Peter Frenzel
Prof. Dr. Peter Frenzel
MPI für terrestrische Mikrobiologie
Karl-von-Frisch-Straße
D-35043 Marburg / Germany
Phone: +49 6421 178820
Fax: +49 6421 178809
Email: frenzel@mpi-marburg.mpg.de
Research group members
Group leader: Prof. Dr. Peter Frenzel
Postdoctoral fellow: Lüke, Claudia
PhD/Diploma students: Hainbuch, Stephanie; Reim, Andreas
Technical assistants: Hahn, Alexandra; Schneider, Bellinda
Prof. Dr. Peter Frenzel
Curriculum Vitae
Peter Frenzel (born 1949)
Diplom (Biology), University of Heidelberg, 1973
Dr. rer.nat. (Zoology), University of Heidelberg, 1975
Teacher, 1975-77
Research scientist, Landesanstalt für Umweltschutz Baden-Württemberg, 1977-81
Freelance limnologist, 1981-1986
Postdoc, University of Konstanz, 1986-91
Habilitation (Ecology), University of Marburg, 1993
Professor, University of Marburg, 2001
Research associate at the Department of Biogeochemistry at the MPI Marburg since 1991
Research Area: Microbiology and biogeochemistry of wetlands
Our main focus during the last years was on methane oxidizing bacteria. These methanotrophs form resting stages building up a microbial seed bank. While only a subset out from this resting population becomes active under certain conditions, the diverse community allows a flexible reaction to varying environmental conditions, and sustained methane oxidation even after severe disturbance. Historical contingencies, e.g. the genotypes of rice varieties planted in the past, may be preserved in the seed bank, even if actual agricultural practice is identical. Continuing through millennia, rice agriculture selects for certain methanotrophs, but also modifies the micro-environment enabling faster growth and higher activity of some methanotrophs.
As examples for recently completed and ongoing international projects you may have a look at METHECO and MECOMECON
We are currently working on three topics, the role of biodiversity for methane oxidation and for microbial processes in general , the function and evolution of methane monooxygenases and related enzymes, and the effect of a warming climate on carbon flow in thawing permafrost soils.
More about "Microbiology and biogeochemistry of wetlands"
Recent publications
Ho, A. and P. Frenzel (2012). "Heat stress and methane-oxidizing bacteria: effects on activity and population dynamics." Soil Biol. Biochem. in press.
Krause, S., C. Lüke and P. Frenzel (2012). "Methane source strength and energy flow shape methanotrophic communities in oxygen-methane counter-gradients. ." Environmental Microbiology Reports in press.
Graef, C., A. G. Hestnes, M. M. Svenning and P. Frenzel (2011). "The active methanotrophic community in a wetland from the High Arctic." Environmental Microbiology Reports 3(4): 466-472.
Ho, A., C. Lüke and P. Frenzel (2011). "Ageing well: methane oxidation and methane oxidising bacteria along a chronosequence of 2000 years." Environmental Microbiology Reports 3(6): 738-743.
Ho, A., C. Lüke and P. Frenzel (2011). "Recovery of methanotrophs from disturbance: population dynamics, evenness, and functioning." ISME Journal 5: 750-758.
Lüke, C., L. Bodrossy, E. Lupotto and P. Frenzel (2011). "Methanotrophic bacteria associated to rice roots: the cultivar effect assessed by T-RFLP and microarray analysis." Environmental Microbiology Reports 3(5): 518-525.
Lüke, C. and P. Frenzel (2011). "Potential of pmoA amplicon pyrosequencing for methanotroph diversity studies." Appl Environ Microbiol 77: 6305-6309.