Biodiversity

Biodiversity is a fundamental driver of biogeochemical cycles, which facilitate the circulation of chemical elements through all Earth system components, such as the carbon cycle. These cycles are essential for climatic stability, making the documentation of biodiversity and its role in biogeochemical cycles crucial for forecasting the evolution of the Earth system. Despite nearly three centuries of scientific efforts, most of Earth's biodiversity remains undiscovered. At MARUM, we specialize in studying some of Earth's most elusive and remote ecosystems, employing advanced technological tools such as underwater robots and methods for chemical and biological analyses. Our research focuses on ecosystems on and within the seafloor, including cold-water coral ecosystems, methane seeps, the deep-sea biosphere, hydrothermal vents, and marine sediments, as well as planktonic ecosystems and their past evolution.