Molecular Palaeoecology

Dr. Maximilian Prochnow

Blick vom Brünnstein, Bayerische Alpen

Foto: Maximilian Prochnow
Blick vom Brünnstein, Bayerische Alpen

I'm dedicated to answer palaeoclimatological, palaeoecological and geoarchaeological research questions by applying lipid biomarker and stable isotopes proxies to sediment archives, with a focus on Central Europe, southeastern Australia and Tasmania.

I'm a physical geographer and molecular palaeoecologist. I'm interested in lake and wetland sediments, biomarkers and stable isotopes. I combine compound-specific oxygen and hydrogen stable isotopes of plant derived sugars and leaf waxes to reconstruct how past climate change influenced the hydrology of ecosystems – so I try to answer the question whether it was wetter or drier in the past. Further, I analyse fire-derived molecules such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to investigate the role of fire in palaeoenvironments. Together with sterols and bile acids, so-called faecal biomarkers, I reconstruct the presence of humans and their influence on the ecosystem, e.g. since the Neolithic in Europe or throughout the Pleistocene in Australia. This proxy combination provides new palaeoecological perspectives on how humans engaged with their surrounding landscapes over millennia, and complements classical palaeocological methods such as pollen and charcoal.

Sediment coring in Bavaria

Sediment coring in Bavaria

Foto: Sudip Acharya

I'm the Biomarker Lab Manager in our lab. I supervise all biomarker analyses and maintain all of our gas chromatography and mass spectrometry equipment. I love teaching students about Physical Geography and Quaternary Climate Change, including seminars, lab courses, field trips and lectures. I'm associate investigator in the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Indigenous and Environmental Histories and Futures (CIEHF).

My research projects 

  • Lipid biomarker analyses in sediments from Moossee, Switzerland

    with Fabian Rey (University of Basel) & Willy Tinner (University of Bern)

    In this ongoing research project, we analyse δD, PAHs and sterols on well dated sediments from Moossee covering the past 15,000 years at a 30 year temporal resolution.

    Der Moossee - ein hervorragendes Geoarchiv.
    Foto: Fabian Rey, Thomas Stadler

  • Late Glacial and Holocene palaeohydrology across Central Europe

    with Michael Zech (TU Dresden)

    We apply and combine δD and δ18O to lake sediments from Southern Germany to infer past changes in evapotranspiration in response to temperature change during the Late Glacial and Holocene.

    Bichlersee, Rosenheim/Bayern.
    Foto: M. Prochnow

  • Molecular Palaeoecology in southeastern Australia

    with Michael-Shawn Fletcher & Anthony Romano (The University of Melbourne)

    In collaboration with the WIINYA Environmental Research Group (University of Melbourne), we investigate biomarkers to complement pollen and charcoal records from sites across Victoria and Tasmania to resolve human and climate drivers of fire.

    Lake Selina in western Tasmania
    Foto: Maximilian Prochnow

Links

Contact details

Maximilian Prochnow, Dr.

Postdoctoral Researcher & Biomarker Lab Manager
Professur Physische Geographie
Maximilian Prochnow
Foto: Maximilian Prochnow
Link zum Herunterladen der vCard
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Raum 206
Löbdergraben 32
07743 Jena Google Maps – LageplanExterner Link
Sprechzeiten:
Dienstag, 10 bis 11 Uhr nach Vereinbarung

More information about me

  • CV

    since 12.2022
    Research associate at the Chair of Physical Geography

    01.2026 – 03.2026
    Research visit at the University of Melbourne, Australia (Hosts: Prof. Jan-Hendrik May, Prof. Michael-Shawn Fletcher)

    12.2025
    PhD (summa cum laude), Advisors: Roland Zech (FSU Jena), Antje Schwalb (TU Braunschweig)
    Thesis title: Warm and wet, cool and dry? Molecular paleohydrology based on biomarker δD and δ18O across Central Europe since the Late Glacial

    04.2025 – 05.2025
    Research visit at the University of Melbourne, Australia (Hosts: Prof. Jan-Hendrik May, Prof. Michael-Shawn Fletcher)

