Boetius, AntjeChennu, ArjunArjunChennu2020-03-092020-03-092014-02-17https://media.suub.uni-bremen.de/handle/elib/626Microphytobenthos (MPB) is a grouping of microbial benthic phototrophs that inhabit the sediments of coastal regions. There are clear indications that MPB distributions exhibit profuse spatio-temporal variability on the scale of milli- to centi-meters, which corresponds to the spatial span of their proximal habitats. This microscale variability in MPB distributions escapes detection by most traditional measurement techniques. Analysis of the spatio-temporal aspects of MPB ecology is limited due to the inability of current methods to capture the MPB distributions with high spatial and temporal resolution. This doctoral study identifies a methodological gap in our ability to measure in situ MPB distributions at the microscale and attempts to rectify it through the development of a field instrument and measurement protocol that utilize hyperspectral imaging technology. The ecological applications of the novel ability to measure and visualize full-field patterns of MPB distribution with a high temporal resolution are explored in subsequent studies.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshyperspectral imagingchlorophyll distributionchlorophyll dynamicsmicroscalemappingspatio-temporal variabilitybenthic microalgaephotosynthesis500 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik::550 Geowissenschaften, GeologieDissertationurn:nbn:de:gbv:46-00103657-18