der Meeren Ralf Rautenberger Steffen Harzsch Gabriela TorresAbstract
Aim: This study sets out to understand the variability in larval traits of dispersive life stages of a famous invader, the European shore crab Carcinus maenas, in its native distribution range. Location: North East Atlantic coast from the Norwegian Arctic to the southern European distribution limit of C. maenas in Southern Spain. Taxon: European shore crab Carcinus maenas (Crustacea, Decapoda). Methods: We quantified latitudinal patterns in larval body mass, elemental composition (C and N content), and thermal tolerance of the first larval stage. We collected crabs from four populations spanning 25° of latitude (Vigo in Northern Spain; Bergen, Trondheim, and Bodø in Norway) and reanalysed published and unpublished data of body mass and elemental composition of additional populations from Germany, Wales, France, and Southern Spain. Furthermore, we used two laboratory experiments to test the thermal tolerance limits of the first larval stage from Vigo and the Norwegian populations. In the first experiment, we reared larvae from hatching to Zoea II at seven temperatures (9°C–27°C) and from hatching to LT50 at 6°C. In the second experiment, we exposed freshly hatched larvae acutely to increasing or decreasing temperatures (up to 40°C and down to 3°C). Results: Across the entire European range, we found a substantial increase in dry mass and carbon and nitrogen content of freshly hatched larvae with latitude. Norwegian populations exhibited higher survival at 9°C than the Vigo population. Furthermore, LT50 at 6°C increased from South to North. All populations showed high survival in the range 12°C–24°C but low survival at 27°C.
Abstract
Eucheumatoid seaweed farmers face a confluence of challenges emanating from presumed nutrient deficiency due to over-cropping, leading to low yields and frequent ice-ice disease outbreaks. Despite limited data on systemic nutrient limitations, some farmers clandestinely apply commercial inorganic fertilizers to accelerate growth and harvest premature crops after half of the prescribed 45-day cultivation period, sparking controversy. Unlike terrestrial agriculture, the use of inorganic fertilizers in eucheumatoid seaweed farming (ESF) is contentious. This stems from the haphazard use of the term “organic” to classify sea-grown crops without using synthetic fertilizers. However, when anthropogenic inorganic nutrient pollution fertilizes coastal seas, this effectively disqualifies these crops from the “organic” produce classification. This paper critically explores the use of artificial nutrient enrichment in ESF, assessing its impact on the crop's growth, ice-ice disease mitigation, carrageenan quality, and the marine environment. While controlled fundamental studies have shown that nutrient enrichment can significantly increase growth and potentially reduce disease occurrence, its inconsistent positive and negative effects on carrageenan yield and quality require further investigation with emphasis on organismal nutrient physiology and metabolism. Inorganic nutrient enrichment could also potentially alter the microbiome of eucheumatoid seaweeds. Whether inorganic nutrient enrichment in ESF will be sanctioned by the local and global regulators and policy makers, or not, increased knowledge is crucial for establishing basic science in order to rationally discuss challenges contributing to the decreasing production of quality raw, dried, eucheumatoid seaweed biomass for carrageenan processing, without compromising environmental and social responsibilities. Currently, the routine use of inorganic fertilizers in ESF is not authorized and remains a very sensitive issue, especially among marginalized subsistence seaweed farmers. In conclusion, inorganic nutrient enrichment in ESF presents a double-edged sword: whilst it can boost growth and potentially combat disease, its practice raises concerns on carrageenan yield and quality, and environmental pollution, as well as regulatory organic codes, necessitating further research for responsible implementation, when sanctioned. The bottom line is that when prescribed by regulators, the raw dried seaweed (RDS) and the subsequent products (both semi-refined and refined carrageenans) cannot be certified as “organic” when the crop is cultivated using inorganic fertilizers.