The Biogeochemistry Department, headed by Ralf Conrad, is focused on the microbial metabolism and biogeochemical matter cycling in soil. Soil microbial metabolism plays an important role in the global cycling of matter and — through the formation of atmospheric trace gases such as methane and nitrous oxide — also influences the climate on Earth. The department examines the role of soil microorganisms in carbon and nitrogen cycling, particularly in chemically well-defined processes such as the production and consumption of methane, the oxidation of ammonia, or denitrification. There are four research leaders in charge of six research groups and two project groups:
Research Groups<br />
Ralf Conrad
* Methanogenic degradation
* Microbial metabolism of trace gases
Andreas Brune
* Microbial ecology of the termite gut
* Microbial symbioses
Werner Liesack
* Molecular biology and ecology of methanotrophs
* Environmental genomics and transcriptomics
Project Group<br />
Peter Frenzel
* Methane oxidation
* Biogeochemistry and microbial ecology of wetlands