Marine Microbiology

We study on which temporal and spatial scales marine communities and ecosystems change, especially in response to climate change. We develop new methods to investigate communities, their energy sources and their functions directly under the sea ice and at the seafloor – from the surface ocean to the deep sea. Another special focus is on methane and oil degrading microbes, which are essential to the environment. To learn how microorganisms adapt to extreme environ­ ments, to discover the enormous diversity of life in the deep ocean and to evaluate the consequences of human impact for the oceans are important tasks, with relevance to our future.

Studied Materials
• Climate change impact on communities of Arctic sea-ice and deep-sea
• A variety of marine ecosystems like hot and cold gas and oil vents, seamounts, deep seabed, polar regions
• Diversity of microorganisms in the ocean

Methods

Biogeochemical measurements, development of ocean observatories; ecology of deep-sea habitats; DNA- based methods to study microbial diversity, science communication