ZMT - Leibniz Zentrum für Marine Tropenforschung

My fascination for research and teaching here

Are you interested to work on some of the most fundamental ecological or biogeochemical processes occurring on our planet? Are you fascinated by mathematical modelling and computer simulations? Apply now for our PhD positions on coral-algae symbiosis or nitrogen fixation, visit our group pages: Systems Ecology

Teaching

Lectures I held at the University of Bremen starting from Academic Year 2024/2025

• Elective Module (Winter Semester): Computational Systems Ecology (CompSysEcol) as part of the MSc Ecology
  1. Introduction to planetary ecology, multiple guilds, tradeoffs, biodiversity, plus discussions
  2. Dispersal, merging organismal and ecological physiology, phytosynthesis, plus discussions
  3. Global nutrient cycles and carbon sequestration, plus discussions
  4. Introduction to mathematical modelling and python, plus practical exercises
  5. Classic models in ecology, microbial growth in a chemostat, plus practical exercises
  6. Modelling plankton dynamics in the ocean, plus practical exercises
  7. Modelling climate and the greenhouse effect, feedbacks, and daisyworlds, plus practical exercises
  8. Complex systems and Agent-Based Models, plus practical exercises
  9. Agent-Based Models with evolution, plus practical exercises
      
• Mandatory Module (Winter Semester): Scientific Writing as part of the MSc Marine Biology
  1. General aspects of scientific writing, the canonical format (IMRaD), authorship, plus practical exercises
  2. Title, abstract, individual sections, paragraph, sentence, element of good style, plus practical exercises
  3. The review process, cover letter, reply to reviewers, the dark side of open-access, plus practical exercises

orcid.org/0000-0001-8095-8056

Web of Science ResearcherID: C-1103-2013

My profile on Google Scholar

Publications

Peer-reviewed only

P. Steiglechner, M.A. Keijzer, P.E. Smaldino, D. Moser, and A. Merico (2024). Noise and opinion dynamics: How ambiguity promotes pro-majority consensus in the presence of confirmation bias. Royal Society Open Science, 11(4), 1-16.

B. Post, E. Acevedo-Trejos, A.D. Barton, and A. Merico (2024). The XSO framework (v0.1) and Phydra library (v0.1) for a flexible, reproducible and integrated plankton community modeling environment in Python. Geoscientific Model Development, 17, 1775-1195.

T. Sze-Wing, E. Acevedo-Trejos, S. Chakraborty, F. Pomati, and A. Merico (2024). Grazing strategies determine the size composition of phytoplankton in eutrophic lakes. Limnology and Oceanography, 1-14.

P. Steiglechner, P.E. Smaldino, D. Moser, and A. Merico (2023). Social identity bias and communication network clustering interact to shape patterns of opinion dynamics. Journal of The Royal Society Interface, 20(20230372).

S. Hohn, J. Dal Corso, K. Hoke, S. Thoms, and A. Merico (2023). Environmental and physiological conditions that led to the rise of calcifying nannoplankton in the Late Triassic. Frontiers in Earth Science, 11(747059).

N.A. Raharinirina, E. Acevedo-Trejos, and A. Merico (2022). Modelling the acclimation capacity of coral reefs to a warming ocean. PLOS Computational Biology, 18(5):e1010099.

P. Steiglechner and A. Merico (2022). Spatio-temporal patterns of deforestation, settlement and land use on Easter Island prior to European arrivals (2022). In: V. Rull and C. Stevenson (Editors), The Prehistory of Easter Island: Towards a Multidisciplinary Integrative Framework, Chapter 29. Springer.

J. Dal Corso, N. Preto, C. Agnini, S. Hohn, A. Merico, H. Willems, and P. Gianolla (2021). Rise of calcispheres during the Carnian Pluvial Episode (Late Triassic). Global and Planetary Change, 200(103453).

K.A. Owusu, M.M. Kulesz, and A. Merico (2021). Communication among harvesters leads to sustainable fishing behaviour in a continuous time common pool resource experiment. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8(644056).

