Prof Martin Zimmer

Prof Martin Zimmer
Scientific coordinator of the All-Atlantic Network of Coastal Resilience Beacon Sites

Having been trained in terrestrial ecology at Cologne University, Martin Zimmer focused on the soil macrofauna and their contribution to decomposition processes. After a short postdoc (Düsseldorf University), he turned his attention towards the ecology of coastal and intertidal ecosystems (Kiel University). For ten years, Martin Zimmer worked on fauna-microbe interactions, decomposition and organic matter-turnover on sandy beaches and saltmarshes across the Atlantic.

After another short interval (2010-2014) at Salzburg University, where he led the group of Terrestrial Animal Ecology, Martin Zimmer joined Bremen University and the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), where he leads the working group of Mangrove Ecology and the Research Program Area Ecosystem Co-Design. His research focus lies on how the species composition and biotic interactions in coastal vegetated ecosystems drive ecosystem processes under different and changing environmental conditions, and how these translate into ecosystem services, such as resource-provisioning, coastal protection and blue carbon-storage.

Martin Zimmer aims at providing scientific knowledge as background for sustainable management and decision-making towards climate change-mitigation and -adaptation fostering the resilience of tropical coastal socio-ecological systems. He serves as scientific coordinator of the All-Atlantic Network of Coastal Resilience Beacon Sites.