Florian RothResearcher

About me

My research integrates ecological, metabolic, and biogeochemical data to study the mechanisms and rates of carbon and nitrogen cycling across coastal environments. 

Currently, I am focusing on high-resolution spatiotemporal measurements of greenhouse gases (CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O) to resolve the scale and drivers of their variability associated with intrinsically heterogeneous vegetated coastal ecosystems. Can natural greenhouse gas emissions offset the carbon sink capacity attributed to atmospheric CO₂ uptake by, for example, seagrass beds or macroalgae belts?

In addition to working in the Nordic countries, I am actively engaged in studying tropical coral reef organic carbon (photosynthesis and respiration) and inorganic carbon metabolism (calcification and dissolution) in response to global (warming and acidification) and local (eutrophication, pollutants, and overfishing) stressors.

Throughout my research, I use a wide range of analytical techniques (e.g., various gas analyzers, EA-IRMS, GC/MS, TOC/TON analyzers) combined with traditional laboratory mesocosm assays and novel in situ experiments for holistic assessments of community-wide functional responses to environmental change.

Within the new Centre for Coastal Ecosystem and Climate Change Research (CoastClim), I coordinate collaborative marine ecosystem and climate change research between Stockholm University and the University of Helsinki.