Current research

My current work focuses on optimizing methods of sexual coral reproduction for research, restoration and ornamental trade with an emphasis on corals of the genus Acropora.

Parallel to research on coral propagation techniques I am part of a project assessing ecotoxicological effects of chemical compounds on different life stages of scleractinians.

Aquarium Curator

Since 2013, I am curator of the aquarium facilities of the Environmental Biochemistry group.

The focus of my work as aquarium curator lies on the long-term culture of corals that were bred from larvae in Guam and imported as coral recruits as well as the culture of brooding corals (Leptastrea purpurea) that allows a year-round collection of coral larvae.

PhD Project

The focus  of my PhD project lies on the adaptability of juvenile scleractinian corals and corallimorpharians to a changing environment, e.g. rising sea surface temperatures.

It has been suggested that juvenile scleractinians – similar to other juvenile organisms – have a larger physiological plasticity than adults. In contrast, the closely related corallimorphs are known to be very adaptive even as adult polyps.

Since coral reefs are threatened by a variety of mainly anthropogenic stressors it is crucial to understand the severity of these threats. Only by examining their consequences to coral communities, the limited resources available to reef conservation can be channeled into the most effective way.

In laboratory experiments in both Guam and Germany I conduct a variety of experiments with different coral species to determine the consequences of rising water for scleractinians and corallimorpharians.

Leptastrea purpurea: juveniles

Leptastrea purpurea, adult colony in Guam

CV

Doctoral degree: July 4th, 2020: “Effects of rising temperatures on the dinoflagellate symbioses of juvenile brooding corals and corallimorpharians”

Since 2014: PhD Scholar of the German National Academic Foundation (Studienstiftung d. dt. Volkes e.V.)

Since: 2013: PhD Candidate in Marine Environmental Science, Carl-von-Ossietzky-University Oldenburg, Curator of the Aquarium Facilities at the ICBM Terramare

2011-2013: Study of Marine Environmental Science, Master Sc., Carl-von-Ossietzky-University Oldenburg

2007-2010: Study of Biology, Bachelor Sc., Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg

Experience as research assistant

2012-2015: Various positions at the AG Planktology, AG Marine Microbiology, AG Mar. Environmental Biochemistry

2010-2011: Marine Laboratory, University of Guam, USA

2008-2011: Various positions as research assistant at the Dpt. Zoology, Dpt. Botany I & II. University of Würzburg

2007-2011: DNA-Laboratory of the Division of Molecular Psychiatry, University Clinic Würzburg

Publications

Samuel Nietzer, Mareen Moeller, Makoto Kitamura, Peter Schupp (2018) Coral larvae every day: Leptastrea purpurea, a brooding species that could accelerate coral research. Frontiers of Marine Science, 5:466.

Moeller M., Nietzer S., Schils T., Schupp P. 2016. Low sediment loads affect survival of coral recruits: the first weeks are crucial. Coral Reefs. Springer Berlin Heidelberg; doi:10.1007/s00338-016-1513-1

Rohde, S., Nietzer, S., Schupp, P.J. 2015. Prevalence and Mechanisms of Dynamic Chemical Defenses in Tropical Sponges. PLoS ONE 10, 7: e0132236

Bogdanov, A., Hertzer, C., Kehraus, S., Nietzer, S., Rohde, S., Schupp, P.J., Wägele, H., König, G.M. 2015. Defensive Diterpene from Aeolidoidean Phyllodesmium longicirrum. Journal of natural Products, DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.5b00860

Bogdanov, A., Hertzer, C., Kehraus, S., Nietzer, S., Rohde, S., Schupp, P.J., Wägele, H., König, G.M. 2016. Secondary metabolome and its defensice role in the aeolidoidean Phyllodesmium longicirrum (Gastropoda, Heterobranchia, Nudibranchia), Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry 13(1):502-519, DOI 10.3762/bjoc.13.50

Publications in Aquarist Magazines:

"Fortpflanzung von Steinkorallen: ein Überblick", 2016, KORALLE Magazin Nr. 100

"Korallenfarm 2.0 - geschlechtliche Nachzucht", 2016, KORALLE Magazin Nr. 100

"Advances in Coral Culture: Propagating Stony Corals", 2016, CORAL Magazine, Vol. 14, 1

"Coral Farming 2.0: Sexual Reproduction", 206, CORAL Magazine, Vol. 14, 1

"Guam: Eine abgelegene Pazifikinsel lädt zum Entdecken ein.", 2017, KORALLE Magazin Nr. 104

"Larvenansiedlung: eine Entscheidung für's Leben", KORALLE Magazin Nr. 105

"Acanthaster – vom Riffschädling zum Aquarienmaskottchen", 2018, KORALLE Magazin 111

"Steinkoralle Leptastrea purpurea – zukünftiger Modellorganismus für die Korallenforschung?", 2018, KORALLE Magazin 114

"Leptastrea purpurea: A model stony coral for research and captive breeding", 2019, CORAL Magazine Vol. 16, 2

"Korallenriffe und Sedimentation – Sedimentforschung mit Larven und Jungkorallen", 2018, KORALLE Magazin 115

Talks at Aquarist Conventions and others:

Gesellschaft für Meeresaquaristik Ulm e.V., 12.10.2018: "Korallen und ihre Symbionten: Klimawandel, Farben und Korallenzucht"

10. Int. Meerwasser-Symposium, 16.09.2018: "Korallen und ihre Symbionten: Klimawandel, Farben und Korallenzucht"

Fisch & Reptil Sindelfingen, 02.12.2017: "Korallen und ihre Symbionten: Klimawandel, Farben und Korallenzucht"

Nordwestdeutsche Universitätsgesellschaft, Hans-Beutz-Haus Wilhelmshaven, 16.11.2017: "Korallenforschung in Wilhelmshaven und Guam"

Berufsverband d. Zootierpfleger, Aquarianer-Treffen, 22.10.2017, Wilhelmshaven: "Korallenforschung in Wilhelmshaven und Guam"

Sommerfest des MeWaStore Darmstadt, 19.08.2017: "Korallenzucht auf sexuellem Wege:
Möglichkeiten für die Aquaristik"

Meerwasser-Verein Dreiländereck, 11. 05. 2017: "Korallennachzucht auf sexuellem Wege: Möglichkeiten für die Aquaristik"

Fisch & Reptil Sindelfingen, Dezember 2016: "Korallennachzucht auf sexuellem Wege: Möglichkeiten für die Aquaristik"

Aquarienfreunde Wilhelmshaven, 25.11.2016: "Korallenzucht auf sexuellem Wege: Möglichkeiten für die Aquaristik"

9. Internationales Meerwasser-Symposium Lünen, April 2016: "Nachhaltige Korallennachzucht: Möglichkeiten für die Aquaristik durch sexuelle Korallenvermehrung".

9. Internationales Meerwasser-Symposium Lünen, April 2016: "Korallenforschung in Wilhelmshaven und Guam"

2. Klimahaus^®-Kongress Meerwasser-Aquaristik, April 2015: "Nachzucht der glasrosenfressenden Putzergarnele Lysmata seticaudata"