Letter of Intent
to participate in an
International EMBRIO Research Collaboration
within the topical framework
“Coral Reefs in Transition - Social Ecological Linkages
between Shifting Small Island Communities and
Changes in Ecosystems”
To state your interest in actively participating in research partnership within the EMBRIO
Consortium on the topic above please complete and sign this form and submit it to
embrio.ipb@gmail.com before November 9, 2015. Please make your entries in English
language.
For more information on the conceptual framework of the EMBRIO Research Collaboration
“Coral Reefs in Transition” please refer to the document “EMBRIO
FieldConvention+Workshop_Outcome.PDF” (sections 1+5).
1) Please enter your contact data
(i.e. of the person who completes this form and acts as a contact person for further
communication)
Full Name (incl. title)
Position (at institution)
Institution
Department
Address
Mobile Phone No.
E-Mail
WWW
2) Optional: Below, you can enter the names and contact data of up to five
additional people at your institution who are interesting in participating in the
EMBRIO Research Collaboration together with you
Note: This is not a requirement. You are welcome to write the Letter of Intent on your own
behalf, only. In this case please just leave the field below empty.
[Please enter your text here]
3) Please list the fields of expertise you can contribute to strengthen the
international research collaboration
For a list of already identified expertise needs, please see file “EMBRIO Workshop
Outcome.PDF”. But please feel free to suggest further expertise areas you/your institution
could contribute.
[Please enter your text here]
4) Please describe the role you envisage for yourself and your institution in the
research collaboration “Coral Reefs in Transition - Social Ecological Linkages
between Shifting Small Island Communities and Changes in Ecosystems”
Briefly outline your background, ideas, and concepts relevant for the partnership (total: 0.5 –
max. 2 pages)
a) Your past research activities with relevance to the new research collaboration (i.e.
social science or ecological projects in the area of “Coral Reefs in Transition”)
[Please enter your text here]
b) Your research objectives for the collaborative project (i.e. which study aspects
would you want to focus on within the conceptual framework “Coral Reefs in
Transition”)
[Please enter your text here]
c) Equipment, facilities, and field access (to small-island systems) available at your
institution that may be relevant for the collaborative project
[Please enter your text here]
5) Optional: Please choose one or more of the EMBRIO International Partners you
would like to start a dialogue on joint proposal writing with…
(Please tick the boxes below if you see topical links and want us to facilitate the contact with
one or more of the partners below; see attached list of international partners for more
information regarding their expertise & interests). Entries here are optional – EMBRIO can
also try to determine matching partners for you based on your entries above.
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Prof. Dr. James Bell
Dr. Sebastian Ferse
Dr. Andreas Kunzmann
PD Dr. Hauke Reuter
Prof. Dr. Peter Schupp
Dr. Mirta Teichberg / Dr. Jeremiah Plass-Johnsson
 please see next page for profiles of these scientists
6) Please briefly explain your selection of the international partners you want to get
in dialogue with / which complementing expertise you need in order to achieve
your scientific goals:
[Please enter your text here]
7) Please sign this document and the statement below
I declare my strong interest in actively engaging in a research partnership with international
partners in the framework of the envisaged EMBRIO Consortium “Coral Reefs in Transition”.
This declaration is not yet a binding commitment, but a Letter of Intent to participate in the
development of joint proposals and – if successfully funded – to actively engage in the
collaborative research.
……………………………………..
Date & Place
……………………………………….
Signature
Profiles of the international EMBRIO Field Convention Partners
AProf. Dr. James Bell
Head of Research Group ‘Sponge Ecology & Marine Conservation’
University of Wellington, New Zealand
James.Bell@vuw.ac.nz
www.victoria.ac.nz/sbs/about/staff/james-bell
www.victoria.ac.nz/sbs/research/marine-biology-research/sponge-marine-ecology/research
Research Interests:
Sponge Research
www.victoria.ac.nz/sbs/research/marine-biology-research/sponge-marine-ecology/research/sponge-ecology
 Influence of climate change and ocean acidification on sponges
 Influence of environmental degradation on sponges (particularly sedimentation)
 Factors influencing local, regional and global patterns of sponge biodiversity
 Functional Ecology
 Monitoring
Sustainable management of marine systems
www.victoria.ac.nz/sbs/research/marine-biology-research/sponge-marine-ecology/research/marine-protected-areas
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Use of genetic tools to support fisheries management
Assessing the effectiveness of MPAs and other conservation measures
Population connectivity and self-recruitment
Larval export and spillover
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Director of the Master of Marine Conservation Programme at the University of
Wellington
I have a broad range of field, laboratory and molecular skills, and have worked in
a number of tropical regions world-wide.
