Ecological genomics as a key for understanding microbial diversity and function

The advent of high throughput sequencing technologies in the last years is set out to unravel the diversity and function of marine microorganisms on a whole genome level. It is the objective of the microbial genomics group to take advantage of this development and learn more about the mechanisms coded in the genome enabling the organisms to adapt to changing environmental conditions. To reach the goal it is necessary to not only generate sequences but to force functional genomic analysis. To reveal ecological relevant gene functions the genomic potential has to be correlated with on site microbial diversity and physical-chemical measurements on a geospatial level. This in turn should uncover specific niche adaptations and give hints how the organisms influence the global cycling of matters. The knowledge obtained will lead to a better understanding of the complexity, interaction and stability of marine habitats. The long term perspective is to predict the impact of local anthropogenic influences as well as global changes, like the green house effect, on the marine ecosystem.