Deep sea | Tiefsee

The windswept sand dunes of the Namib Desert are alive. Some inhabitants as the Ostrich or the Oryx are obvious, but many more go unseen by the average visitor to the hills. The researcher of the Gobabab Training and Research Station know better – some are even able to tell apart the approximately two hundred species of darkling beetles that live in Namibia. The lives of beetles and all the other small creatures living in and on the sand are interwoven in the complex food web of the Namib desert.

- Süßwasser - Tümpel, Bach und Weiher

Harbour porpoise (Phocoena Phocoena)in the Baltic Sea | Schweinswal in der Ostsee

Sie sind mehrere Meter lang oder mikroskopisch klein. Sie ringeln oder wabern durchs Wasser, kriechen über den Boden oder wachsen aus ihren Wohnröhren wie winzige Palmen. Sie sind mal transparent, mal kunterbunt – und einige können sogar per Biolumineszenz leuchten: Mit mehr als 10.000 beschriebenen Arten kommen Vielborster (Polychaeten) in allen erdenklichen Formen, Farben und Verhaltensweisen vor. Sie sind im gesamten Ozean zahlreich zu finden, im Schlamm der tiefsten Gräben, bei heißen Quellen, in den Weiten des Freiwassers, zwischen Korallenriffen, auf Wattflächen und in Gezeitenbecken. Die wie unser Regenwurm zu den Ringelwürmen zählenden Tiere sind wichtige Mitglieder mariner Nahrungsnetze. Als Filtrierer, Aas- oder Knochenfresser und als wertvoller Happen für andere Lebewesen tragen sie zum Nährstoffumsatz bei. Im Boden lebende Arten spielen eine entscheidende Rolle bei der Strukturierung und Sauerstoffversorgung. Und die Röhren sessiler Würmer bieten auch anderen Arten Schutz und Halt, sie können sogar ganze Riffe bilden.

Meerkats (Suricata suricatta) definitely range at the top end of the charts of charismatic animals. Their social life – snuggling together in chilly evenings, sun-bathing with the whole group in the morning sun, standing guard for the others with this unmatched look in their face – makes them simply irresistible, as does their manlike appearance when they stand up on their hind legs. The day of the Meerkats seems to be perfectly organized, from shared efforts in rearing and teaching the offspring to effectively digging the ground for their insect prey through to mutually maintaining the burrow system with its up to 1000 boltholes. The alarm calls of the guard on duty are remarkable: researchers found that the calls not only inform about the kind of threat (e.g. an eagle means a possible attack from above while a jackal would approach on the ground), but also about the level of danger. Accordingly the reactions of the group would range between increased alertness and immediate retreat into the nearest boltholes.

Bioluminescence is the emission of light by a living organism. fungi, bioluminescent bacteria, fireflies | Biolumineszenz wird die Fähigkeit von Lebewesen bezeichnet, selbst oder mit Hilfe von Symbionten Licht zu erzeugen. Leuchtorganen

A hand full Sand Holidays – dreaming of white beaches under tropical sunlight walking along the waterfront on soft, white sparkling beach sands that glide through our fingers when dry. They are composed of grains different in size and shape derived from shallow water areas nearby as there are coral reefs, seagras flats or submarine sand dunes where tidal currents and winddriven waves have washed the sands onto the beaches. Most of the sandgrains are the product of animals and plants living in the warm tropical seawater. Particle types down to one millimeter in size can be visualized by eyes, a good magnifier ( 10x ) opens a fantastic insight into a world of organisms that are able to precipitate calcium carbonate in seawater forming skeletons, shells or fine branched framework. A first glance which provides an impression of an incredible variety of delicate white skeletons as there are small tests of foraminifera, a single-celled protozoan, sponge spicules derived from a fragile reticulate sponge network, or calcite elements of echinoderms with colorful spines or plates from sea urchins, brittlestars and crinoids. Molluscan shells of reef dwellers deliver a wide variety of carbonate particles as well. Major amounts of sand grains are derived from corals, the “white coral sand” whose particles are not produced by the living coral polyps rather than by the destruction of solid reef framework due to the activity of diverse boring, rasping and cracking organisms feeding on and in dead coral carbonate substrate. Studying the variety of sand particles in a carbonate sand on the beach we learn more about the surrounding natural environments whether the biodiversity is still under stable conditions or suffering from natural or human impact. Finally we can imagine the importance of tropical marine environments as a trap to store carbondioxid from the atmosphere permanently in organic carbonate skeletons and later in earth history in carbonate rocks.

Wild Fruit Fly (Drosophila melanogaster) | Taufliege (Drosophila melanogaster)

Mosquitoes | Stechmücken

Weevils (Curculionidae) | Rüsselkäfer (Curculionidae)

Bioluminescent Glow Worms (Arachnocampa luminosa), New Zealand This cave near Te Kuiti, located on the North Island of New Zealand, is among several caves in the Waitomo area that are famous for their naturally illuminated ceilings. The impression of an open starlit sky within the damp confinement is caused by thousands of so called glow worms: larvae of fungus gnats of the species Arachnocampa luminosa that live overhead - not to be confused with fire flies, that are the adult stages of beetles. Fungus gnats are a rather large family (approx. 3000 species worldwide) within the Order Diptera (flies and mosquitos). Fungus gnats spend most of their entire life span of up to 12 months in their larval stage. Their ability to produce cold light by means of an internal chemical reaction (bioluminescence) enables the larvae to attract prey, mostly flying insects. To catch these insects the glow worm not only spins a hammock-like tube system at the ceiling, but it also sends down up to 60 hanging threads that are connected to the larva’s nest. The threads are covered with droplets of sticky mucus and are strong enough to hold e.g. mosquitos, moths, spiders etc. in spite of the prey’s vigorous attempts to free itself. These vibrations help the larva to locate the very same snare, which it pulls in by eating the silk thread. The prey is sucked out or eaten whole. Food intake only takes place during this larval stage: after the pupal stage (1 to 2 weeks) the adult mouth less fungus gnat hatches to live only a few days to mate and lay eggs.

Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) The Rockhopper Penguin at the Falkland Islands is one of the many penguin species that do not live in snow and ice. However, at the breeding colonies and in the waters surrounding the stunning archipelago they face rough winds and extreme weather changes. During low tide they do not only have to climb the rocks in their popular manner but also have to cross broad tidal flats despite sand storms and high sun radiation. These birds are caring to their partner and chicks, but can be aggressive towards others. At this breeding colony at Saunders Island the Rockhopper Penguins enjoy the luxury of a natural freshwater shower. But standing in line and waiting is certainly not their cup of tea, so the next quarrel is always bound to occur. When going out to sea and returning they find safety in large numbers, cooperating peacefully to puzzle the lurking Sea Leopards and Orcas.