Project: Evolvability of planktonic Foraminifera: Adaptive reactions to environmental change.
Research group: Plankton Evolvability
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Planktonic Foraminifera comprise vast amounts of the marine biomass and are crucial for the marine carbon cycle and the oceanic calcite-sequestration. They are thus integral for the stability of atmospheric CO2-levels through atmosphere-ocean-interaction. While Foraminifera have demonstrated their capacity to survive catastrophic events in the past, their assemblages showed pointed changes during environmental upheaval. Intriguingly, comparable morphologies reoccur throughout earth’s history, and it was suggested that various groups within the taxon differ inherently in their capacity to adapt toward environmental change. Since the different groups differ in biomass and calcification intensity, an unforeseen change in their assemblage may have an unpredicted influence on the presumed climate change scenarios by disturbing the oceanic carbon pump. This project will use natural experiments of past environmental changes to examine the evolvability of planktonic Foraminifera and predict the impact of future climate change on their assemblage and evolution. The study will encompass morphometric analyses including ontogenetical pathways, geochemical shell measurements, ecological and evolutionary modelling, and population dynamics studies. Extensive experience in micropalaeontological laboratory work, morphometric and geochemical techniques, and ecological and evolutionary modelling in R will be developed by the applicant. Specifics of the project can be adapted to the candidate’s personal interests.
Deadline is closed
