Climate Change Clues from Tiny Marine Algae- Ancient and Modern

Picture Source: 

http://www.co2.ulg.ac.be/peace/objects/218-01.JPG

Article Link: 

http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2013/02/04/climate_change_clues_from_tiny_marine_algae_ancient_and_modern.html

Coccolithophores, as pictured above, are a type of plankton that are widespread in the modern ocean, as well as present in fossil records. They remain as fossils because they have tiny calcium carbonate shells that fall to the seafloor and are preserved after they die. Many different species of coccolithophores responded in varied ways to a rapid warming of their climate 56 million years ago. This rapid warming is known as the PETM or the Palaeocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum. The different responses from these species were discovered in a study by researchers from the University of Southampton, the National Oceanography Centre, and the University College London.

The study focused on two main types of coccolithophores, Toweius pertusus and Coccolithus pelagicus. Researchers found that Toweius pertusus continued to reproduce at a rapid pace even though the climate was changing quickly. This feature gave the Toweius pertusus an advantage against competitors because it was able to remain stable in the changing environment. Descendants of this species have similar characteristics, helping the modern relative species to thrive now. Coccolithus pelagicus were found to grow at a slower pace during times of the greatest warmth. Descendants of coccolithus pelagicus are less abundant and less widespread, thought to be because of the slowed growth. 

By comparing ancient fossils to modern species, researchers are able to interpret how different species respond to environmental changes, often sudden, that occur at the PETM. These changes are often composed of increased CO2 levels and rapid increase in the ocean's acidity. As Dr. Alex Poulton, a researcher at the National Oceanography Centre, states, "Through this we can begin to understand the environmental controls on oceanic calcification ('a process that impregnates something with calcium'-http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=calcification), as well as the potential effects of climate change and ocean acidification ('the process of becoming acid or being converted into an acid'- http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=acidification)."

I chose to write about this topic because I wanted to learn about how ancient algae connect to modern day. I never knew that fossils could be considered cells instead of dead rocks. The fact that past patterns are still mirrored by species today is so cool! 

Here is a link that helps describe coccolithophores; http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Coccolithophores/

And one about PETM;
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1419455/Paleocene-Eocene-Thermal-Maximum-PETM

NOS

Science is collaborative- A group of researchers worked together to find how ancient plankton links to modern day.

Science is based on evidence- The findings that linked ancient and modern coccolithophores were based on research on multiple species of plankton collected in different areas over time.

Role of motive and curiosity- These researchers were motivated by their interest in how modern species of coccolithophores react to PETM compared to ancient species of these plankton.