CAREER: Oligocene planktonic foraminiferal Konservat-Lagerstaette: Implications for taxonomy, paleobiology, and tropical marine temperatures

“该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。“职业：渐新世微体化石Konservat-Lagerstätte：对南极有孔虫分类学、古生物学和海洋温度的影响Bridget WadeTexas A& M University（得克萨斯A M大学）-0847300摘要今天的地球在南极洲和格陵兰岛上有主要的冰盖，但情况并非总是如此。这项研究的重点是渐新世（3400万至2400万年前）的气候变化。这段时间开始于气候的大转变，当时南极洲形成了一个大冰盖。一旦南极冰盖形成，它就在冰相对较少的时期和冰盖非常广阔的时期之间多次出现盈亏。然而，南极冰量的这些巨大变化对热带海面温度和海洋生物群的影响基本上是未知的。以前根据微体化石地球化学对渐新世海面温度的估计表明，热带和亚热带的温度大大低于现代。但在以往的研究中存在一个问题，即微体化石壳的地球化学在沉积后和偏温重建后会发生改变。为了解决这一问题，PI将研究来自特殊保存地点（Konservat-Lagerstätte）的微体化石。对保存完好的微体化石的详细研究将准确了解渐新世气候如何变化，并将更好地了解渐新世气候事件及其对热带生物群的影响。这项研究将与一些K-12，本科生和研究生活动相结合，这些活动涉及基于项目的发现学习。在与得克萨斯州的综合海洋钻探计划合作，PI将扩大少数民族高中学生的成功试点计划，夏季大学前海洋研究经验（SCORE），强调海洋科学的综合研究经验。将设计一个关于极地气候和南极洲历史的永久性展览，PI将创建微体化石“micropods”的3D播客，以纳入教学活动。

"This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5)." CAREER: Oligocene microfossil Konservat-Lagerstätte: Implications for planktonic foraminiferal taxonomy, paleobiology, and marine temperaturesBridget WadeTexas A&M University EAR-0847300ABSTRACTThe Earth today has major ice caps on Antarctica and Greenland, but this was not always the case. This research focuses on climate change during a time period known as the Oligocene (34 to 24 million years ago). This interval of time began with a big shift in climate, when a large ice sheet developed on Antarctica. Once the Antarctic ice cap was established, it waxed and waned many times between periods with relatively little ice and periods with very expansive ice sheets. However, the impact of these large variations in Antarctic ice volume upon tropical sea surface temperatures and marine biota are largely unknown. Previous estimates of Oligocene sea surface temperatures from microfossil geochemistry indicate tropical and subtropical temperatures that were substantially lower than modern. But there is a problem in previous studies: microfossil shell geochemistry can be altered post deposition and bias temperature reconstructions. To address this problem, PI will examine microfossils from sites with exceptional preservation (Konservat-Lagerstätte). A detailed study of well preserved microfossils will build an accurate picture of how the Oligocene climate changed and will lead to a greater understanding of Oligocene climatic events and the impact on tropical biota.This research will be integrated with a number of K-12, undergraduate, and graduate activities that involve project-based discovery learning. In partnership with the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program at Texas A&M, PI will expand a successful pilot program for minority high school students, Summer pre-College Ocean Research Experience (SCORE), which emphasizes integrated research experiences in ocean sciences. A permanent exhibit on polar climates and the history of Antarctica will be designed and PI will create 3D podcasts of microfossils "micropods" for incorporation into teaching activities.