During her PhD Lisette Mekkes focuses on the calcification of shelled pteropods, also known as "sea butterflies". They are widely regarded as bio-indicators of ocean acidification because their delicate aragonite shells may dissolve with the increasing acidity of the ocean. However, most pteropod studies are based on short-term acidification experiments, and there is considerable debate as to how sensitive pteropods really are to ocean acidification. During this colloquium she will talk about the first chapter of her PhD thesis "Pteropods make thinner shells along a present-day ocean acidification gradient". Based on Micro-CT scanning and scanning electron microscopy imaging combined with in situ ocean chemistry observations, her group found that ocean acidification affects net calcification of shelled pteropods along a natural acidification gradient in the California Current.
Time: 16:00 | Link: https://meet.google.com/dwx-umhq-grs. | Drinks afterwards! (on your own behalf)