    01.2023 – 12.2025
    PhD student at the Chair of Physical Geography (PhD scholarship: Landesgraduiertenstipendium 2022)

    10.2022
    Graduation "First State Examination Teacher Education" Geography and German at FSU Jena
    Thesis title: Late Quaternary climate history based on biomarker and stable isotope analyses from Lake Bichlersee

    07.2022 – 02.2023
    Participant Honours Program for Future Researchers

    10.2017 – 10.2022
    Studies in Geography and German Language at FSU Jena

  • Publications

    Submitted/in review

    • Prochnow, M., L. Danius, A. J. Romano, R. Zech, M.-S. Fletcher: Poleward migration of the Southern Westerlies amplified moisture stress in Tasmania – under review in Palaeoceanography and Palaeoclimatology.

    2026

    • Danius, L., H. von Suchodoletz, P. Strobel, M. Prochnow, R. Zech, F. Lechleitner, S. Szidat, M. Bliedtner: The current natural ecological disturbance baseline of fire activity in the Southern European Alps – climate or humans? – Ecological Indicators 188. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.114950Externer Link
    • Prochnow, M., L. Danius, B. Lemma, M. Zech, E. Bazarradnaa, P. Strobel: Validation of Biomarker-Based Dual and Coupled Stable Isotope Approaches for Reconstructing Lake Water Evaporation in Palaeohydrology – Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 698. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2026.113902Externer Link

    2025

    • Prochnow, M.: Warm and wet, cool and dry? Molecular Paleohydrology based on biomarker δD and δ18O across Central Europe since the Late Glacial. Dissertation. Friedrich Schiller University Jena. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22032/dbt.69096Externer Link
    • Prochnow, M., L. Danius, P. Strobel, F. Rey, L. Rittmeier, M. Zech, W. Tinner, R. Zech: Wetter or drier? Paleohydrological evidence from a 30-year resolution biomarker δD record from Moossee, Switzerland. Quaternary Science Reviews 369, 109602. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2025.109602Externer Link

      2024

      • Prochnow, M., J. Hepp, P. Strobel, R. Zech, S. Acharya, S. Szidat, D. Rius, L. Millet, B. Glaser, M. Zech: Late Glacial summer paleohydroloy across Central Europe. Scientific Reports 14(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-83189-7Externer Link
      • Prochnow, M., K. Dulias, P. Strobel, M. Bliedtner, G. Daut, S. Szidat, G. Salazar, F. Lechleitner, S. Acharya, R. Abarca, A. Schwarz, A. Schwalb, R. Zech (2024): Paleohydrology and human driven paleoproductivity during the Late Holocene from Schliersee, Bavaria. Quaternary Science Reviews 345, 109012. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2024.109012Externer Link
      • Acharya, S., P. Strobel, M. Prochnow, S. Taut, M. Zech, A. Schwalb, R. Zech (2024): Paleoclimate, paleoenvironment, and human impact over the last 400 years based on lipid biomarkers from Lake Höglwörth, Germany. Quaternary Science Advances 15, 100231. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.qsa.2024.100231Externer Link

      2023

      • Prochnow, M., P. Strobel, M. Bliedtner, J. Struck, L. Bittner, S. Szidat, G. Salazar, H. Schneider, S. Acharya, M. Zech, R. Zech (2023): Summer paleohydrology during the Late Glacial and Early Holocene based on δ2H and δ18O from Bichlersee, Bavaria. Scientific Reports 13, 18487. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-45754-4Externer Link
      • Bliedtner, M., P. Strobel, J. Struck, M. Prochnow, E. Bazarradnaa, R. Zech (2023): Mid to Late Holocene moisture evolution of semi-arid Mongolia and its anti-phase relationship with monsoonal Asia. – Quaternary Science Reviews 313, 108201. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2023.108201Externer Link
      • Acharya, S., R. Zech, P. Strobel, M. Bliedtner, M. Prochnow, C. De Jonge (2023): Environmental controls on the distribution of GDGT molecules in Lake Höglwörth, Southern Germany. – Organic Geochemistry 186, 104689. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orggeochem.2023.104689Externer Link
      • Acharya, S., M. Prochnow, T. Kasper, L. Langhans, P. Frenzel, P. Strobel, M. Bliedtner, G. Daut, C. Berndt, S. Szidat, G. Salazar, A. Schwalb, R. Zech (2023): A 1000-year multi-proxy paleoenvironmental record from Lake Höglwörth, Bavaria, Germany. – E&G Quaternary Science Journal 72, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-72-219-2023Externer Link
    • Conferences

