dr. W.M. Kürschner

Institute of Environmental Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University
Position: Assistant professor 

Research

In my research I study broadly the fossil record of plants and algae with the emphasis on long geological time scales. My aim is to better understand the dynamics of major radiations of life and the interaction between Earth’s biological and physical systems. I use a range of laboratory and field techniques at the interface between biological and geological disciplines to interpret morphological and geochemical patterns in the plant fossil record.

Current research projects are:

Palynology

• (Late) Triassic – Early Jurassic in the Northern Calcareous Alps and the North Sea basin with focus on marine calibrated palynostratigraphy & correlation of marine with terrestrial events;
• Triassic in the Germanic Triassic and N-American continental basins (Colorado Plateau, Newark);
• Neogene in the Paratethys region;
• Taxonomical specific isotope records;

Palaeophysiology of plants 

• Development and application of leaf morphology as a terrestrial climate proxy (leaf physiognomy);
• Quantitative cuticle analysis as a proxy for palaeoatmospheric CO₂ levels during critical periods of Earth’s climate history (e.g. Triassic, Cenozoic: PETM, Eocene - Oligocene, Middle Miocene, Mid-Pliocene …);
• The fossil record of C4 plants;
• Plants in a low CO₂ world: proxy development for the Pleistocene plant record and reconstructed feedbacks on the carbon cycle;

http://www.darwincenter.nl/DarwinCenter.aspx?id=508&idsub=67&sub=pers