Mike Smykala

Research Focus

My research focuses on the spatial and temporal dynamics of microbial communities in the back barrier tidal flats of the East Frisian Island of Spiekeroog. Biomass, community composition, and trait-based changes in response to environmental perturbation and extreme events, like heatwaves or storms, are studied.

Keywords

Functional Traits – Microbial communities – Microphytobenthos – Biodiversity – Heat waves

Project

Spatial community ecology in highly dynamic landscapes: from island biogeography to metaecosystems. DFG (German Research Foundation) funded project.

Selected publications

Fiegel, L.J., Kellermann, M.Y., Nietzer, S., Petersen, L.-E., Smykala, M., Bickmeyer, U., and Schupp, P.J. (2023). Detailed visualization of settlement and early development in Leptastrea purpurea reveals distinct bio-optical features. Frontiers in Marine Science 10. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2023.984656

Plum, C., Möller, F.-M., Smykala, M., and Moorthi, S. (2023). Elemental composition and stoichiometry of krill and salps. Journal of Plankton Research. doi: 10.1093/plankt/fbad005

Short CV

M.S., Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Oldenburg, 2019-2022

B.S., Environmental Sciences, University of Oldenburg, 2016-2020