Plattform Platform	Reise-Nr. Cruise-No.	Zeitraum Period	Projekt Project	Arbeitsgebiet Working area
Heincke	HE572	30.03.2021 - 01.04.2021		North Sea

Fahrtleiter Chief Scientist	Institut Institute	Auslaufhafen Port of departure	Einlaufhafen Port of return	Stationskarte Station map	Schiffsroute Trackchart
Dannheim Jennifer	Alfred-Wegener-Institut fur Polar- und Meeresforschung	Bremerhaven	Bremerhaven

Ziel der Reise / Objectives of Cruise:

North Sea benthos ecological research of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research is based on two major approaches: long-term ecological research and geo-referenced ecological modeling. In combination, these two approaches will allow for predicting the future development of the benthic ecosystem, explaining current and upcoming developments, and developing strategies for a sustainable management of the North Sea ecosystem. The core of these approaches is (1) a continuous long-term ecological research program initiated 1969 and (2) an extensive data base on benthos ecological and environmental data. During the research cruise we conducted the annual sampling of the long-term benthic research program. We used the shiptime for studying temporal variability of benthic communities in the German Bight. The program of the cruise comprised sampling of soft-bottom in- and epifauna with van Veen grab and beam trawl, respectively, and the determination of sedimentological parameters and benthic bioturbation with the sediment profile imaging camera.

Messungen / Measurements