Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science
The Division of Terrestrial Ecosystem Research | TER at the Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science | CeMESS aims to advance the fundamental understanding of how soil microorganisms and plants respond to and in turn shape their abiotic and biotic environment, and what consequences these interactions have for the functioning of the Earth’s ecosystems.
Researchers at TER address pressing environmental issues, such as the impact of climate change on ecosystem functioning and the role of soils in the global carbon cycle and in food security.
Congratulations to Julia, who successfully defended her MSc thesis on Monday, September 28th 2020. Her thesis on “Life in a Jar – How to Build…
The Doctoral School in Microbiology and Environmental Sciences offers 15 fully funded PhD positions in diverse research areas ranging from molecular…
Congratulations to Carolina and Chupei, who successfully defended their MSc thesis on Thursday August 20th.
We are very happy that Hannes will join the staff of TER as a Senior Scientist on a permanent contract. He will strengthen our expertise in isotope…
A new concept, put forward by an interdisciplinary group of soil scientists and mathematical modellers looks at soil carbon persistence through the…
As global temperatures continue to rise, a key uncertainty of climate projection is the microbial decomposition of vast organic carbon stocks in…
Zhou, J., Liu, S., van Groenigen, K. J., Mueller, C., Ochoa-Hueso, R., Fanin, N., Ren, Z., Zhang, Y., Ma, Y., Sun, S., Hu, J., Zhang, Y., Yahdjian, L., Wanek, W., Olesen, J., Kuzyakov, Y., Liu, J., & Chen, J. (2026). Contrasting responses of particulate and mineral-associated organic carbon stocks to grazing exclusion in an alpine meadow. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 400. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2026.110227
Hansen, P. M., Zhang, Y., Guseva, K., Kaiser, C., & Francesca Cotrufo, M. (2026). Microbial community regulation of extracellular enzyme production can mediate patterns of particulate and mineral-associated organic matter accumulation in undersaturated soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 214, Article 110056. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.110056
Liu, M., Xu, X., Jin, P., Bruelheide, H., Kuzyakov, Y., Bardgett, R. D., & Wanek, W. (2026). Advancing predictive understanding of tree organic and inorganic nitrogen uptake across forest biomes. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 213, Article 110027. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.110027
Nottingham, A. T., Karhu, K., Salinas, N., Schnecker, J., Sietiö, O. M., Martin-Vivanco, A. K., Wanek, W., & Meir, P. (2026). Microbial death in the Andes: necromass declines despite growth and carbon-use-efficiency increases with decadal soil warming. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 213, Article 110002. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.110002
Yao, R., Fu, H., Liu, X., Liu, F., Wanek, W., Liang, G., Chadwick, D. R., Jones, D. L., Wu, L., & Ma, Q. (2026). Meta-analysis of the accumulation and stabilisation of particulate and mineral-associated organic carbon by fertilization. Soil and Tillage Research, 255, Article 106770. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2025.106770
University of Vienna
