Environmental parameters controlling the genesis of microbialites in the post-LGM reef sequence of Tahiti (IODP MSP Expedition 310)

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Hildegard Westphal
• Subject Area: Palaeontology
• Term: from 2006 to 2010
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 33647780

The proposed project will study the microbialites of the post-LGM reef sequence (ca. 21-10 ka) drilled off Tahiti during IODP Expedition 310. The study of structural (LM, SEM, TEM) and geochemical and geomicrobiological (trace element ratios; stable isotopes, phosphate contents, organic carbon contents, lipid biomarkers) trends aims at unraveling the relationship between environmental change and the genesis of the microbialites that make up up to 80% of the reef succession. The ultimate goal of the project is, by combining the results from the microbialites with sea-level and sea-surface temperature data from corals (studies by other Science Party Members), to reconstruct a comprehensive picture of climatic and oceanographic changes during the post-LGM sealevel rise.

• DFG Programme: Infrastructure Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 527: Bereich Infrastruktur - "International Ocean Discovery Program" (IODP)
• Participating Person: Professor Dr. Jörn Peckmann