      09.2026 – DEUQUA 2026 in Freiburg, Germany:

      • Prochnow, M.: Reconstructing Central European palaeohydrology with biomarker δD and δ18O: Challenges, potentials and future perspectives. Presentation Early-Career-Award.

      07.2026 – Australasian Quaternary Association (AQUA) Biennial Meeting in Sydney, Australia:

      • Romano, A., Taungurung Land & Waters Council, M. Bird, R. Comley, M. Prochnow, S. Maizma, Q. Hua, T. Barrows, L. Kimpe, V. Korasidis, J.-H. May, M.-S. Fletcher: Where There's Smoke, There's Stewardship: Elucidating 16,000 Years of Taungurung Fire Management in Northeast Victoria. Presentation.
      • Sheridan, L, M.-S. Fletcher, R. Drysdale, V. Korasidis, F. Gadd, G. Jacobsen, M. Prochnow, ...: Investigating the impact of millennial scale climate events on southern Australia during the Last Glacial Period. Presentation.
      • Prochnow, M., L. Danius, L. Sheridan, A. Romano, J.-H. May, R. Zech, J. Tyler, M.-S. Fletcher: Palaeohydrology, fire and humans in south-eastern Australia: A biomarker and isotope perspective. Presentation.
      • Prochnow, M., L. Danius, A. Romano, M.-S. Fletcher: Biomarker δD analyses reveal the impact of the Southern Westerlies on Western Tasmania’s hydrology. Poster.

      06.2026 – Workgroup High Mountain Areas (AK Hochgebirge) Meeting in Ramsau, Austria:

      • Prochnow, M.: Molecular Palaeoecology: Exploring human impact with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and fecal biomarkers at Moossee, Switzerland. Presentation.
      • Wulf, J., M. Prochnow, L. Danius, H Kabgov, S. Szidat, S. Taut, R. Zech: Lake Sediments Reveal Human Impact and Environmental Changes in the Pamir-Alay, Tajikistan. Presentation.

      03.2026 – Landscape Archaeology in Bamberg, Germany:

      • Prochnow, M., L. Danius, F. Tarnow, M. Voss, U. Werban, P. Fütterer, H. von Suchodoletz: n-Alkanes and PAHs from sediments of a Central European upland floodplain reveal the regional Late Holocene vegetation and fire history. Poster.

      12.2025 – Invited seminar talk at Technische Universität Dresden (host: Michael Zech)

      • Prochnow, M.: Warm und feucht, kalt und trocken?! Ein „best of“molekularer Paläohydrologie mit Biomarkern und ihrer komponentenspezifischen δD und δ18O-Isotopie.

      05.2025 – DIG/AK Geoarcheology in Tübingen, Germany:

      • Danius, L., H. v. Suchodoletz, P. Strobel,  M. Prochnow, R. Zech, F. Lechleitner, S. Szidat, M. Bliedtner: Human modification of the fire regime in the Southern European Alps since the Bronze Age. Poster.
      • Suchodoletz, H. v., M. Prochnow, L. Danius, B. Glaser, L. Shumilovskikh, T. Schunke, K. Wiedner, R. Zech: Buried and recent Chernozems document Holocene ecological changes and fire activity in the lowlands of Central Germany. Poster.
      • Prochnow, M., L. Rittmeier, L. Danius, P. Strobel, M. Bliedtner, F. Rey, W. Tinner, R. Zech: Exploring fire history and human impact with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons over the past 15 ka at Moossee, Switzerland. Presentation.

