IOW Logo

Dr. Carolin Paul

Vorname Nachname
Address:
Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde
Seestraße 15
18119 Rostock
Germany
Phone:
+49 381 5197 245
 
E-Mail:
caronulllin.paul@iow.de

AG Phytoplankton Ecology

Expertise

  • Phytoplankton ecology
  • Effects of environmental changes on natural phytoplankton communities and trophic intercations
  • Long-term monitoring data analyses
  • Micro-und Mesocosm experiments
  • Development of pelagic indikators
  • Phytoplankton, mixoplankton and microzooplankton taxonomy
  • Algae cultivation

Current research project

The aim of the ongoing project “Pelagic Habitats II” is to further develop the “Diatom/Dinoflagellate index” to a core indicator for the HOLAS IV assessment—the evaluation of the status of pelagic habitats in the Baltic Sea under the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). In close collaboration with HELCOM expert groups and the German Environment Agency, this work includes investigations into impacts on benthic–pelagic coupling, the development of reference values and monitoring strategies, as well as analyses for future integration of modern in situ methods such as the Imaging FlowCytobot (IFCB).

Completed projects

Memberships

Since 2025         Lead position for the Diatom/Dinoflagellate index indicator at HELCOM

Since 2025         Member of the HELCOM Expert Group on Pelagic Habitats (EG Pelagic)

Since 2022         Member of the HELCOM Expert Group on Phytoplankton (EG Phyto)

Research Experience

Since 2019        Postdoctoral researcher, IOW, Germany

2018 - 2019       Parental time 2nd child, Guest Researcher at IOW

2017                  Woman back to research grant, IOW

2012 - 2016       Doctoral candidate, GEOMAR – Helmholtz-Institute for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany

                           Impacts of ocean acidification and warming on Baltic Sea phytoplankton (BIOACID II)

2011 - 2012        Research Assistant, Aquatic and Experimental Ecology, University of Rostock, Germany

Education

2016                   Doctoral degree in Biology, GEOMAR – Helmholtz-Institute for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany

2011                   Diploma in Biology (equiv. Master of Science), University of Rostock, Germany

Publications

2026

  • Paul, C., J. Dierking and A. Kremp (2026). Unravelling protist trophic complexity and prey-size dynamics in Central Baltic spring blooms. Front. Mar. Sci. 13, doi: 10.3389/fmars.2026.1631769

2025

  • Dutz, J., M. L. Zettler, A. Kremp, C. Paul and S. Kube (2025). Biological assessment of the Baltic Sea 2023. Warnemünde: Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research. (Meereswissenschaftliche Berichte), doi: 10.12754/msr-2025-0129
  • Paul, C., W. Leujak (2025). Development of the Diatom/Dinoflagellate Index indicator for use in HOLAS IV. Informal Consultation Session of the Expert Group EG Phytoplankton, 10-14 November 2025, Helsinki
  • Zettler, M. L., J. Dutz, A. Kemp, C. Paul, S. Busch, M. Naumann and S. Kube (2025). Biological assessment of the Baltic Sea 2024. Warnemünde: Meereswiss. Ber./Mar. Sci. Rep. 76 S. doi: 10.12754/msr-2025-0131

2023

  • Paul, C., U. Gräwe and A. Kremp (2023). Long-term changes in bloom dynamics of Southern and Central Baltic cold-water phytoplankton. Front. Mar. Sci. 10: 1212412, doi: 10.3389/fmars.2023.1212412

2021

  • Paul, C., U. Sommer and B. Matthiessen (2021). Composition and Dominance of Edible and Inedible Phytoplankton Predict Responses of Baltic Sea Summer Communities to Elevated Temperature and CO2. Microorganisms 9: 2294, doi: 10.3390/microorganisms9112294

2018

  • Paul, A. J., U. Sommer, C. Paul and U. Riebesell (2018). Baltic Sea diazotrophic cyanobacterium is negatively affected by acidification and warming. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 598: 49-60, doi: 10.3354/meps12632

Publications before my time at IOW

Paul, U. Sommer, J. Garzke, M. Moustaka-Guini, A. Paul, B. Matthiessen (2016) Effects of increased CO2concentration on nutrient limited coastal summer plankton depend on temperature.J. Limnology & Oceanography 61(3): 853-868

Paul, B. Matthiessen, U. Sommer (2015) Warming but not enhanced CO2concentration quantitatively and qualitatively affects phytoplankton biomass. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 528: 39-51

Sommer, C. Paul, M. Moustaka-Guini (2015) Warming and ocean acidification effects on phytoplankton - from species shifts to size shifts within species in a mesocosm. PLOS ONE. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125239