The Archean Park project aims to investigate how microbial life functioned under early Earth conditions, particularly in high-CO₂ and oxygen-free environments. The goal is to uncover ancient metabolic pathways that supported carbon cycling in these extreme settings. By integrating deep drilling, genomics, biochemistry, and geochemistry, the project seeks to reconstruct early microbial ecosystems. Insights from this work may inform modern biotechnology and enhance our understanding of Earth's early climate and life.

Rising temperatures, antibiotic residues, droughts and flooding: worldwide, rivers are increasingly under pressure. To prepare them for the challenges of the future, researchers from the proposed Cluster of Excellence REASONS are developing a new, sustainable concept for the management of freshwater ecosystems.

RESIST aims to unravel the interactions of multiple stressors in rivers. With manipulative lab and field experiments, field studies and models we will test why, when and how stressors interact – and develop options for mitigation and restoration.

Project A01
Direct and indirect effects of multiple stressors in freshwater ecosystems on microbial parasites and scavengers
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Project A22
Viral (and host) microdiversity response to multiple stressors in freshwater ecosystems
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Project Z-INF
Data management and integration
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Algae are important organisms on planet Earth as they transform carbon dioxide into organic matter fueling the food chain in freshwater ecosystems. They are extremely diverse in nature and often associate with other organisms like bacteria that help them to acquire nutrients like nitrogen compounds. With the help of JGI’s (Department of Energy, USA) Community Science Project (CSP), project GENIAL will aim at unraveling the evolution of carbon turnover modes of algae and their interaction with other organisms like bacteria or viruses for acquiring cellular nitrogen. The basis for our work will be deciphering the DNA and RNA sequences of more than one hundred algae (and their partners) which will be used for predicting their capabilities and their evolution from their genomes. To do this, we will work with the Central Collection of Algal Cultures (CCAC) at the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE), one of the world’s largest freshwater algae collections, along with a large network of collaborators at UDE, Germany and around the world.

The BIOSTABIL project aims to implement the concept of biologically stable drinking water along the entire distribution path from the water treatment plant to the consumer. The project seeks to create the foundation for a sustainable and resilient water supply under the changing conditions introduced by climate change. As part of this, we contribute microbiome analyses that support and enhance biological stability. Our mission in this project aims to investigate microbiomes that play a key role in ensuring biological stability.