Welcome to Archaea Biology and Ecogenomics

Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology

We belong to the Faculty of Life Sciences of the University of Vienna. On 1 January 2022 Archaea Biology, Molecular Systems Biology, Limnology and Bio-Oceanography and Marine Biology merged to the Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology.

Archaea arose together with Bacteria as the first organisms on this planet about 3.5 billion years ago. They form a separate domain of life beside bacteria and eukaryotes and inhabit virtually all environments on earth, including the most extreme environments that can sustain life.
Our unit studies the biology of archaea as well as bacterial symbioses with a focus on ecological, physiological and evolutionary aspects to shed light on the diversity and fundamental distinctions between these two prokaryotic groups.

In particular we are interested in:

- the ecological distribution of archaea from terrestrial, aquatic and hot environments

- the phylogeny of archaea

- the metabolism and genomes of ammonia oxidizing thaumarchaeota

- virus-defense (CRISPR-) systems of hyperthermophilic archaea

- archaea Biotechnology

- bacterium-nematode symbioses

We thus attempt to improve the understanding of the role of microorganisms, in particular of archaea, in global biogeochemical cycles and in early evolution.

21.12.2018
 

"An electrogenic redox loop in sulfate reduction reveals a likely widespread mechanism of energy conservation"

22.11.2018
 

Thank you very much for your applications. The position has been filled.

22.11.2018
 

Thank you very much for your applications. The position is filled.

21.11.2018
 

"Ecophysiology and Methane Productivity of Carboxydotrophy-Based Archael Co-Cultures"

14.11.2018
 

"Physiological & Ecological Characterisation of Methanomassiliicoccales"

14.11.2018
 

Join us in this symbiosis workshop where researchers of nine labs present their work and exchange ideas.

Guest Lectures

23.06.2017
 

“Protein Targeting to Organelles: an Evolutionary Perspective”

 

23 June 2017, 11:30 am, Hörsaal II, UZA I

12.06.2017
 

“A significant fraction of the dissolved organic matter accumulating in the ocean is comprised of carotenoid degradation products”

 

12 June 2017,...

02.06.2017
 

“The Hidden World within Plants: Ecological Considerations and Functioning of Bacterial Endophytes”

 

2 June 2017, 11:30 am

Lecture Hall II, UZA ...