      04.2025 – General Assembly European Geoscience Union (EGU) in Vienna, Austria:

      • Wulf, J., M. Prochnow, T. Kasper, S. Taut, G. Daut, R. Zech: Preliminary Geochemical and Lipid Biomarker Results from Lake Stechlin, Northeastern Germany. Poster. DOI: 10.5194/egusphere-egu25-21508
      • Scholz, S., O. Schmitz, L. Bergmann, M. Prochnow, L. Danius, C. Zielhofer, R. Zech: Late Holocene climate and environmental history based on biomarker analyses from Lake Tislit, Morocco. Poster. DOI: 10.5194/egusphere-egu25-19592

      10.2024 – Invited seminar talk at EAWAG, Dübendorf (host: Prof. N. Dubois):

      • Prochnow, M.: A 7 ka high-resolution lipid biomarker record from Moossee. 

      09.2024 – DEUQUA 2024 in Salzburg, Austria:

      • Prochnow, M., P. Strobel, S. Acharya, L. Rittmeier, M. Bliedtner, F. Rey, W. Tinner, R. Zech: A 7500 year long, 30-yr-resolution δD record from Moossee, Switzerland, indicates strong influence of solar activity on paleohydrology. Presentation.
      • Wulf, J., M. Prochnow, T. Kasper, G. Daut, R. Zech: Preliminary geochemical results from a gravity core from Stechlinsee in northeastern Germany. Poster.

      04.2024 – General Assambly European Geoscience Union (EGU) in Vienna, Austria:

      • Prochnow, M., K. Dulias, P. Strobel, M. Bliedtner, G. Daut, S. Szidat, G. Salazar, S. Acharya, R. Abarca, A. Schwarz, A. Schwalb, R. Zech: Late Holocene hydroclimate dynamics in the northern Alps based on compound-specific δD from Schliersee, Germany. Presentation. DOI: 10.5194/egusphere-egu24-5205
      • Rittmeier, L., M. Prochnow, P. Strobel, M. Bliedtner, F. Rey, W. Tinner, R. Zech: Refining Holocene environmental change and human impacts at Moossee, Switzerland, by exploring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as innovative proxies for paleofire. Poster. DOI: 10.5194/egusphere-egu24-16656
      • Acharya, S., D. Rana, M. Prochnow, K. Dulias, B. Dawadi, A. Schwalb, R. Zech: A Paleoenvironmental record from Lake Gosainkunda, Nepal. Poster. DOI: 10.5194/egusphere-egu24-18320

      10.2023 – Arbeitsgemeinschaft Alpen Vorland Quartär (AGAQ) in Altaussee, Austria: 

      • Prochnow, M.: Biomarker and stable isotope analyses based on lake sediments from the Alps: First results from Bichlersee Schliersee. Presentation.

      09.2022 – DEUQUA 2022 at Geoforschungszentrum (GFZ) Potsdam:

      • Prochnow, M., M. Bliedtner, P. Strobel, J. Struck, L. Bittner, H. Schneider, S. Acharya, M. Zech, R. Zech: Paleohydrological evolution during the Late Glacial based on compound-specific δD and δ18O analyses from Bichlersee, Bavarian Alps. Poster.

      08.2022 – 36th Congress of the International Society of Limnology in Berlin:

      • Acharya, S., P. Strobel, L. Langhans, P. Frenzel, M. Bliedtner, M. Prochnow, C. Berndt, T. Kasper, A. Schwalb, R. Zech: Human – environment interaction during the last millennium: A multi-proxy sediment record from Lake Höglwörth, Bavaria. Presentation.

      07.2022 – TransTip Summer School 2022 in Waldachtal/Black Forest

      • Acharya, S., L. Langhans, P. Strobel, P. Frenzel, M. Bliedtner, M. Prochnow, C. Berndt, T. Kasper, A. Schwalb, R. Zech: Anthropogenic impacts during the last millennium: A multi-proxy paleoenvironmental study from Lake Höglwörth, Bavaria, Germany. Poster.

