Plight of Pelagic Primary Producers in a Changing Marine Environment

Project Information

P4

Grant agreement ID: 885498

DOI

10.3030/885498

Project closed

EC signature date 20 April 2020

Start date 6 May 2021

End date 5 May 2023

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 224 933,76

EU contribution

€ 224 933,76

Coordinated by

CARDIFF UNIVERSITY
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - P4 (Plight of Pelagic Primary Producers in a Changing Marine Environment)

Reporting period: 2021-05-06 to 2023-05-05

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

One of the regions that is currently experiencing the largest warming trend is the Indian Ocean. Within this region, the marine plankton communities, that forms the base of the marine food web is already significantly impacted by rising sea surface temperatures. With the projected anthropogenic increase in future global temperatures and consequent atmospheric and oceanographic changes likely happening over the coming decades, understanding long-term biotic variability and ecosystem function is a key prerequisite to advance our capability in modelling the present and future marine ecosystem response to climate change.

Using unprecedented high-resolution sediment materials from the Southern Indian Ocean, this fellowship, ‘Plight of Pelagic Primary Producers in a Changing Marine Environment (P4)’ has combined biological, physical, and geochemical signals from coccolithophores, a major group of calcifying marine algae, focusing on the MPWP, a time interval considered to be the closest past analogue for future warm climate scenarios we will experience during the coming century. Through the generation of quantitative coccolithophore-based palaeoclimate records, P4 offers multiple potential opportunities to address the role of the Indian Ocean in the Earth’s climate system and better assess the impacts of extreme climate events in the marine environment.

Motivated to investigate the impact of past climate extremes on these ecosystems and to shed light on the dynamics of coccolithophores in the tropical and subtropical Indian Ocean during the MPWP, P4 has tested the following key hypotheses:

(1) Coccolithophore communities quantitatively responded to long-term climatic changes during the MPWP;
(2) Coccolithophore calcification and production increase with elevated atmospheric pCO2 concentrations; and
(3) Variations in local carbonate chemistry impact the coccolithophore calcification process.

Associated with these key hypotheses are three primary research objectives (RO):
RO1. To determine the response of coccolithophore communities to sustained global warmth during the MPWP;
RO2. To investigate the relationship between coccolith production and pCO2 levels; and
RO3. To examine the long-term adaptation of coccolithophores to variations in CO2 concentrations in the surface water.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

To address the ROs, sediment cores drilled during the IODP Expedition 361: South African Climates, from the Southern Indian Ocean were investigated. Three principal analytical techniques have been employed: (1) assemblage-based; (2) coccolith physical properties; and (3) coccolith geochemistry. In addition to the scientific objectives of the proposal, two additional analyses on co-registered samples were performed: (1) high resolution benthic and (2) low resolution planktic foraminifer stable isotopes (d18O and d13C).

The scientific objectives were addressed through Work Packages (WP) 1 to 3, while the career objectives were addressed through WP 4 to 6. Below is the detailed description of completed tasks, and accomplished Deliverables and Milestones for each WP:

WP1: Coccolithophore assemblage composition, abundance, and preservation
• Report on full coccolithophore assemblage composition.
• Report on preservation state of coccolithophore species.

WP2: Coccolith mass and volume estimates
• Report on coccolith mass, volume, as well as coccolith carbonate contribution and morphological diversity index.

WP3: Coccolith stable isotope measurements
• Improvement of sieving and drying techniques and centrifugation method to remove fine fraction
• Report on coccolith d18O and d13C stable isotopes
• Report on high resolution benthic foraminifer and low resolution planktic foraminifer d18O and d13C stable isotopes

WP4: Project management
• Despite the CoViD-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions at the host institution, CU Earth during the first few months of the project, we consider that P4 were well-implemented and has successfully achieved both the scientific and career goals of the fellowship.

WP5: Training
I have received complementary, transferable, and scientific trainings for research and career development. Below are some highlights:
• Courses: Communicating your research to non-specialists and CU Education Fellowship Programme towards achieving the FHEA certification
• Taught Exploring Planet Earth module for BSc students at CU Earth
• Guest lecture for Oceans, Climates, and Environments module for BSc students at the University of Portsmouth
• Training on the use of ICP-MS, automated microscopy using the SYRACO set-up, and semi-automated micro-filtration system
• Co-convened a session in the 2023 EGU General Assembly
• Scientific community engagement through contribution to the PAGES Working Groups: PlioVAR, PlioMioVAR, MioOcean

WP6: Exploitation, Dissemination, and Communication
Results of this project and from collaborations have been presented in scientific conferences and meetings.
• EGU General Assembly (2023, online)
• 14th ICP (2022, Bergen, Norway)
• The Warm Pliocene: Bridging the geological data and modelling communities Conference (2022, Leeds, UK)

The Fellow was also invited to share her research through seminars.
• Center for Island Climate Change Solutions Seminar (2023, online)
• Paleoclimate Society Virtual Seminar Series (2022, online)
• TMS – Cocco Catch Up (2022, online)

The Fellow was involved in some collaborations that resulted in publications (see Publications). Other manuscripts have been submitted and in preparation.

To communicate P4 results, the Fellow has been involved in the following public outreach activities:
• A logo and website was developed for the project
• Participated in the Falling Walls Lab MSCA (2021)
• 1st chapter of this comic series, TickTock: Into the Geologic Clock is published in PAGES Horizons 2: Warm Worlds
• 2nd chapter, The Earth’s First Forest is uploaded on our social media page (https://twitter.com/ticktockigt)
• 3rd chapter along with another science story has been submitted to a popular science magazine.
• Scheduled to attend the 2023 Green Man Festival in Brecon Beacons, Wales with a booth at Einstein’s Garden

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The new knowledge of Indian Ocean climate dynamics and ecosystem function during the MPWP generated by P4 will have multiple beneficiaries across a wide range of disciplines. The results of this project thus have far-reaching implications for Earth scientists, specifically to palaeoclimatologists and geochemists, as well as palaeoclimate and Earth system modellers working on past warm intervals. Part of P4 results have been disseminated among the scientific community through seminars, conferences, and public outreach. This dissemination will continue through a range of peer-reviewed publications that are currently under development.

P4 has offered unique opportunities for the Fellow to contribute to and build on the successful palaeoceanography and palaeoclimatology theme within CU Earth, whilst at the same time delivering new expertise on palaeoecology and biogeochemistry that could further extend current research capabilities and independence. Finally, upon completion of the one-year CU Education Fellowship Programme, the Fellow will obtain the Fellowship status and gain the award Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. This will significantly enhance her competitiveness during application for teaching and research-based academic positions in the UK and elsewhere.

infographic page 1 of 2 - higher resolution image is available from the Fellow

infographic page 2 of 2 - higher resolution image is available from the Fellow

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