Dresden 2026 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 14: Poster Session II

BP 14.3: Poster

Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 18:00–21:00, P2

Filamentous cyanobacteria in model complex environments — •Jakob Gönnenwein, Elias Illing, and Stefan Karpitschka — Fachbereich Physik, Universität Konstanz

Cyanobacteria are pervasive throughout most ecosystems, ranging from open water bodies to porous media like soil or sandstone. Their accelerated growth in a warming climate constitutes rising ecologic and economic threats. Besides harmful blooms in natural water bodies, their degrading effect on buildings and sculptures has been identified as a threat to cultural heritage sites.

In our work we investigate the motility, individual behaviour and collective mechanics of filamentous cyanobacteria. We use well-controlled quasi-two-dimensional model porous media that mimic properties of natural habitats like soil or sandstone, while allowing direct observation of their dispersal characteristics. Using this system, we derive characteristic persistence scales of orientational order and density fluctuations in relation to the porosity parameters of the model medium.

Characterizing their collective behaviour in porous media allows us to understand and potentially mitigate their adverse effects on porous structural materials.

Keywords: Cyanobacteria; Active Polymers; Complex Environment; Collective Behaviour