      09.2021 – GASIR (German Ass. Stable Isotopes) 2021 at TU Darmstadt (virtual):

      • Prochnow, M., M. Bliedtner, J. Struck, P. Strobel, M. Zech & R. Zech (2021): Ein spätglazialer δD n-alkane-Record vom Bichlersee, Oberbayern. Poster.
    • Teaching

      Taught courses

      • GEOG 437: Regional Climate and Environmental change – Field Trip Central Asia 2025 (M. Sc., Field trip, Seminar)
      • GEOG 542: Preperation Seminar State Examination Physical Geography (Teacher education program, Seminar)
      • GEOG 531: Research Project II with Biomarker-Labcourse (M. Sc., Labcourse)
      • GEOG 437: Regional Climate and Environmental change – Field Trip Alps/Mediterranean  2023 (M. Sc., Field trip, Seminar)
      • GEOG 436: Special Topics in Physical Geography (Teacher education program, Seminar)
      • GEOG 431: Climate and Environmental Change (M. Sc., Lecture)
      • GEOG 333: Research Seminar Physical Geography (B. Sc., Seminar) 
      • GEOG 237: Field Trip Physical Geography of Germany – Southern Germany (B. Sc., Field trip)
      • GEOG 231: Physical Geography of Germany (B. Sc., Lecture, Field trip)
      • GEOG 132: Physical Geography and Soil Science: Lithosphere, Geomorphology, Pedosphere (B. Sc., Tutorial)
      • GEOG 131: Physical Geography and Soil Science: Atmosphere, Biosphere, Hydrosphere (B. Sc., Lecture)

      Supervised students

      Master of Science:

      • Flavio Zago (04.2023): 1.5 ka climate reconstruction at Moossee, Switzerland
      • Franziska Tarnow (03.2026): Biomarkeruntersuchungen in spätholozänen Auensedimenten der obersten Weißen Elster

      Bachelor of Science:

      • Annemarie Bach (06.2022): Biomarkeranalysen an Seesedimenten vom Moossee, Schweiz 

      Teacher education program:

      • Erik Jung (03.2026): Geophysikalische Messungen begrabener fluvialer Strukturen in der Aue der obersten Weißen Elster bei Adorf-Leubetha
      • Jette Rätsch (03.2026): Lysimeter experiments on the combination of biochar and rock weathering in Thuringia
      • Kurt Bauer (03.2026): Lipid biomarker analyses on lake sediments from Basa de la Mora, Central Pyrenees, Spain
      • Marvin Hensel (03.2025): Late Glacial and Early Holocene leaf wax pattern from Moossee
      • Florian Buchhorn (03.2025): Fettsäureanalysen an Seesedimenten vom Moossee, Schweiz
      • Konstantin Hofmann (02.2025): Boosting enhanced weathering with organic acids 
      • Richard Uhrich (02.2025): Spätglaziale und frühholozäne Produktivitätsproxies vom Moossee
      • Sarah Walter (02.2025): Late Glacial and Early Holocene PAH analyses from Moossee
      • Max Ziesing (08.2024): Trockenstress und aktuelles Ringbreitenwachstum von Eiche und Buche im Raum Jena
      • Steve Zill (08.2024): Lipidanalysen an Seesedimenten aus Marokko
      • Maxi Brück (08.2024): Schwammstadt Jena - Aspekte der Regenwassernutzung in Jena
      • Line Rittmeier (02.2024): Lipid-Biomarker Analysen an spätquartären Seesedimenten vom Moossee, Schweiz
      • Thomas Barthel (02.2024): Chancen und Risiken von Radiation Management für die Stadt Jena
      • Moritz Mäding (08.2022): Stable isotope analyses on Mid-Holocene lake sediments from Moossee, Switzerland
    • Services for University
      • Elected representative of the scientific staff (Institute of Geography)
      • X-Ray safety instructor (handheld XRF) (level R2.2)
      • Webmaster Homepage Physical Geography