Thesis Subject:
Molecular investiagtion of marine algae-bacteria interaction

Scientific Interests and Goals:
Very little is known about the taxonomic composition and metabolic activities of prokaryotes adhering to micro-particles. Prokaryotes generate, modify and utilize exopolymeric substances. Genetic tools have suggested a large spatial and temporal variability in the taxonomic composition of marine bacteria. Likewise, spatial and temporal variability in the potential of a prokaryotic population to degrade complex polysaccharides is very large, and the ability to adapt is slow; e.g. the ability of a population to degrade a certain complex polysaccharide is not achieved within a week. Studies combining taxonomic and physiological characterization of a prokaryotic community are intensely investigated to address these questions. I would like to combine the taxonomic and physiological characterization of the aggregate-associated prokaryotic community with regards to exopolysaccharide turn-over with the characterization of the exopolysaccharides present. Such a combination of data has never been collected simultaneously before.