Microbiology & Microbial Ecology Microbial studies encompass the
distribution, abundance, physiological status, and growth rates
of these organisms as well as their symbiotic interactions,
population diversity and dynamics, and biochemical adaptations.
Molecular biological methods are increasingly applied to these
areas of research. Other marine microbial stud ies include food-
chain dynamics, production of bioactive compounds such as toxins
and extracellular enzymes, and speciation and phylogeny. Some of
the current research areas in microbiology include: Microbial
processes at hydrothermal vents Bacterial chemosynthesis is the
base of the food chain for the hydrothermal vent biota. The
laboratory of Carl Wirsen and Stefan Sievert investigates the
diversity of aerobic sulfide oxidizing bacteria and anaerobic,
hyperthermophilic, sulfur reducing archaea, as well as their
physiology, ecology and biotechnological applications. Growth
kinetics of oligotrophic marine bacteria The bacterial turnover
of dissolved org