Simulating the influence of dormancy on microbial community dynamics

Abstract

As knowledge on microbial processes and their interactions expands, it becomes possible to develop increasingly-detailed model representations of biogeochemical reaction systems. The aim of this thesis is to develop more general mathematical representations of microbial activity in biogeochemical models, which account for the diversity, physiological state and ecological interactions of microorganisms. These concepts are used to study the dynamic of microbially-driven processes in systems with spatially or temporarily changing environmental conditions. A particular focus is given on the eff ects of dormancy and reactivation of individual bacterial species on the abundance and composition of bacterial communities and their biodegradation activity. These phenomena have hardly been addressed conceptually so far, especially not in the context of biogeochemical models of environmental systems.