My research focuses on biomineralisation. In particular I study how organisms form CaCO₃ biominerals, what the chemistry of these minerals can tell us about past environments and how biomineral formation will be affected by climate and environmental change.

Calcium carbonates are formed by a range of important marine organisms including corals, molluscs and foraminifera. These calcareous structures provide tissue support and protection and serve to provide habitat spaces for other organisms e.g. coral reefs. I maintain an aquaria system to culture marine organisms under tightly controlled conditions to study the effects of rising seawater temperatures and atmospheric CO₂ (ocean acidification) on biomineralisation processes. I also research how CaCO₃ chemistry is affected by the environment conditions at the time of deposition and investigate how the chemistry of fossil carbonates e.g. ancient reefs, may record climatic information. These accurate records of past seawater temperatures are key to understanding past global climates and for validating models predicting 21st century climate change. 

Biominerals are composite materials of both CaCO₃ and organic matrices. I have built an apparatus to precipitate biominerals under the conditions analogous to those predicted to occur in organisms and my group is researching how  organic materials e.g. amino acids and proteins affect biomineral formation.

• Biomineralisation and biomineral chemistry
• Calcium carbonate precipitation
• Reconstruction of past climates
• Effects of future climate change on biomineralisation

Current/recent projects:

Trace element and isotope partitioning in carbonates in simulated biological environments (NERC standard grant)

The impact of ocean acidification and rising seawater temperatures on the DIC chemistry of coral calcification fluids (MASTS).

Understanding light enhanced calcification in corals (MASTS).

The control of coral biomineralisation (Leverhulme Trust, research grant).

The impact of seawater carbonate chemistry on the Sr/Ca, δ¹⁸O and δ¹¹B of coral aragonite (NERC).

IODP drilling in the Great Barrier Reef: unlocking the causes, rates and consequences of abrupt sea level and climate change (Australian Research Council).