J. Dal Corso, M. Bernardi, Y. Sun, H. Song, L.J. Seyfullah, N. Preto, P. Gianolla, A. Ruffell, E. Kustatscher, G. Roghi, A. Merico, S. Hohn, A.R. Schmidt, A. Marzoli, R.J. Newton, P.B. Wignall & M. J. Benton (2020). Extinction and dawn of the modern world in the Carnian (Late Triassic). Science Advances, 6(38). Check video: Carnian, the down of modern world

Y. Guan, S. Hohn, C. Wild & A. Merico (2020). Vulnerability of global coral reef habitat suitability to ocean warming, acidification and eutrophication. Global Change Biology, 26, 5646–5660.

S. Hohn, E. Acevedo-Trejos, J.F. Abrams, J.F. de Moura, R. Spranz & A. Merico (2020). The long-term legacy of plastic mass production. Science of the Total Environment, 746(141115). Check: Radio interview

K.A. Owusu, E. Acevedo-Trejos, M.M. Fall & A. Merico (2020). Effects of cooperation and different characteristics of Marine Protected Areas in a simulated small-scale fishery. Ecological Complexity, 44(100876).

D.C. Tavares, J.F. de Moura, E. Acevedo-Trejos, R. Crawford, N. Makhado, J. Lavers, M. Witteveen, P. Ryan & A. Merico (2020). Confidence intervals and sample size for estimating the prevalence of plastic debris in seabird nests. Environmental Pollution, 263(114394).

D.C. Tavares, J.F. de Moura, A. Ceesay & A. Merico (2020). Density and composition of surface and buried plastic debris in beaches of Senegal. Science of the Total Environment, 737(139633), 1-10.

D.C. Tavares, J.F. de Moura, A. Merico & S. Siciliano (2020). Mortality of seabirds migrating across the tropical Atlantic in relation to oceanographic processes. Animal Conservation, 23(3), 307-319.

D.C. Tavares, J.F. de Moura & A. Merico (2019). Anthropogenic debris accumulated in nests of seabirds in an uninhabited island in West Africa. Biological Conservation, 236, 586–592.

D.C. Tavares, J.F. de Moura, E. Acevedo-Trejos & A. Merico (2019). Traits shared by marine megafauna and their relationships with ecosystem functions and services. Frontiers in Marine Science, 6(262).

K.A. Owusu, M.M. Kulesz & A. Merico (2019) Extraction behaviour and income inequalities resulting from a common pool resource exploitation. Sustainability, 11, 536. Check video: Fishing for sustainability

J. Dal Corso, P. Gianolla, M. Rigo, M. Franceschi, G. Roghi, P. Mietto, S. Manfrin, B. Raucsik, T. Budai, H. C. Jenkyns, C. E. Reymond, M. Caggiati, G. Gattolin, A. Breda, A. Merico & N. Preto (2018) Multiple negative carbon-isotope excursions during the Carnian Pluvial Episode (Late Triassic). Earth-Science Reviews, 185, 732–750.

E. Acevedo-Trejos, E. Marañón & A. Merico (2018) Phytoplankton size diversity and ecosystem function relationships across oceanic regions, Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 285.

.F. Abrams, S. Hohn, T. Rixen & A. Merico (2018) Sundaland peat carbon dynamics and its contribution to the Holocene atmospheric CO2 concentration, Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 32.

F. Moura, D.C. Tavares, L.S. Lemos, E. Acevedo-Trejos, T. D. Saint'Pierre, S. Siciliano & A. Merico (2018) Interspecific variation of essential and non-essential trace elements in sympatric seabirds. Environmental Pollution, 242, 470-479.

A. Merico (2017). Models of Easter Island human–resource dynamics: advances and gaps, Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 5(154), 1-7.

G. Brandt, M.M. Kulesz, D. Nissen & A. Merico (2017) OGUMI – A new mobile application to conduct common-pool resource experiments in continuous time, PLoS ONE, 12(6), e0178951.

D.C. Tavares, J.F. de Moura, A. Merico & S. Siciliano (2017) Incidence of marine debris in seabirds feeding at different water depths, Marine Pollution Bulletin, 119(2), 68-73.

A.N. Raharinirina, G. Brandt & A. Merico (2017) A trait-based model for describing the adaptive dynamics of coral-algae symbiosis, Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 5, 31.

S.L. Smith, S. Vallina & A. Merico (2016) Phytoplankton size-diversity mediates an emergent trade-off in ecosystem functioning for rare versus frequent disturbances, Scientific Reports, 6(34170), 1-11.

E. Acevedo-Trejos, G. Brandt, S.L. Smith & A. Merico (2016) PhytoSFDM version 1.0.0: Phytoplankton Size and functional Diversity Model, Geoscientific Model Development, 9, 4071-4085.

