Dr Iliana Baums, Professor of Marine Conservation at the Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity at the University of Oldenburg (HIFMB).

Marine Molecular Ecology

Marine Conservation

Coral

The world's tropical shores are affected by high human population density and changing environmental conditions such as global warming. This is having a significant and detrimental impact on coral reefs. As time is of the essence, it is important to gain a deeper understanding of these highly diverse ecosystems, which provide vital services to local and national economies, and to take action to conserve them. In addition, coral reefs are considered the "medicine cabinet" of the 21st century, as numerous reef invertebrates and microbes contain promising natural compounds with various medicinal properties.

The Baums Lab uses advanced molecular techniques to explore fundamental aspects of marine evolution and ecology and to gain important insights that help shape and improve coral reef conservation efforts.