Current Projects
Novel coral ecosystems during the early Cenozoic How will rapid and extreme release of carbon-dioxide impact reefs? The best way to learn about this is to go back to one of the best analogues for modern climate change: The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM). Studying coral communities before and after this event allows us to test hypotheses about coral adaptation and survival during times of massive climate change. I am using a combination of paleontology, sedimentology and stratigraphy, and biostatistics to understand how late Paleocene warming impacted shallow marine ecosystems in Slovenia. I am also collecting and analyzing ecological data to document the recovery of reefs in the region in the middle Eocene. |
Recognizing ocean acidification in deep-time Ocean acidification events are thought to have occurred in shallow settings at multiple points in Earth's history. Due to the geologically rapid timescale of acidification events and their naturally destructive nature, it is difficult to identify them in the rock record. I am addressing this from a multi-disciplinary perspective and have teamed up with experts in paleontology, sedimentology and geochemistry to study a potential ocean acidification event during the PETM. |
Calculating the carbonate budgets of Turneffe Atoll to create a more nuanced understanding of reef health Coral reefs are biological entities, but they are also geomorphic structures. Biodiversity and coral/algal cover are not enough to measure reef health, since processes like growth and erosion are important to the continued accretion and structural integrity of the reef framework. We are measuring the carbonate budget of Turneffe Atoll using a slightly modified version of the ReefBudget method to more thoroughly understand the "health" of this reef. This entails a combination of benthic surveys, measuring sediment accumulation and transport, calculating biomass of bioeroders, as well as in-depth petrographic studies of dead corals to quantify the role of macro- and micro-borers in bioerosion. |
Paleoecology of Turneffe Atoll
For nearly 95,000 years, reef communities in the Caribbean showed relative stability. However, in the last 100 years, these reefs have begun to collapse. Understanding the cause of reef change in Belize is necessary in order to properly manage reefs, however the relative importance of stressors such as temperature and pollution in reef degradation has been hotly debated. We will use cores and sediment samples from Turneffe Atoll to create high resolution records of ecology, growth and geochemical history of the reef, and to look for evidence of past ecosystem resilience. Additionally, the FORAM index (an inexpensive way to assess reef health and water quality using the taxonomic composition of foraminifera on the reef) is being employed to supplement reef health and water quality monitoring efforts in Belize. |
Plastic Sediments
My lab is interested in sedimentary expressions of the Anthropocene event, and one place this is seen is in plastic pollution. It is unclear how microplastic particles behave as sediments, however, especially in beach environments. We are partnering with South Side High School in NY to monitor microplastic pollution on an urban barrier island beach and track their concentration in different parts of the beach seasonally. |
Publications
Editorial: "Gulf of Mexico Reefs: Past, Present and Future”.
Martindale, R.C., Holstein, D.M., Knowlton, N., Voss, J.D., Weiss, A.M., Correa, A.M.S. (2021) Frontiers in Marine Science – Coral Reef Studies
Learning outcomes of the educational board game “Taphonomy: Dead and Fossilized”, evaluated with high school learners in a summertime program. Salgado Jauregui, E., Martindale, R.C., Ellins, K., Reyes, E., Weiss, A.M. (2021) Journal of Geoscience Education.
Resilient Invertebrate Communities in the Gulf of Mexico during the Early Cenozoic Hyperthermals
Foster, W.J., Garvie, C.L., Weiss, A.M., Muscente, A.D., Aberhan, M., and Martindale, R.C. (2020) Scientific Reports
Media: Gulf Coast Mollusks Rode Out Past Periods of Climate Change
Paleobiological traits that determined Scleractinian coral survival and proliferation during the late Paleocene and early Eocene hyperthermals
Weiss, A.M. and Martindale, R.C. (2019) Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology
Media: More Grief on the Reef
Climate Change Could Make Corals Go It Alone
The future of reef ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico: insights from coupled climate model simulations and hot-house reefs
Dee, S.G., Torres, M., Martindale, R.C., Weiss, A.M., DeLong, K. (2019) Frontiers in Marine Science
Media: Gulf Coast Corals Face Catastrophe
“Taphonomy: Dead and Fossilized”: A new board game designed to teach college undergraduate students about the process of fossilization
Martindale, R.C. and Weiss, A.M. (2019) Journal of Geoscience Education
Media: Interview: GSA Annual Meeting 2018 Podcast
UT Scientists' Fossil-Finding Board Game is a Success in Classrooms
Fossil-Finding Board Game is a Success in College Classrooms
UT-Austin scientists develop fossil board game for university classrooms
Crustose coralline algae increased framework and diversity on ancient coral reefs
Weiss, A.M. and Martindale, R.C. (2017) PLOS One.
Media: Algae Fortifies Coral Reefs in Past and Present
Valdez, J.*, Weiss, A.M., Rogers, A., Thompson, G., Ramos, J. Human impacts on karst environment in the Cayo District of Belize.
Submitted, Journal of Cave and Karst Studies
*Undergraduate or Master's Student
Martindale, R.C., Holstein, D.M., Knowlton, N., Voss, J.D., Weiss, A.M., Correa, A.M.S. (2021) Frontiers in Marine Science – Coral Reef Studies
Learning outcomes of the educational board game “Taphonomy: Dead and Fossilized”, evaluated with high school learners in a summertime program. Salgado Jauregui, E., Martindale, R.C., Ellins, K., Reyes, E., Weiss, A.M. (2021) Journal of Geoscience Education.
Resilient Invertebrate Communities in the Gulf of Mexico during the Early Cenozoic Hyperthermals
Foster, W.J., Garvie, C.L., Weiss, A.M., Muscente, A.D., Aberhan, M., and Martindale, R.C. (2020) Scientific Reports
Media: Gulf Coast Mollusks Rode Out Past Periods of Climate Change
Paleobiological traits that determined Scleractinian coral survival and proliferation during the late Paleocene and early Eocene hyperthermals
Weiss, A.M. and Martindale, R.C. (2019) Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology
Media: More Grief on the Reef
Climate Change Could Make Corals Go It Alone
The future of reef ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico: insights from coupled climate model simulations and hot-house reefs
Dee, S.G., Torres, M., Martindale, R.C., Weiss, A.M., DeLong, K. (2019) Frontiers in Marine Science
Media: Gulf Coast Corals Face Catastrophe
“Taphonomy: Dead and Fossilized”: A new board game designed to teach college undergraduate students about the process of fossilization
Martindale, R.C. and Weiss, A.M. (2019) Journal of Geoscience Education
Media: Interview: GSA Annual Meeting 2018 Podcast
UT Scientists' Fossil-Finding Board Game is a Success in Classrooms
Fossil-Finding Board Game is a Success in College Classrooms
UT-Austin scientists develop fossil board game for university classrooms
Crustose coralline algae increased framework and diversity on ancient coral reefs
Weiss, A.M. and Martindale, R.C. (2017) PLOS One.
Media: Algae Fortifies Coral Reefs in Past and Present
Valdez, J.*, Weiss, A.M., Rogers, A., Thompson, G., Ramos, J. Human impacts on karst environment in the Cayo District of Belize.
Submitted, Journal of Cave and Karst Studies
*Undergraduate or Master's Student