12 years of research experience in Indonesia (mainly Wakatobi region)
Further Information
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Motivation & Expectations:
1) I am responsible the development of a new tropical field course location in 2016, which will alternate
between Indonesia and Australia. While I have the possibility of running this course in the Wakatobi,
I want to explore possibilities of other field locations and particularly the potential to run this as a
joint field course with IPB and other international partners, and to have a field course that is
internationally unique (this would not be the case if it was run from the Wakatobi).
2) I have a long history of working in the Wakatobi on a number of different research projects (not just
sponges), but want to extend my research programme within Indonesia and specifically with new
Indonesia collaborators, and at new field locations.
3) I’d like to identify new capacity building/marine management projects that would be suitable for
funding from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
4) I’d like to explore potential co-supervision opportunities with Indonesian and other international
counterparts, particularly targeted at Indonesian students who might eligible to NZAID scholarships.
5) I’d like us to leave with a clear road map of where we go next after this field event, including
identification of larger-scale research projects, funding sources, student pathways and further field
courses, and who will be responsible for doing what, and by when.
The key expectation from me is that we develop a meaningful collaborative team, with some clearly
identified research projects with capacity development capability, and that are sustainable over the
medium term.
Dr. Sebastian Ferse
Head of Research Group ‘Human Agency, Resilience and Diversity in Coral Reefs’
Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology (ZMT), Bremen
sebastian.ferse@zmt-bremen.de
http://www.zmt-bremen.de/en/Sebastian_Ferse.html
Research Interests:
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Coral reef restoration
Fish-habitat interactions
Ecological impacts of mariculture and its feasibility as
livelihood option
Coastal livelihoods
Marine governance
Ornamental species culture and trade
The role of patron-client relations in marine resource use
Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning of coral reefs
Trait-based approaches in coral reef ecology
Further Information:
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12 years of research experience in Indonesia (mostly in Spermonde Archipelago/Sulawesi)
Member of the Scientific Dive Unit at ZMT
Motivation & Expectations:
I am interested in strengthening my ongoing collaboration with IPB and develop a structured
framework for further joint work. I am also very much looking forward to meeting new colleagues
with similar interests and work on a broader collaborative network focused on Indonesia. My
research interests with regards to the Field Convention are mostly in ecosystem functioning and
potential impacts of human activities, both on the level of organisms as well as communities.
Dr. Andreas Kunzmann
Head of Research Group ‘Ecophysiology’
Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology (ZMT), Bremen
akunzmann@zmt-bremen.de
www.zmt-bremen.de/en/Andreas_Kunzmann.html
www.researchgate.net/profile/Andreas_Kunzmann
Research Interests:
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Ecophysiological studies on stress metabolism of fish and invertebrates
Metabolic adaptations in fish (hypoxia, stress, oxygen transport)
Reproduction of ornamental organisms
IMTA Integrated Multi Trophic Aquaculture
Further Information
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CMAS & POSSI Instructor (** / B2), European Research Diver & Mission Leader
Motivation & Expectations:
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discuss about introduction of European/International Research Diving Safety Concepts
(agreement achieved with LIPI Chairman)
look for additional partners for two new Indonesian German projects: ACUTE and GINAICO
link research in western Indonesia with eastern Indonesia (ZMT signs MoU with LIPI P2LD)
re-activate German Alumni
look for opportunities for joint funds (international programs) to support bilateral cooperation
Dr. Jeremiah Plass-Johnsson
Representing the Research Group headed by Dr. Mirta Teichberg
‘Algae and Seagrass Ecology’
Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology (ZMT), Bremen
jeremiah.plassjohnson@zmt-bremen.de
http://www.zmt-bremen.de/en/Algae_and_Seagrass_Ecology.html
Research Interests
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Coral reef community ecology
Experimental design
Stable isotope analysis
Fish-habitat interactions
Teleost ecology
Anthropogenic stressors and ecosystem resilience
Further Information
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Recent PhD graduate from the University of Bremen and the Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine
Ecology
PhD project was within SPICE (Science for the Protection of Indonesian Coastal Ecosystems)
Spent over a year in the Spermonde Archipelago, Indonesia
I have worked on coral reefs in Indonesia, Australia, The Northern Mariana Islands, Tanzania and
Mozambique
Motivation & Expectations
Considering that I have spent the last three years in-and-out of Makassar, I am very interested in
exploring reefs of other areas of Indonesia. Furthermore, myself and the ZMT have been working in
Spermonde for many years, thus I would like to explore possibilities of ecological comparisons with
Spermonde. Of particular personal interest are differences in fish diversity. Spermonde is a disturbed
system within the Coral Triangle while the coral reef systems on the west of Java would be substantially
lower in species numbers. This might be reflected in trophic interactions, again, offering interesting
comparisons.
