The project partner ICBM contributes many years of experience in the cultivation and physiological characterization of marine microorganisms.

In the current research projects of the working group, the ecological role and biogeochemical relevance of planktonic archaea as well as benthic bacteria are examined. In order to determine the metabolic activities in environmental systems, various physiological, biochemical and molecular biological methods are combined. Furthermore, specific enrichments and model organisms, which are difficult to cultivate, are investigated.

As an interdisciplinary institute at the University of Oldenburg performing research in all areas related to marine science, the ICBM is equipped with modern analysis tools and offers a unique infrastructure for exploratory studies of the oceans. For example, the ICBM operates the coastal observatory Spiekeroog and is home institute of the research vessel Sonne.