Dr. Sonja Oberbeckmann

 

My research focus lays on the influence of environmental and anthropogenic parameters on microbial communities in marine waters. This comprises plastic-associated microbial communities, as well as the distribution of potentially pathogenic bacteria (e.g. Vibrio spp.) through possible effects of climate change.

 

In our project group we investigate the diversity, structure, and function of microbial biofilms on microplastics in the ocean. The EU project BONUS MICROPOLL represents a multilevel assessment of microplastics, associated pollutants and biofilms in the Baltic Sea. In the course of the BMBF project MICRO-FATE (coordinated by the UFZ) we investigate plastic-associated bacteria from the Pacific Garbage Patch, which were collected on board the research vessel SONNE.