Objective This interdisciplinary proposal has the objective to greatly enhance our understanding of fundamental biomineralization processes involved in the formation of calcium carbonates by marine organisms, such as corals, foraminifera and bivalves, in order to better understand vital effects. This is essential to the application of these carbonates as proxies for global (paleo-) environmental change. The core of the proposal is an experimental capability that I have pioneered during 2008: Dynamic stable isotopic labeling during formation of carbonate skeletons, tests, and shells, combined with NanoSIMS imaging. The NanoSIMS ion microprobe is a state-of-the-art analytical technology that allows precise elemental and isotopic imaging with a spatial resolution of ~100 nanometers. NanoSIMS imaging of the isotopic label(s) in the resulting biocarbonates and in associated cell-structures will be used to uncover cellular-level transport processes, timescales of formation of different biocarbonate components, as well as trace-elemental and isotopic fractionations. This will uncover the origin of vital effects. With this proposal, I establish a new scientific frontier and guarantee European leadership. The technical and scientific developments resulting from this work are broadly applicable and will radically change scientific ideas about marine carbonate biomineralization and compositional vital effects. Fields of science natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencespalaeontologypaleoclimatologynatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryinorganic compoundsnatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryalkaline earth metals Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-AG-ID1 - ERC Advanced Grant Interdisciplinary Panel Call for proposal ERC-2009-AdG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-AG - ERC Advanced Grant Host institution ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE EU contribution € 2 075 238,40 Address BATIMENT CE 3316 STATION 1 1015 Lausanne Switzerland See on map Region Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Région lémanique Vaud Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Anders Meibom (Prof.) Administrative Contact Caroline Vandevyver (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (2) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE Switzerland EU contribution € 2 075 238,40 Address BATIMENT CE 3316 STATION 1 1015 Lausanne See on map Region Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Région lémanique Vaud Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Anders Meibom (Prof.) Administrative Contact Caroline Vandevyver (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data MUSEUM NATIONAL D'HISTOIRE NATURELLE Participation ended France EU contribution € 106 761,60 Address RUE CUVIER 57 75005 Paris See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Vanessa Demanoff (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
