Dr. JOHAN HOLLANDER
Professor (Nippon Chair)
In my research I study both basic as well as applied science. I am a marine biologist with a broad interest in marine ecology, evolution, molecular biology as well as how the marine environment respond to anthropogenic stressors and climate change. My current research portfolio includes applied science concerning seagrass ecology, and how green infrastructure can mitigate against coastal erosion.
My basic research involves the interplay between food webs and multiple stressors, but also phenotypic plasticity, as well as processes and mechanisms by which populations diverge as a result of ecology or the effects of hybridisation.
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My final research direction focus on how scientific results are published, selective reporting and how large social events may distort science. We mainly use statistical methods such as meta-analysis and meta-regression in order to test for scientific objectivity and rigour.
Post-docs
Dr. Björn Almström
I am a coastal researcher at the Department of Water Resource Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering at Lund University. My research focuses on nature-based solutions (NbS) to mitigate coastal erosion and flooding. I want to understand the hydrodynamic and morphological processes of NbS in the coastal environment. A better understanding of these processes will facilitate a widespread implementation of NbS, thereby contributing to a more sustainable coastal landscape that promotes biodiversity and ecosystem services while preserving societal functions.
Dr. Nan Hu
There is widespread consensus among climate scientists today that global climate change is real and has anthropogenic roots. Marine species for example, are exposed to a large array of stressors, such as warming and ocean acidification, that are linked directly to anthropogenic climate change. The general view on whether natural populations can adapt to anthropogenic change is that many species will fail acclimatize to rapid climate change effects.
An understanding of how species respond to changes associated with climate change is unfortunately not fully understood. My project study phenotypic plasticity to further understand organisms ability or limitations to adjust to anthropogenic stress.
PhD students
Manuela Amone
Marine coastal areas provide a variety of ecosystem services, which are directly linked to human wellbeing and to environments. Marine and coastal areas contribute to biodiversity and form the basis for coastal aquaculture, as well as supports a number of social/cultural functions. In my project, I focus on the regulating functions particularly the functioning of seagrasses in supporting biodiversity and in regulating sediment transport and shoreline erosion. My project will also investigate on the best practices for seagrass restoration with a view to providing technical guidelines on how seagrass can be restored and inform evidence-based decision making for sustainable coastal management.
Theodor Kindeberg
Ecosystem-based climate adaptations involve sustainable management of ecosystems to help humans adapt to climate change. To mitigate coastal erosion by using green infrastructure I study the effects two green actions in this project; beach nourishment and re-implantation of eelgrass meadows at sites in southern Sweden. We look to understand how the effects of these measures contribute to increased biodiversity, decreased wave energy and increased cultural ecosystem services at these locations.
Gina Kum
Towards a sustainable blue economy: Investigating microplastic pollution from marine coatings in the shipping industry
Plastics pose a significant threat to the global marine environment, emerging as a major form of anthropogenic pollution. Over the past two decades, research on microplastics has surged, but there are still gaps in scientific knowledge due to the distinct characteristics of microplastics. Compounding the issue is the absence of a standardized definition for microplastics, which has led to marine coatings or paint being largely overlooked and excluded from microplastic literature and scientific research until recently. This can be attributed to the lack of consensus on whether paint particles should be classified as microplastics. Another contributing factor to the limited understanding of marine coatings used on merchant vessels is the scarcity of studies in this area. Consequently, there is a significant knowledge gap concerning ship paint as a potential source of marine microplastics. In addition, marine coatings contain a considerable proportion of additives, such as metals and biocides, as compared to plastics. This chemical toxicity raises concerns about the heightened threat they pose to the marine environment compared to land-based plastics, a concern that cannot be ignored. The thesis aims to enhance understanding of the release of microplastics from marine coatings and promote the development of sustainable practices in the shipping industry. By addressing these objectives, the research seeks to minimize the environmental impact of marine coatings and contribute to the preservation of the marine ecosystem.
Annukka Pekkarinen
Environmental characteristics off the southern coast of Sri Lanka make this area a favorable habitat for cetaceans. The area is suitable for reproduction and feeding of whales, particular the pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda). The area is however characterised by intense international shipping traffic, and the number of collisions between ships and whales has been estimated to be 20 strikes annually. This conservation project, in the realm of Blue Economy, combines acoustic monitoring together with environmental parameters to provide information about the seasonal presence of pygmy blue whales in the area, in the context of shipping routes.