29 September 2025 to 1 October 2025
Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
Europe/Berlin timezone

The Journey of Airborne Biodiversity: Exploring the Origins and Environmental Drivers of Bioaerosols

Not scheduled
1m
Lecture Hall XXII (Audimax)

Lecture Hall XXII

Audimax

Poster Molecular Biodiversity and Evolution Molecular Biodiversity and Evolution

Speaker

Dr Beatriz Sánchez-Parra (University of Leipzig; iDiv)

Description

The research group of Biodiversity of the Atmosphere focuses on the study of bioaerosols and investigates the effect of abiotic factors, such as temperature, humidity, and wind speed, on their concentration, composition, and dispersion.
Bioaerosols, biological particles such as bacteria, pollen, viruses, fungal spores, and more, that are released from the biosphere into the atmosphere, can have both natural and anthropogenic origins. Knowing their exact origin is essential to subsequently link their presence to the significant impact they have on environmental health and atmospheric chemistry. Through various projects, encompassing both outdoor and indoor environments, we examine the diversity of bioaerosols and their levels of variability under various conditions. We pay particular attention to seasonality and abiotic factors including humidity, as they have a substantial impact on the atmospheric composition, persistance, and transport of bioaerosols. We also investigate bioemissions resulting from events like wildfires, which significantly contribute to the atmospheric biocomposition by introducing specific microorganisms and allergens.
Our projects aim to elucidate the dynamic nature of bioaerosol behavior, driven by interactions between environmental factors and human activities, using interdisciplinary approaches. These findings will enhance our understanding of the risks associated with bioaerosol exposure and their broader impacts on ecology and public health. They will also support the development of future projects focused on the biological activity exerted by bioparticles in the atmosphere.

Status Group Other
Poster Presentation Option Yes, I’m willing to present as a poster.

Primary author

Dr Beatriz Sánchez-Parra (University of Leipzig; iDiv)

Presentation materials

There are no materials yet.