马克斯普朗克海洋微生物学研究所（Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology）,地址：德国,不莱梅；During two thirds of earth’s history, microorganisms dominated our planet and developed complex biota in the oceans and inland waters? In the course of nearly four billion years of evolutionary history, prokaryotic organisms, i.e? bacteria und archaea, have developed a great metabolic diversity. To this day, microorganisms are primarily responsible for catalysing diverse decomposition processes of organic und inorganic substances? They play a key role in controlling global element cycles and thereby help to keep our planet inhabitable? They also ensure that almost all waste products are decomposed and recycled in the oceans, so that toxic compounds do not accumulate and endanger fauna or flora. Although marine microbiology is not a new field of research, we still have very incomplete knowledge about marine microorgan。