> Research > Programs and projects > Theme 1 & 2

Impact of CO2 concentrations and pH on marine microbial membrane lipids
Project leader: Prof. dr. ir. S. Schouten
Researcher(s): Dr. P. L. Schoon
Starting date: 1-mar-08

Abstract
The current rapid anthropogenic rise in atmospheric CO2 and its penetration into the ocean has led to a significant rise in oceanic CO2 concentrations and a concomitant decrease in oceanic pH. The predicted changes is oceanic pH are likely to be higher than they have been in the last million years or so and at an unprecedented rate. Predicting the consequences of this oceanic acidification in therefore of paramount importance in order to understand its impact on oceanic life and biogeochemical cycles. In this project we want to examine past periods of rapid rises in CO2 and decreases in oceanic pH, such as the Paleocene-Eocene boundary, to reconstruct their impact on marine microbial life. To this end we first need to develop new proxies for estimating past CO2 and pH as the current set of proxies are limited. This will be done by examining the effect of CO2 concentrations and pH on the distribution and composition of marine microbial membrane liids in close collaboration with projects 1 and 2. We will subsequently analyze biomarker lipids in sediments deposited during geological periods of rapid CO2 and oceanic pH changes to test new proxies and to reconstruct the changes in marine microbial communities.

Publications
Petra L. Schoon, Appy Sluijs, Jaap S. Sinninghe Damsté and Stefan Schouten (2011). Stable carbon isotope patterns of marine biomarker lipids in the Arctic Ocean during Eocene Thermal Maximum 2. PALEOCEANOGRAPHYVOL. 26:
Darwin Center authors: Schoon P. L., Schouten S., Sinninghe Damsté J. S., Sluijs A.

P. L. Schoon (2013). Impact of CO2 and pH on the stable carbon isotopic composition and distribution of microbial biomarker lipids..
Darwin Center authors: Schoon P. L.

Petra L. Schoon, Anna de Kluijver, Jack J. Middelburg, John A. Downing, Jaap S. Sinninghe Damsté, Stefan Schouten (2013). Influence of lake water pH and alkalinity on the distribution of core and intact polar branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs) in lakes. Organic Geochemistry60: 72-82.
Darwin Center authors: de Kluijver A., Middelburg J.J., Schoon P. L., Schouten S., Sinninghe Damsté J. S.

Petra L. Schoon, Claus Heilmann-Clausen, Bo Pagh Schultz, Appy Sluijs, Jaap S. Sinninghe Damsté, Stefan Schouten (2013). Recognition of Early Eocene global carbon isotope excursions using lipids of marine Thaumarchaeota. Earth and Planetary Science Letters373: 160-168.
Darwin Center authors: Schoon P. L., Schouten S., Sinninghe Damsté J. S., Sluijs A.

Schoon P. L., Heilmann-Clausen C., Schultz B. P., Sinninghe Damsté J. S., Schouten S. (2015). Warming and environmental changes in the eastern North Sea Basin during the Palaeocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum as revealed by biomarker lipids.. Org. Geochem.78: 79-88.
Darwin Center authors: Schoon P. L., Schouten S., Sinninghe Damsté J. S.

Schoon, P.L.; Heilmann-Clausen, C.; Schultz, B.P.; Sinninghe Damsté, J.S.; Schouten, S. (2015). Warming and environmental changes in the eastern North Sea Basin during the Palaeocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum as revealed by biomarker lipids.. Org. Geochem.78: 79-88.
Darwin Center authors: Schoon P. L., Schouten S., Sinninghe Damsté J. S.