Eat, sleep or die? Microbial activity, survival strategies and preservation in hyperarid deserts (B04)

• Subject Area: Medical Microbiology and Mycology, Hygiene, Molecular Infection Biology
• Term: since 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 268236062

We showed that different landscape elements such as alluvial fans, Tillandsia ecosystems and surface crusts provide different niches for microbial life. We detected a higher diversity of microorganisms in desert soils than we triggered into activity upon soil wetting, thus we question to what extent we detected dormant or even dead microorganisms. We will focus on surface crusts and Tillandsia dunes as contrasting habitats and expect to see a dependency of microbial viability to the connectedness of resources. The aspect of microbial activity in dependence on water (hydrogen oxidation) will be completed by including fog as water source.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1211: Earth - Evolution at the Dry Limit
• Applicant Institution: Universität zu Köln
• Co-Applicant Institution: Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
• Project Heads: Professorin Dr. Claudia Knief; Dr. Ramona Mörchen, since 7/2024