The benthic ecology research group investigates the temporal and spatial variability of biodiversity and functional diversity of benthic communities in the North Sea and Wadden Sea in relation to various environmental parameters such as sediment composition and rising water temperature in the North Sea as part of the LTER North Sea Benthic Observatory, which is based at Senckenberg am Meer.

Current projects are investigating the bioturbation potential of the various benthic communities in the North Sea and their influence on geochemical cycling in the sediment and near-bottom boundary layer.

Trophic interactions in the Wadden Sea and the North Sea are analysed with the help of food web models.

Species distribution or habitat models are used to make predictions about the changes in the spatial distribution of benthic species in the North Sea and Wadden Sea associated with climate change.