J.F. de Moura, E. Acevedo-Trejos, D.C. Tavares, A.C.O. Meirelles, C.P.N. Silva, L.R. Oliveira, R.A. Santos, J.C. Wickert, R. Machado, S. Siciliano & A. Merico (2016) Stranding events of Kogia whales along the Brazilian coast, PLoS ONE, 11(1), e0146108.

J.F. Abrams, S. Hohn, T. Rixen, A. Baum & A. Merico (2016) The impact of Indonesian peatland degradation on downstream marine ecosystems and the global carbon cycle. Global Change Biology, 22(1), 325-337.

S.L. Smith, M. Pahlow, A. Merico, E. Acevedo-Trejos, Y. Sasai, C. Yoshikawa, K. Sasaoka, T. Fujiki, K. Matsumoto & M.C. Honda (2016) Flexible phytoplankton functional type (FlexPFT) model: size-scaling of traits and optimal growth, Journal of Plankton Research, 38(4), 977-992.

T. Tyrrell, A. Merico & D.I. Armstrong McKay (2015) Severity of ocean acidification following the end-Cretaceous asteroid impact, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, 112(21), 6556-6561. Check article: The Times

E. Acevedo-Trejos, G. Brandt, J. Bruggeman & A. Merico (2015) Mechanisms shaping size structure and functional diversity of phytoplankton communities in the ocean, Scientific Reports, 5(8918), 1-8.

Y. Guan, S. Hohn & A. Merico (2015) Suitable environmental ranges for potential coral reef habitats in the tropical ocean, PLoS ONE, 10(6):e0128831.

J.F. de Moura, A. Merico, R.C. Montone, J. Silva, T.G. Seixas, J.M.O. Godoy, T.D. Saint'Pierre, R.A.H. Davis, A.P.M. Di Beneditto, E.C. Reis, D.C. Tavares, L.S. Lemos & S. Siciliano (2015) Assessment of trace elements, POPs, 210Po and stable isotopes (15N and 13C) in a rare filter-feeding shark: the megamouth, Marine Pollution Bulletin, 95(1), 402-406.

D.C. Tavares, D.L. Guadagnin, J.F. de Moura, S. Siciliano & A. Merico (2015) Environmental and anthropogenic factors structuring waterbird habitats of tropical coastal lagoons: implications for management, Biological Conservation, 186, 12-21.

G. Brandt & A. Merico (2015) The slow demise of Easter Island: insights from a modelling investigation, Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 3(13), 1-12.

C. Wild, T. Rixen, C. Sanchez-Noguera, A. Merico, C. Jimenez, J. Cortés & M.S. Naumann (2015) A carbonate platform associated with shallow cold methane seeps in Golfo Dulce, Pacific Costa Rica. Galaxea, Journal of Coral Reef Studies, 17(1), 13-14.

S. Hohn & A. Merico (2015) Quantifying the relative importance of transcellular and paracellular ion transports to coral polyp calcification, Frontiers in Earth Science, 2(37), 1-11.

C. Wild, T. Rixen, C. Sanchez-Noguera, I. Stuhldreier, C. Jimenez, A. Merico (2014) Massive coral tissue ablations in reefs of Pacific Costa Rica. Galaxea, Journal of Coral Reef Studies, 16(1), 13-14.

A. Merico, G. Brandt, S.L. Smith & M. Oliver (2014) Sustaining diversity in trait-based models of phytoplankton communities, Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 2(59), 1-8.

S.L. Smith, A. Merico, S. Höhn, & G. Brandt (2014) Sizing-up nutrient uptake kinetics: Combining a physiological trade-off with size-scaling of phytoplankton traits, Marine Ecology Progress Series, 511, 33-39.

E. Acevedo-Trejos, G. Brandt, M. Steinacher & A. Merico (2014), A glimpse into the future composition of marine phytoplankton communities, Frontiers in Marine Science, 1(15), 1-12.

S.L. Smith, A. Merico, K.W. Wirtz, & M. Pahlow (2014) Leaving misleading legacies behind in plankton ecosystem modelling, Journal of Plankton Research, 36(3), 613-620.

E. Acevedo-Trejos, G. Brandt, A. Merico, & S.L. Smith (2013) Biogeographic patterns of phytoplankton community size structure in the oceans, Global Ecology and Biogeography, 22, 1060-1070.

