Research: Evolution of planktonic microfossils

My main research focused on the morphological evolution of marine pelagic calcareous microfossils, first coccolithophorids, later planktonic foraminifera. By the application of advanced digital image techniques and geometric morphometry I especially investigated the morphological variability of menardiform globorotalids (Neogene planktonic foraminifera) through time and geography: Questions center about the detection and characterization of speciation events and the biogeographic mapping of such patterns worldwide ("Evolutionary Prospection"). Other research centered about the distribution of modern coccolithophorids and the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic, and the significance of coccolithophorids for the marine carbon cycle. My last research was about the role of Trinidad's type localities for foraminiferal micropaleontology.

Past projects:

• Reapraisal of the classic Cipero Coast type section in Trinidad, SE Caribbean, for integrated biogeochronology and morphologic evolution of planktonic foraminifera. (SNF project M. Knappertsbusch and S. Samsoondar).
• Testing the Agulhas Dispersal Hypothesis for the Neogene planktonic foraminifer Globorotalia menardii: Indian Ocean or Pacific home versus Central-American passage ? (SNF project and PhD dissertation of Thore Friesenhagen).
• AMOR: Development of automated measurement systems for shell mORphology.
• Evolutionary prospection in Neogene planktonic foraminifera & prolongation (SNF project and PhD dissertation of Yannick Mary).
• Morphological evolution of Globorotalia menardii from both sides of the isthmus of Panama.
• Speciation of marine planktonic microfossils during the Cenozoic (PhD project Kevin Brown, completed in 2007. Chair: Prof. A. Wetzel (University Basel), supervision: M. Knappertsbusch).

Publications