Overview

Prof. Dr. Miklós Bálint

We are developing and adapting molecular approaches to study the structure, composition and functions of hard-to-observe organisms. We seek answers to important questions in ecology, such as the effects of the Great Acceleration on taxonomically diverse communities.

Another important component of the group’s work is to generate long community time series data with ancient environmental DNA preserved in lake sediments, and to interpret these. Ancient DNA can capture wide varieties of taxa which once lived in aquatic habitats, back to thousands of years. Ancient DNA time series of communities can answer questions about the ecological effects of historic climate change and human impact.