Stratigraphy and Paleontology

The general research aim of the group in Stratigraphy/Paleontology is to contribute to the understanding of key paleoenvironmental changes in the geological past. Our group participates in two Dutch top research schools (ISES and the Darwin Center for Biogeology), and has considerable expertise in (fossil) foraminifera and smaller mammals of circum-Mediterranean regions including parts of the Atlantic and Indian Ocean.

Our first research focus is the construction of astronomical time scales in order to reconstruct past environmental changes in detail. This includes the effects of (abrupt) climate change on marine and terrestrial ecosystems employing the full spectrum of modern proxies.

Second research focus is the development of new proxies based on marine and terrestrial (fossil) material, including experimental research using foraminiferal lab cultures. Additional focus is the biogeology of the microbial-meiofaunal (foraminiferal) connection in benthic ecosystems and how it impacts on the global biogeochemical cycling of nitrogen and phosphorous.