Welcome/ Willkommen!

Matthias Rillig's lab at Freie Universität Berlin is part of the Institute of Biology and a member of the Dahlem Center of Plant Sciences.

Our research focus is on plant and soil ecology, with most people in the lab working on arbuscular mycorrhiza. We take an integrative view of mycorrhizal ecology by examining this association from the perspectives of the soil, the plant and the fungal community. Research is also extending to other organism groups, such as various other groups of fungi and soil animals.

Current main research themes are:

- ecological synthesis (using meta-analytical techniques)

- the biodiversity of soil aggregation, particularly the role of mycorrhizal fungi and their interactions with other soil biota

- distribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal assemblages in time and space, using methods of molecular ecology; testing neutral vs. niche processes

- soil biota effects on plants and plant communities, including pathogenic fungi and mycorrhizal fungi

- mycelium functioning in transport of infochemicals

- biochar and hydrothermal carbonization materials in soil ('hydrochar')

- arbuscular mycorrhiza in the tropics (contributing to DFG Research Unit 816 on a megadiverse mountain ecosystem in Ecuador)

More recently, we have started working on these topics:

- using saprobic fungi as model systems to test ecological principles

- the ecological role of root pathogenic fungi in grasslands

- microplastic effects in the soil

- ecological patterns along rivers (part of ERASMUS Mundus Joint Doctorate Program on River Science)

To learn more about the new group and its location, and opportunities for joining the group, check back often and visit the Job postings/ opportunities page.