The above interests are representing personal goals. So, as a representative of the Algae and Seagrass
Working Group, it would be great to see if there are differences in algal or seagrass communities in
comparison with Spermonde. Specifically, if there are instances of phase changes as this is something
that was absent in the Spermonde Archipelago despite what was thought to be facilitating conditions.
Lastly, one of my main hopes is to speak with the local experts to listen to their concerns and hopes for
research expectations. It is these people that know their systems the best and they can help direct our
interests.
Prof. Dr. Peter Schupp
Head of Research Group ‘Marine Biochemistry’
Institute for Chemistry & Biology of the Marine Environment
University of Oldenburg, Germany
peter.schupp@uni-oldenburg.de
http://www.icbm.de/en/environmental-biochemistry
Research Interests:
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Chemical Ecology
Microbial Ecology
Marine Natural Products Research and Biodiversity
Ecotoxicology
Invasion Ecology
Coral reproduction and ornamental/aquarium trade
Effects of climate change on corals
Coral /algae and coral/invertebrate interactions
Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning of coral reefs
Further Information
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More than 20 years of experience in coral reef ecology
Former director and Associate Professor at the University of Guam Marine Laboratory, Guam
Broad background in microbial- and chemical laboratory work/methods
Extensive experience in various monitoring and experimental field methods
Motivation & Expectations
1) I am teaching a coral reef ecology field course/excursion and I am interested in exploring new sites
to conduct the course, possibly as a joint course with other interested researchers
2) I am also looking for new field sites to conduct joined collaborative work with interested Indonesian
and international partners on some of the above topics.
3) I would like to identify and discuss possible research project that are of interest to Indonesian
collaborators. This includes searching for and identifying possible funding regimes for the identified
research.
4) Having interested students wanting to conduct research on coral reefs I am also looking for
interested collaborators to supervise Master students during their thesis.
PD Dr. Hauke Reuter
Head of Research Group: “Theoretical Ecology & Modelling / Spatial Ecology &
Interactions”
Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology (ZMT), Bremen
hauke.reuter@zmt-bremen.de
www.zmt-bremen.de/en/Hauke_Reuter.html
Research Interests:
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Theoretical Ecology, Ecosystems research
Functional aspects of biodiversity, trophic interactions and food web structure
Sustainable management of natural resources and impact of anthropogenic activities
Resilience of coral reefs and reactions to changing environmental conditions and anthropogenic
use
Further Information:
My specific expertise is in the representation and analysis of ecological processes with simulation models
(spatial explicit representations using Cellular automaton models or agent-based modelling). In my
group we have been developing several models which address specific topics in coral reefs systems such
as phase-shifts resulting from spatial competition, small scale migration of fish and also the integration
of ecological and economic processes to analyse diving impact on reef systems. In the SPICE-MaCoRAS
project we are developing a simulation model to study the impact of different management schemes on
reef systems and its trophic structure.
Motivation & Expectations:
By participating in the EMBRIO Field Convention I would like to share knowledge on model development
and to create awareness on the potential (and also limitations) of the different approaches. I think that
much progress can be made by combining practical approaches with regular monitoring and theoretical
knowledge on system behaviour. Here I would also like to emphasise the necessity of long-term archiving
of data (from different regions and source) to provide an overview of changes in reef systems and the
potential to analyse specific causes.
I hope that the joint discussions will lead to specific projects addressing conditions for reef resilience..