An article on biologynews.net (link at bottom) explains how clues About climate chane may be found from things even as small as algae and plankton. Coccolithophores, a type of plankton, are in large numbers around the modern oceans we see today, but have also been deemed prolific life. Their shells have been preserved on the seafloor after their death.
These creatures are greatly affected by increases in the acidity of the ocean. This is caused by the dissolved CO2 in the water and their calcite shells. Scientists from Natural Geoscience say that the many forms of coccolithophores reacted differently to a fast climate change that occurred around 65 million years ago. The Toweius pertusus continued to grow consistantly throughout. Whereas, other species such as Coccolithophore Pelgicus slowed down their growth during the increase heat. Observing this scientists are able to observe how other animals could act in such a climate change.
Why is it that some species are able to survive the harsh[er] climates that's others? I understand that some microorganisms operate better at different conditions, but what is there to prove that these Coccolithophores didn't die of another cause?
http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2013/02/04/climate_change_clues_from_tiny_marine_algae_ancient_and_modern.html
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