iSeal
Research for nature conservation
The project iSeal investigates the impacts of climate change, fisheries and invasive species on the Wadden Sea National Parks of Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein. iSeal stands for “Trans- and interdisciplinary social-ecological network analysis based on long-term monitoring, experimental data and stakeholders’ assessment”. Although the name might suggest it, we are not working with seals, but examine different communities in the coastal Wadden Sea.
iSeal
Focus of our research
In the project iSeal funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMBF), scientists from seven different research institutions investigate the impact of climate change, fisheries and the settlement of invasive species on the Wadden Sea ecosystem. The results will be used to develop indicators to assess the ecological status of coastal ecosystems. These indicators can be applied in the context of existing guidelines and marine protection agreements and help to further develop monitoring concepts.
iSeal
Performance of our research
The iSeal project is part of the research mission of the German Marine Research Alliance (DAM) focusing on "Protection and sustainable use of marine areas". In the first phase (end of 2021 until end of 2024), the project investigated the effects of various anthropogenic influences on the Wadden Sea ecosystem. This included the investigation and evaluation of time series data, the execution of mesocosm experiments, the development of new methods for the detection of invasive species, the modeling of food webs, and the use of social-ecological network analyses. The second phase (end of 2024 until end of 2027) of the project will continue with the investigations and use the results for recommendations for action and testing of indicators.
iSeal
Application of our research
We aim to understand how the various human impacts, also known as multiple anthropogenic stressors, affect biodiversity and faunal composition in the coastal Wadden Sea. We will use these insights to develop novel approaches to better assess the ecological status of the Wadden Sea. Close collaboration with various stakeholders, e.g. authorities, is particularly important to us, as the results of iSeal will enable direct application in conservation practice.
🌊 Have you noticed any new species along our coast? 🦀🐚
Researchers at the University of Oldenburg are investigating how people perceive new and invasive species in the Wadden Sea. The goal is to understand whether these changes are viewed more as a problem or as an enrichment, and how we should deal with them in the future.
📝 Take part in our interactive and anonymous survey and share your perspective with us.
💬 Whether you know a lot or nothing at all about invasive species—your opinion is important for helping us better understand how people experience these changes.
📲 You can access the survey by scanning the QR code in the image or by clicking this link: https://www.partimap.eu/en/p/waddensea2026
The survey will be open until the 15th of August 2026 🗓️
Our research
Our project includes several topics, called work packages, focusing on different aspects. Scientists from different institutions work together [...]
The iSeal project is part of the research mission of the German Marine Research Alliance (DAM) focusing on "Protection and sustainable use of marine areas".
