Gunnar Gerdts

Dr. Gunnar Gerdts is a Researcher at the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) within the Shelf Sea System Ecology department at Helgoland Marine Station. His primary research focuses on molecular microbial ecology and microplastics/marine litter, with emphasis on their environmental impacts in coastal and Arctic regions. He actively contributes to the Fram Pollution Observatory, tracking microplastic distribution across marine ecosystems.

Responsibilities include membership in the German Havariekommando’s Expert Group on chemical accident consequences and the Max Planck Research School for Marine Microbiology (MarMic). He also participates in the AWI North Sea Office and technical groups related to marine genomics and litter management.

Key projects involve analyzing microplastic fluxes in Fram Strait, developing harmonized monitoring protocols (e.g., AMAP guidelines), and investigating microplastic effects on marine organisms. His work bridges laboratory methods (e.g., FTIR imaging) with field observations, emphasizing high-throughput analysis and quality control.

Recent studies highlight microplastic prevalence in Arctic snow, deep-sea trenches, and Antarctic waters, underscoring their global dispersal. He collaborates internationally on initiatives like MICROLAKE and the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench studies, advancing understanding of plastic污染 dynamics in diverse marine environments.