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SUMMARY:Assessing the role of the Gephyrocapsa complex during the Mid-Brun
 hes interval - Dr Alba Gonzalez-Lanchas (University of Oxford/University o
 f Salamanca)
DTSTART:20260210T120000Z
DTEND:20260210T130000Z
UID:TALK242743@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Nishant Chauhan
DESCRIPTION:Calcifying phytoplankton (coccolithophores) account for a larg
 e fraction of calcite (CaCO3) production in the open ocean. Over geologica
 l timescales\, the CaCO3 production and export by this group have played a
  significant role in shaping the marine carbon cycle\, with implications f
 or the long-term evolution of Earth's climate. Despite this pivotal role\,
  a complete understanding of the natural environmental drivers controlling
  coccolithophore calcification and carbon production remains incomplete. T
 his knowledge gap stems from challenges in bridging laboratory findings to
  natural settings and the complexity of interpreting sedimentary records.\
 n                 The Mid-Brunhes Interval of the Pleistocene (MBI\, ~650-
 230 ka) stands out as a major event of increased calcifying phytoplankton 
 proliferation and CaCO3 production. During this time\, the coccolithophore
  'Gephyrocapsa complex' dominates nannofossil assemblages worldwide. Paleo
 climate and paleoceanographic conditions during the MBI have been widely i
 nvestigated from multiple perspectives\, and the interactions between the 
 Gephyrocapsa complex and oceanic settings during the interval continue to 
 be an active research topic. In this presentation\, we explore the integra
 tion of micropaleontological\, geochemical\, and image analysis morphometr
 ic techniques applied to sedimentary nannofossil records of Mid-Brunhes ag
 e distributed across contrasting latitudes. Clarifying aspects such as the
  diversity and physiology of the Gephyrocapsa complex across environments 
 provides an integrated perspective of the role of this calcifying phytopla
 nkton group during the MBI. This example may contribute to enhancing our u
 nderstanding of the major drivers of calcifying phytoplankton proliferatio
 n and  CaCO3 production across comparable episodes during the Cenozoic. \n
LOCATION:Department of Earth Sciences\, Tilley Lecture Theatre
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