Inga Kirstein

Inga Kirstein is a Scientist at the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, specializing in the Ecology of Shelf Sea Systems. She leads the Heligoland Roads long-term ecological time series, managing teams, laboratories, and data communication. Her research focuses on microbial food webs, biofilm communities, microplastic pollution, and long-term ecological dynamics. She contributes to projects like the FRAM Ocean Observing System and collaborates on initiatives such as the MOSAiC expedition. Her work bridges marine microbiology, environmental monitoring, and climate change impacts. Key contributions include studies on microplastic distribution in sediments and drinking water, microbial interactions in plankton blooms, and ecosystem resilience under climate stressors.

Her publications highlight advancements in understanding microplastic toxicity, fungal communities on plastics, and the role of microbial necromass in carbon cycles. She emphasizes methodological rigor in detecting microplastics using FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. Her interdisciplinary approach addresses both fundamental ecological processes and applied challenges in environmental management.