Microbial ecology
Microbial ecology
This research line focuses on studying the role of microorganisms in ecosystems, with a particular emphasis on biogeochemical cycles. Microbial ecology is dedicated to deepening the understanding of microbes in aquatic environments, covering freshwater, estuarine, and oceanic ecosystems.
Aquatic microorganisms—such as bacteria, archaea, eukaryotic microorganisms, and their viruses—play fundamental and diverse roles in these ecosystems. They are key to aquatic chemistry, trophic networks, organism physiology (through microbiomes), and the planet’s biogeochemical cycles.
In addition to their ecological role, aquatic microorganisms are important for human health due to their involvement in water purification processes, the isolation of compounds of interest (like enzymes or antibiotics), and various applications in biotechnology. However, they can also have a negative impact due to the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms.