Katharina Kitzinger

Marine oxygen-depleted zones account for just 0.1% of the ocean’s volume. Yet, they have a large impact on the ocean’s health, its ability to capture carbon, and its greenhouse gas emissions. Microbes ‘breathe’ nitrogen instead of oxygen. This nitrogen loss leads to emissions of nitrous oxide, a highly potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. In their ERC project RECLESS Katharina Kitzinger and an international team will work on a better understanding of of nitrogen cycling in the ocean by identifying key microbial players, studying their responses to environmental conditions, and building the first global microbial ecosystem model for oxygen-depleted marine regions.