Das Projekt "Europaeische Mikrobiologie particulaerer Systeme. Unterprojekt 3: Bestimmung der Struktur der gesamten mikrobiellen Lebensgemeinschaft durch niedermolekulare RNA Analyse" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Gesellschaft für Biotechnologische Forschung mbH durchgeführt. 1. Determination of microbial activities influencing biogeochemical cycles, and measurements of their rates. 2. Estimation of bacterial metabolic activities affecting the physical and chemical composition of particles (production of polymers, hydrolysis of macromolecules such as the degradation of chitin). 3. Determination of the composition of particulate matter. 4. Measurement of the vertical and horizontal distribution and associated changes in the state of activity of attached microorganisms. 5. Assessment of relative importance and taxonomical diversity of microbial communities clonizing particulate, according to the abundance, origin, chemical nature, and spatial distribution in the water column of the particles. 6. To develop a model examining the role of microbes attached to sinking particles in the cycling and flux of carbon and nitrogen.