Decoding the Deep‑sea Archive

ECH Project

A collaboration between Valerie de Anda and Gerhard Herndl at the Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Valentin Göldner, group leader at the Division of Environmental Geosciences, and Marc Brooks at the Department of Musicology, this project aims to uncover the hidden “metabolic fingerprints” of marine sediments.

Valerie De Anda

Overview

Marine sediments represent the largest reservoir of organic carbon on the planet and play a fundamental role in regulating Earth’s climate. Organic matter produced in the surface ocean eventually reaches the seafloor, where microbial communities transform, recycle, and preserve it over time. These microorganisms function as dynamic “archives” of biological production, and environmental change, recording and shaping key processes linked to carbon storage, nutrient cycling, and ocean chemistry. Yet despite their importance, the microbial processes and key molecules produced in marine sediments remain poorly understood and are still largely absent from conservation policies and climate discussions.

By analyzing the small molecules associated with microbial activity across environmental gradients, the “Decoding the Deep-sea Archive” project seeks to better understand how seafloor microorganisms process carbon and respond to changing ocean conditions. ​

This interdisciplinary project also addresses a broader challenge: microorganisms are central to every ecosystem on Earth, but they remain largely absent from climate communication, conservation strategies, and environmental decision-making. Through a public outreach initiative in collaboration with Haus des Meeres, the project will translate invisible microbial processes into accessible scientific storytelling, helping connect ocean microbiology, climate resilience, and public awareness​

Investigators