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Microbiology, Biodiversity, Climate

Biodiversity encompasses the variety of species and habitats on our planet and plays a crucial role in the functioning of ecosystems and the survival of humankind. In addition to plants and animals, microorganisms are also ubiquitous and play an essential role in the environment, climate and health.

Researchers at Philipps-Universität Marburg and the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology are investigating the molecular, biochemical, cellular, genetic and ecological functions of microorganisms at the Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO) and the Microcosm Earth Center (MEC), followed by the construction of synthetic microbial entities to harness the potential of microorganisms. In addition, groups from scientific nature conservation, ecology, climatology and environmental informatics are researching novel sensing systems so that environmental systems and their dynamics can be better understood and recorded. To this end, the university's own forest has been developed into an internationally visible research and teaching forest - the "Marburg Open Forest". Sensor technology and AI methods for spatio-temporal prediction are being piloted there. Together with the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre and other institutions, the methods are used in research projects distributed worldwide to analyse the development of landscapes, identify indirect drivers of species loss and sustainably secure ecosystem services.

In May 2023, our researchers from SYNMIKRO and MEC submitted a draft proposal under the Excellence Strategy II with the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology. The Cluster of Excellence M4C - Microbes-4-Climate: Mechanisms, Consequences and Chances of Microbial Conversions of Greenhouse Gases investigates the strategies and molecular mechanisms with which microorganisms build up and break down the climate-relevant gases carbon dioxide and methane.