Since the beginning of the project, we have established a framework of environmental statistical analysis that can be applied not only to testing the correlation of alkenones, but any biomarkers, with the large, environmental meta-dataset that is a unique asset to this project (Plancq et al. 2018). We have for the first time, shown through generalised linear models which environmental parameters affect the presence and absence of the haptophyte algae that produce alkenones, creating a testable hypothesis that can now be applied more globally (Plancq et al. 2018). This analysis also shows which environmental parameters lead to the highest production of alkenones and may have algal biofuel implications that can be followed up in future work. We have genetically identified the haptophyte species present in the Northern Great Plains lakes, namely two Group II haptophytes and one Group I haptophyte, and identified appropriate existing calibrations that can be applied to downcore records. With our Japanese colleagues and Steering Group member, Professor Shiraiwa, we have isolated 6 new haptophyte algal strains, grown them in cultures and performed temperature experiments to develop bespoke temperature calibrations for not just known indices, but have also created new indices that are temperature sensitive using the full suite of alkenone homologues and associated molecules (Ariae et al. 2018). These new calibrations have been employed down core for Lake Success and Last Mountain Lake, and in particular, the newly developed UK38 calibration for the Lake Success haptophyte isolate provides a novel applied calibration for a site where validation of the traditional UK37 cannot be used. This work is in preparation for publication, but awaiting final radiocarbon dates. It is currently contained in PhD Thesis: Zwick (2021) Recording high-resolution changes in temperature and hydrology in the Canadian Prairies – proxy development & application. For the final period we are applying these proxies to reconstruct long-term changes. We have presented our work at a number of international conferences, including AGU 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019; Goldschmidt 2017, 2018, and EGU 2018. We also had the opportunity to give an invited seminar at the US-Japan Research Institute in Washington DC (Dec. 2018) that was aimed at using the networks that USJI has in DC to reach and facilitate discussions on timely research with politicians, government bodies and companies.
