Collection

In the Marine Zoology Division, section Marine Evertebrates I, we curate the collections of Porifera (sponges), Cnidaria (mainly corals), Ctenophora (comb jellies) and Tunicates.

Our Cnidaria collection is internationally and nationally important, among others as a merit of the intensive research activity by Dr. Manfred Grasshoff, the former leader of this section. This is true particularly for the Octocorallia collection which is one of the richest World-wide.

The Porifera collection is currently growing and is internationally increasingly important, as a result of our ongoing research activities and many new accessions also from other scientists.

The Ctenophora- and Tunicata-collections are relatively rich and mainly of local significance, as they contain vaucher specimens from long-term monitoring projects, e. g. from the  German North Sea.

History

The Section was founded by the FIS former director Dr. Wilhelm Schäfer in 1966 in view of the growing Germany marine research activities.  From 1969 ontil 2001 Dr. Manfred Grasshoff  held the position as leader of the Marine Evbertebrates I. His research was focussed on the taxonomy of Octocorals and the evolution of the Coelenterates . He also took part in the Frankfurt working groups on  evolution and phylogenetics.

This section´s collections and libraries included invertebrates – with exception of the Mollusca and  Arthopoda. However at that time the section Arachnology (now led by Dr. Peter Jäger) was also curated by the section Marine Evertebrates I.

In 1990 the section Marine Evbertebrates II was erected for Polychaeta and others, under direction of Dr. Dieter Fiege. The sponges, „coelenterates“ (Cnidaria and Ctenophora) and Tunicates remained within the Marine Evbertebrates I.

Since May 2001, Dr. Dorte Janussen is leader of section ME I , and our research focus has shifted to the taxonomy,biogeography, phylogenetics and evolutionary ecology of he Porifera.