Investigating late Miocene coccolith geochemistry

Gattupalli, Sushanth (2024). Investigating late Miocene coccolith geochemistry. University of Birmingham. M.Res.

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Abstract

This study focuses on tiny marine organisms called coccolithophores, which produce calcium carbonate shells that store important information about past ocean conditions. Our research investigates how these shells show vital effects- differences in their carbon isotope composition that are influenced by the biology of the organism and its environment during the late Miocene, a period of significant environmental change. Scientists have suggested that these isotopic changes were driven by declining carbon dioxide (CO2) levels during this time. We used a new technique to separate coccoliths of different sizes and analyze their carbon and oxygen isotopic signatures, greatly increasing the amount of data available for this period. This provided a much more detailed timeline of changes compared to previous studies. Our findings suggest that the vital effects seen in coccolith carbon isotopes are more closely related to global productivity trends, particularly during the Late Miocene Biogenic Bloom, rather than to shifts in CO2 levels, which remained relatively stable.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Masters by Research > M.Res.)

Award Type:

Masters by Research > M.Res.

Supervisor(s):