Taxonomy, phylogeny and evolution of sea anemones possessing branched tentacles and Spherical defensive structures: representatives found in Egypt.In the traditional classification, sea anemones that possess both branched outgrowths and spherical defensive structures belong to families Aliciidae and Thalassianthidae, which have not been thought to be each other’s closest relatives despite their similarity in gross morphology. Currently, Thalassianthidae are anemones which possess branched tentacles on the oral disc which are defended by nematospheres. Aliciidae members possess branched outgrowths of the column called pseudotentacles. Vesicles are attached to the pseudotentacles and defend these. Representatives are found throughout shallow tropical seas, and our overall plan is to study species found throughout this range. 

The dragonflies of the Sinai Peninsula

The survey will be a part of my doctoral thesis on the "Biogeography and Systematics of the Dragonflies of northeastern Africa”.

The swapped symbiont: Molecular identification of symbiotic dinoflagellates in the nudibranch seaslugs (Nudibranchia; Mollusca)

Aim of the project is to investigate the mutualistic symbiotic relationship between seaslugs (Aeolidoidea, Nudibranchia, Opisthobranchia) and dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium. A main focus is the comparison of symbiont clade composition in seaslugs and their coral food organisms.

"Relationship between the mysid Idiomysis tsurnamali and coelenterates such as the anemone Megalactis hemprichi and the jellyfish Cassiopea andromeda"

"Studies on the gobiid and shrimp mutualism in the Gulf of Aqaba"

Study of some aspects of the biology, ecology and diversity of species of Porcellanidae (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura) in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea.

The species of the family Porcellanidae Haworth 1825 are distributed in tropical regions of all seas, and typically occupy hard substrates of the littoral and sublittoral zones. While the porcellanids of the American tropical seas have been extensively studied, there are still many knowledge gaps regarding the species of the Indo-West-Pacific, including the Red Sea. Lewinsohn (1969, 1974) described 14 species from the Red Sea, and further 3 species are being reported in an ongoing publication by colleagues of my research group (Werding & Hiller, in preparation).

Soft coral abundance, space availability for recolonization and aspects of the physical environment at reefs sites of the Gulf of Aqaba affected by outbreaks of the Crown–of–Thorns Starfish Acanthaster planci.

Coral reef recovery: Species composition and abundance of ascidians in reef sites having suffered from mass occurrences of Acanthaster planci in previous years

Studies on the aggression behaviour of Amphiprion bicinctus (Red Sea Anemone fish) against anemone predators and its reaction on enemy schemes.

My field studies took place from July 7 to September 29, 2005, at the Red Sea Environmental Centre (RSEC) in Dahab. During the first half of my stay I registered the exact sites of the anemone-fish-partnerships and the parameters of the surrounding area (e.g. depth, fish and anemone size, number of Anemone fish living in the anemones, etc.). After drawing up a behavioural catalogue I started my observations in 20-min.-intervals at four different depths (2m, 7m, 12m and 15m). During the second half of my studies I carried out fake experiments on A. bicinctus in order to see which fish contours would evoke more and which ones less aggression, to replenish my observation studies.