G. Brandt & A. Merico (2013) Tipping points and user-resource system collapse in a simple model of evolutionary dynamics, Ecological Complexity, 13, 46-52.

G. Brandt, A. Merico, B. Vollan, & A. Schlüter (2012) Human adaptive behavior in common pool resource systems, PLoS ONE, 7(12): e52763.

S. Höhn & A. Merico (2012) Modelling coral polyp calcification in relation to ocean acidification, Biogeosciences, 9, 4441-4454.

S.L. Smith, M. Pahlow, A. Merico, & K. Wirtz (2011) Optimality-based modeling of planktonic organisms, Limnology and Oceanography, 56(6), 2080-2094.

M.H. Schlüter, A. Merico, M. Reginatto, M. Boersma, K.H. Wiltshire & W. Greve (2010) Phenological shifts of three interacting zooplankton groups in relation to climate change, Global Change Biology, 16(11), 3144–3153.

T. Tian, A. Merico, J. Su, J. Staneva, K. Wiltshire & K.W. Wirtz (2009) Importance of resuspended sediment dynamics for the phytoplankton spring bloom in a coastal marine ecosystem, Journal of Sea Research, 62, 214-228.

A. Merico, J. Bruggeman & K.W. Wirtz (2009) A trait-based approach for downscaling complexity in plankton ecosystem models, Ecological Modelling, 220, 3001-3010.

M.H. Schlüter, A. Merico, K.H. Wiltshire, W. Greve & H. von Storch (2008) A statistical assessment of climate variability and ecosystem response in the German Bight, Ocean Dynamics, 58, 169-186.

A. Merico, T. Tyrrell & P.A. Wilson (2008) Eocene/Oligocene ocean de-acidification linked to Antarctic glaciation by sea level fall, Nature, 452, 979-983.

H.S. Findlay, T. Tyrrell, R.G.J. Bellerby, A. Merico & I. Skjelvan (2008) Carbon and nutrient mixed layer dynamics in the Norwegian Sea, Biogeosciences, 5, 1395-1410.

A. Merico, T. Tyrrell & T. Cokacar (2006) Is there any relationship between the phytoplankton seasonal dynamics and the carbonate system? Journal of Marine Systems, 59, 120-142.

T. Oguz & A. Merico (2006) Factors controlling the summer Emiliania huxleyi bloom in the Black Sea: a modeling study, Journal of Marine Systems, 59, 173-188.

T. Tyrrell, A. Merico, J. Waniek and C.S. Wong, N. Metzl & F. Whitney (2005) Effects of seafloor depth on phytoplankton blooms in high-nitrate, low-chlorophyll (HNLC) regions, Journal of Geophysical Research, 110, G02007.

E.J. Lessard, A. Merico & T. Tyrrell (2005) Nitrate to phosphate ratios and Emiliania huxleyi blooms, Limnology and Oceanography, 50(3), 1020-1024.

A. Merico, T. Tyrrell, E.J. Lessard, T. Oguz, P. Stabeno, S.I. Zeeman & T.E. Whitledge (2004) Modelling phytoplankton succession on the Bering Sea shelf: role of climate influences and trophic interactions in generating Emiliania huxleyi blooms 1997-2000, Deep-Sea Research - Part I, 51, 1803-1826.

A. Merico, T. Tyrrell, C.W. Brown, S.B. Groom & P.I. Miller (2003) Analysis of satellite imagery for Emiliania huxleyi blooms in the Bering Sea before 1997, Geophysical Research Letters, 30(6), 1337.

A.T.C. Broerse, T. Tyrrell, J.R. Young, A.J. Poulton, A. Merico, W.M. Balch & P.I. Miller (2003) The cause of bright waters in the Bering Sea in winter, Continental Shelf Research, 23(16), 1579.

Fachbücher

T. Tyrrell & A. Merico, Emiliania huxleyi: bloom observations and the conditions that induce them, In: Coccolithophores: from molecular processes to global impact, Editors: H.R. Thierstein and J.R. Young (2004) pp. 75-98, Springer-Verlag, Germany.

Wissenschaftliche Abschlußarbeit

Modelling the seasonal succession of Emiliania huxleyi and other phytoplankton in the Bering Sea (2003). Ph.D. Thesis, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK. 135 pp.