From December 6 to 16, 2022 an interdisciplinary team of 11 PIs of the CRC1211 joined for an introductory fieldtrip to the northern part of the Namib Desert with the aim to initiate cross-disciplinary scientific exchange and future interdisciplinary work in the Namib Desert.

The trip was supported by the Gobabeb Namib Research Institute, mainly Eugene Marrais and Gillian Maggs-Kölling, who hosted the group in Namibia and shared their vast knowledge on the Namib Desert with the participants. The trip organizers Eugene Marrais, Dietmar Quandt, and Julia Bechteler introduced the PIs to various biological and geological sites: The route started from Windhoek to the northern towns of Uis with stops at the Brandberg massif and Palmwag with its table mountains.

The group then turned to the Atlantic coast with a stop at Cape Cross, where the PIs got introduced to an exemplary site of the CRC1211 coastal transect, at which cross-disciplinary science among botanists (B01), zoologists (B02), and geneticists (B06), is already happening. Turning again inland towards the core Namib Desert, the Gobabeb Namib Research Institute warmly welcomed the group with a barbeque and organized an expedition to the famous red dune system next to the research station including a unique night in the dunes, where the PIs were able to experience fog, and hence water income to the desert during early morning.

The trip ended with an interdisciplinary workshop discussing future collaborations and concluded with farewell dinner in Windhoek before most of the participants departed back to the German winter. The trip was very fruitful for all participants and new project ideas are already in realisation.

A big thank you to Gillian Maggs-Kölling and Eugene Marrais as well as the whole Gobabeb team for the warm welcoming and hospitability as well as sharing the great nature of Namibia with the group!

 

 

 

 

Day 1: Arrival

 

 

Day 2: Brandberg Lodge. Jurassic Dolerites, pegmatites, termite circles and meerkats

 

 

 

Day 3: From Brandberg Lodge to Palmwag Lodge. Karoo Fm, lavas etc., Abandoned Brandberg West mine, Damara triangular facets scorpions

 

 

Day 3 (also): Living fossil Welwitschia mirabilis, gymnosperm, two leaves only, and many interesting facts

 

 

Day 4: Grootberg Lodge , giraffes and game, bitter melons and, nice trapp volcanics

 

 

Day 5: Cape Cross seals and visit to the interdisciplinary CRC transect, salt pans, marine terraces

 

 

Day 6: Swakopmund and the Gobabeb fieldsite

 

 

Day 7: The Gobabeb fieldsite, sand, sand, sand and a fox and fog

 

 

 

 

Day 8: Leaving the Gobabeb field site to Windhoek