PaleoPlanktonics

Welcome to the world of paleoplankton!

Marine phytoplankton are globally important microorganisms that live in the ocean’s surface. When these tiny organisms die, they sink to the seafloor and over time build up complex layers in the ocean sediments. By extracting ancient DNA from such seafloor sediments, past phytoplankton communities can be reconstructed, providing information on past environmental conditions and climate. This novel knowledge about past marine community adaptation to previous regional and global warming periods helps inform predictions of future marine ecosystem resilience guiding management efforts of marine ecosystems during present-day climate change.

PaleoPlanktonics' research revolves around the study of past phytoplankton and their predators, and their relationships with the environment over geological timescales - performed by applying novel ancient DNA techniques to seafloor sediments. Research topics span the global ocean with a focus on regions where dramatic alterations are underway as a result of ongoing climate change. As such, we are currently leading research into sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) investigations of past harmful algal bloom (HAB) events along the Australian coastline, where the strengthening of the East Australian Current has begun to impact on marine foodweb functioning and dynamics. We are also applying state-of-the-art sedaDNA tools to reconstruct paleo marine life and investigate their responses to climatic and oceanographic changes around Antarctica, a climate change hotspot.

Explore PaleoPlanktonics projects and publications, and if you are interested to join the team, contact Linda Armbrecht.