Changing Earth-Life Systems

Co-evolution of Life and Earth: Understanding Biological Systems in a Geochemical Context

Our research focuses on the fundamental interactions between the biosphere and geosphere, and thus on the processes that have shaped and continue to shape life on our planet over geological time scales. The focus is on marine ecosystems and the evolution of biological diversity on deep time scales. By combining modern geobiological analyses with the fossil record, we are uncovering key mechanisms in the history of the Earth and life.

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A particular focus is placed on the evolution of early animals and the development of their skeletons. Using genomic approaches and comparative evolutionary research, we clarify the phylogenetic relationships of geologically significant animal groups and identify the genetic basis that enabled the evolutionary success of these animals.

Closely linked to this is research into biomineralization—the biological processes through which organisms such as sponges and corals build mineral skeletons and geobiologically important structures such as reefs. We investigate the molecular mechanisms of skeleton formation, trace evolutionary parallels between animal phyla, and assess the vulnerability of calcifying organisms to the consequences of global climate change.

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Another key area of our work is geomicrobiology, which examines the role of microorganisms in global biogeochemical cycles. We investigate how microbial communities control carbon turnover and the emission of climate-relevant gases—particularly in extreme habitats such as the deep sea and the subsurface, which also serve as windows into the early Earth.

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In addition, we investigate the evolution and speciation of particularly diverse fish groups such as killifish, gobies, and cichlids. By integrating fossil and molecular data as well as stratigraphic-geological approaches, we analyze diversification processes in the context of paleoenvironment, paleogeography, and paleoclimate.

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In addition, we develop innovative methods for analyzing phylogenetic data in order to more accurately capture evolutionary relationships and the dynamics of global biodiversity in the past and future.

Our research combines genomics, molecular biology, morphology, ecology, and analytical chemistry with theoretical approaches within an integrative methodological framework. The goal is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the biological and geochemical processes that have shaped life on Earth—from early animals to specialized microbes—to the present day.