I will be on KUT during Morning Edition this Monday February 4, discussing my most recent paper on coral survival during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum! Tune in at 90.5 FM
My newest paper with Dr. Rowan Martindale was accepted and is now in press in Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology!
Main point #1: There is no extinction of coral genera in the late Paleocene; however there are extinctions at the species level.
Main point #2: Differences in habitat, reproductive strategy, diet, coloniality and photosymbiotic ability make some corals more susceptible to extinction. Main point #3: The early Paleogene is an important case study in how coral communities survive extreme environmental perturbations.
I received generous funding from the Bearded Lady Project and the Paleontological Society to support my research in Slovenia this summer. I have written a blog post for them about my experience. Check it out at:
http://thebeardedladyproject.com/diving-into-the-past-guest-post-by-anna-m-weiss/ Thank you again to the Bearded Lady Project and Paleo Society for your support of my work! P.S. Students, you can apply for funds from the Paleo Society as well, here I am organizing a symposium called "Gulf of Mexico Reefs: Past, Present and Future", along with Dr. Rowan Martindale and Dr. Adrienne Correa (Rice University, Houston). The aim of the workshop is to connect a multidisciplinary group of researchers in Texas and the northwest Gulf of Mexico who are interested in the evolution, (paleo)ecology, decline, and conservation of reefs. For two days, an interdisciplinary group of participants will discuss their research, projects and collaboration ideas at Rice University. This symposium will coincide with Dr. Nancy Knowlton's visit to Rice. For more information or to register please visit:
The past three weeks in Slovenia have been spent diligently studying outcrops and cores of beautiful microbial reefs from the late Paleocene and early Eocene (~60-50 million years ago). These reefs tell an amazing story about the survival and resilience of corals and reef ecosystems through extreme changes in climate. Although I am wrapping up two projects from this research, I'm not done with these rocks yet! I have already learned a lot about how and why this ecosystem collapses, but I am also extremely interested in the how and why of recovery. For my final PhD chapter I will quantify the differences between the Paleocene and Eocene microbial reefs to find out how different the "recovered" reefs are from their predecessors, and whether this can tell us anything about how future reefs may recover from climate change.
I did get the opportunity to take a day off to see some depositional processes close up - by diving at the Fiesa Reef in Portoroz, on the Slovenian coast. This reef is different than the typical tropical platform many people picture when they hear the word reef. The water is not clear and blue but murky and grey, and this ecosystem is dominated by sponges, algae, gigantic mussels, but only one type of coral. We were super lucky and got to see elusive seahorses and pipefish as well!
All photos by Rowan Martindale
I will be in beautiful Slovenia for the next few weeks to do some field work and study cores. Keep an eye out for more posts! In the meantime, here is the lovely view of the Julian Alps from my apartment.
To make room on the page for lesson plans and outreach ideas, I am moving all of my photos of outreach events to the blog.
ESI Community Science Fair, Texas' Own Coral Reefs. March 2018
Ford Elementary STEM Fair 2018 Paleontological Society of Austin "Fossil Fest" 2017. Theme: Texas Dinosaurs Barton Creek STEAM (STEM + Art) Day 2017 Regent's School Tour of the Jackson School, 2015 |