Morphodynamics of Barrier Island Systems

Barrier island systems, also referred to as multiple-inlet systems, are coastal environments with shallow, interconnected tidal basins that are fringed by a chain of elongated islands. Their geomorphology and tidal habitats encompass numerous transitional zones between the land and the sea that are rich in species specially adapted to the varying hydrodynamic conditions. Morphodynamics at mixed-energy barrier island coasts have been studied for several decades on the basis of aerial photographs, field observations and numerical or analytical models. A process-based understanding of the morphological response to the driving hydrodynamic forces, however, has still not been achieved. The aim of this study is to assess the system morphodynamics in response to the interaction of tidally- and wave-induced currents, wind stress and the availability of mobile sediments. The study area is the East Frisian Wadden Sea (Germany), a lagoon-type environment with intertidal flats that are sheltered by seven inhabited barrier islands; it belongs to the Wadden Sea extending along the southern North Sea coast. A state-of-the-art process-based model is applied as a hindcasting and experimental tool for the evaluation of relevant processes at short term (tidal cycle) to medium term (annual) time scales. The spatial scales encompass sand shoals (meso-scale) as typical morphological features at ebb-tidal deltas, to the entire system covering the upper shoreface, the barrier islands and the back-barrier basins (large-scale)

Process development for the elucidation of mycotoxin formation in Alternaria alternata

The black mould Alternaria alternata produces a wide diversity of mycotoxins which are of particular health concern. Since no maximum allowable limits are set for Alternaria toxins in food and feed, prevention of Alternaria infestations and mycotoxin spoilage is the only way to avoid health risks. Thus, the understanding of mycotoxin biosynthesis is essential. For that purpose, a reliable batch process in a 2 L bioreactor was established which enables the study of several parameters influencing the production of the mycotoxins alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethylether (AME) and tenuazonic acid (TA) by A. alternata DSM 12633. Modified Czapek-Dox medium was used with glucose as carbon source and ammonium and nitrate as nitrogen sources. Consumption of carbon and nitrogen sources as well as formation of the three mycotoxins were monitored; the average data of five independent fermentations was plotted and fitted using a logistic equation with four parameters. Maximum mycotoxin concentrations of 3.49 ± 0.12 mg/L AOH, 1.62 ± 0.14 mg/L AME and 38.28 ± 0.1 mg/L TA were obtained

Nanoparticles in biofilm systems – assessment of their interactions by magnetic susceptibility balance and magnetic resonance imaging

To contribute to a better understanding of the interaction between engineered nanoparticles (ENP) and real biofilms, a new analytical approach was demonstrated within this dissertation using a magnetic susceptibility balance and magnetic resonance imaging for in-situ and non-invasive measurements. The focus was to examine the role of the water matrix, particle properties and exposure time on the ENP-biofilm-interactions and biosorption in biofilm systems with compact and fluffy structures