Research interests
Phylogeny, taxonomy, and diversity of terrestrial cyanobacteria and cyanobacterial lichens
- the unicellular genus Chroococcidiopsis, species and phylogenetic position
- diversity of terrestrial rock and soil inhabiting cyanobacteria in general
- diversity of cyanobacterial photobionts of lichens
- cyanolichens of the families Lichinaceae and Peltulaceae
Ecology and eco-physiology of biological soil and rock crusts
- crust types and species composition
- global distribution patterns
- local and global CO2 balances of biological rock and soil crusts
- role of crusts in their referring ecosystems
Eco-physiology of rock, soil, and tree inhabiting lichens and bryophytes
- growth form and related photosynthetic CO2-patterns
- contribution to local and global CO2balances