Greenhouse Gases Research Group

The Research Group Greenhouse Gases investigates microbial processes that lead to the production and consumption of methane and nitrous oxide in aquatic environments. We aim to identify microbial processes, the responsible microorganisms and the metabolic capacities of these microorganisms in marine and freshwater water columns and sediments.

Our research has a strong field going aspect but we complement on-site biogeochemical studies with extensive laboratory-based experimental and analytical work.

Recent News and Publications

17 – 28. August 2020

Fieldwork at Lake Zug and Lake Lugano 

In collaboration with our colleagues from the Biogeo Group at the MPI and from the Eawag we went on an expedition to Lake Zug and Lake Lugano (CH). We took samples to investigate the microbial processes producing and consuming methane in the anoxic waters and sediments of these two lakes. Also, we finally got the opportunity to test our new mini-pump CTD system.

15. May 2020

New Paper - Intracellular silver deposition as a new method for detection of uncultured microorganisms

A new study, lead by Jasmine Berg (currently ETH Zurich), just came out in Systematic and Applied Microbiology. We present a new method of bacterial identification by in situ hybridization coupled to the deposition of elemental silver nanoparticles (silver-DISH). We show that hybridized cells containing silver can be directly visualized by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectrometry (nanoSIMS), and confocal Raman micro-spectroscopy.

6. November – 22. November 2019

Research Cruise to the Black Sea

We joined an expedition onboard RV Poseidon to the Western Black Sea to investigate microbial processes contributing to the consumption of ammonium and methane in the euxinic Black Sea water column.

17. March – 7. April 2019

Field work in the Peruvian OMZ

We joined an expedition to work in the coastal oxygen minimum zone off Peru to investigate microbial processes contributing to nitrous oxide cycling in these oxygen-deficient waters.