By applying geochemical and micropalentological techniques, we can reconstruct how oxygen poor regions of the open ocean known as oxygen minimum zones have varied in the past. We have been focusing on past periods of warm or warming climate to understand how oxygen minimums may vary through time.

Foraminifera are one of the few organisms that occur in oxygen minimum zones, and much possess special adaptations to thrive in oxygen poor habitats. We are working to better understand the spatial distribution of these species and how they are making a living in such a hostile environment. Doing so will improve the use of foraminifera as tools in the fossil record and help us understand how protists may cope with extreme environments.

Changes in the presence and abundance of planktic foraminifera species in the fossil record is critical to interpreting past climate change. But how have faunas changed through recent climate change? We are using high resolution observations of planktic foraminifera faunas to understand the rate and dynamics of foraminfiera turnovers and habitat shifts, connecting the observational record of the present to the past.

Despite their importance for understanding our past, little is known about the role even modern foraminifera play in their ecosystem. We are using emerging isotopic and morphometric tools to assess the ecology and life cycle of modern foraminifera and developing these tools so that we may understand the ecology of extinct species as well.