The Microbial Oceanography Laboratory is a group  led by Dr. Osvaldo Ulloa, which main research area  is to study the bacterial and archaeal community living at the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ, http://omz.udec.cl). The group was part of the former Laboratory for Oceanographic Processes and Climate (PROFC, http://www.profc.udec.cl), devoted to the scientific study of the ocean and its relation with climate. This Laboratory was formed in 1997- originally as the Program for Regional Studies in Physical Oceanography and Climate- under the direction of the Re search Council of the University of Concepcion and with the support of the Swedish International Develo pment Agency-SIDA and the Fundacion Andes.s.