GEOMAR  Research  Marine Biogeochemistry  Marine Geosystems  Benthic Geomicrobiology

© Photo credit: Katja Laufer

Benthic Geomicrobiology

Geomicrobiology is an interdisciplinary field of research that focusses on the interactions between microorganisms and geochemical processes. The focus is on microbial metabolic processes and their corresponding enzymes as well as their influence on their environment. Microorganisms play an important role in the various global material cycles, but they also influence their geochemical environment and habitats very locally. Research activities are accordingly broadly diversified and range from marine sediments to in situ experiments on hydrothermal systems or anthropogenic structures such as foundation structures of offshore wind turbines to activity-based screens to identify novel enzymes.

Research Areas

  • environmental assessments
  • Carbon Capturing Enzymes (CCE)
  • Enhanced Benthic Weathering (EBW)
  • Inhibation of MIC (Microbial induced corrosion)
  • Lifetime of SMS (Seafloor Massive Sulfide)
  • Monitoring Biohazards - hypoxia, sulfidic upwelling events
  • H2 production - optimized saltwater electrolysis
  • H2 oxidation - energy generation

Project Overview

In situ incubation experiments

We investigate local bio-geo-coupling processes in situ and use special devices for our in-situ incubation experiments. We are particularly interested in understanding microbially catalyzed iron, manganese, sulfur and hydrogen conversion and their impact on the biological carbon cycle. Photo credit: BGR

Method development

We develop techniques to seek novel enzymes by activity-based searches from metagenomic fosmid libraries. This includes biocatalysts involved in CO2 reduction, H2 conversion and Fe-cycling. Photo credit: Stefanie Böhnke-Brandt

ECO2nvert

CO2 reducing enzymes from uncultured microbes are recovered from marine environmental samples via activity-based screening. These biocatalysts are immobilized on electrode surfaces to enzymatically reduce CO2 in electrochemical cells. Photo credit: Stefanie Böhnke-Brandt

New hydrogenases

Within this project an activity-based screening process was established to seek hydrogenases from yet uncultured microorganisms inhabiting hydrothermal vents and sediments. Photo credit: Stefanie Böhnke-Brandt

Hydrothermal vents in the deep sea

In this project we investigate the microbial communities along the Indian Ridge at various active and inactive hydrothermal fields. In addition to phylogenetic analyzes (next-generation sequencing), incubation and cultivation experiments are used. Photo credit: © GEOMAR ROV-Team

Marine sediments exposed to episodical hypoxia (Boknis Eck)

The aim of this project is to investigate the effect of increasing temperatures and simultaneously decreasing oxygen concentrations on microorganisms and the metabolic pathways they mediate in and above the sediment at Boknis Eck. Photo credit: Stefanie Böhnke-Brandt

Associated Projects

Fjord Project

We explore biogeochemical iron cycling in Arctic fjords. Our goal is to understand the processes that drive this cycle, as well as the impacts on other element cycles, also to be able to estimate potential effects of glacial shrinkage and retreat. Photo credit: Katja Laufer
RD2
Marine Biogeochemistry
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