Reconstruction of global redox transitions based on an evolving Precambrian biological carbon pump
RETRO-PUMP aims to reconstruct the ancient Biological Carbon Pump to understand its role in Earth's oxygenation and the evolution of complex life through microbial carbon cycling.
Projectdetails
Introduction
The history of life on Earth is intricately tied to the story of molecular oxygen (O2). Given that we breathe O2 every day, the quest to understand its rise over billions of years is inherently tied to the fundamental question of our existence. However, critical turning points in our planet’s oxygenation, including the Great Oxidation Event, continue to escape our full comprehension.
The Role of O2
O2’s narrative involves a complex interplay of microbial life, biogeochemical processes, and geological factors, all intricately woven into the carbon cycle. Within the web of transformations, a black hole persists: the Biological Carbon Pump (BCP).
Importance of the Biological Carbon Pump
The BCP is a crucial component of the Earth's carbon cycle, sequestering carbon from the atmosphere and transferring it to the ocean depths for burial over geological timescales. This burial process directly impacts global O2 levels, making the understanding of the ancient BCP crucial for unlocking Earth's oxygenation mysteries.
Challenges in Understanding the Ancient BCP
However, deciphering how the ancient BCP functioned is challenging. Insights from the modern BCP, which is predominantly shaped by complex life forms, offer limited guidance when it comes to understanding its ancient counterpart, which operated in a world ruled by microorganisms.
The RETRO-PUMP Project
RETRO-PUMP sets out to unveil the secrets of the Precambrian BCP by reconstructing an ancient and evolving BCP with the goal of unraveling its regulation of O2 levels.
Objectives of RETRO-PUMP
- Challenge the conventional view of a less efficient Precambrian BCP.
- Explore uncharted relationships between microbial carbon cycling and major O2 transitions.
- Follow a simulated ocean pipeline, from the sunlit photic zone to the deep ocean.
Conclusion
Culminating in an integration of insights into a numerical framework, RETRO-PUMP tackles the drivers behind Earth’s oxygenation. The project has substantial implications for understanding how the interplay of biological and geological factors ultimately paved the way for the rise of complex life as we know it today.
Financiële details & Tijdlijn
Financiële details
Subsidiebedrag | € 1.771.359 |
Totale projectbegroting | € 1.771.359 |
Tijdlijn
Startdatum | 1-4-2025 |
Einddatum | 31-3-2030 |
Subsidiejaar | 2025 |
Partners & Locaties
Projectpartners
- PHILIPPS UNIVERSITAET MARBURGpenvoerder
Land(en)
Vergelijkbare projecten binnen European Research Council
Project | Regeling | Bedrag | Jaar | Actie |
---|---|---|---|---|
Relicts of Ancient Cellular Biochemistry in High-CO2 Subsurface EcosystemsThis project aims to study microbial life in CO2-rich subsurface environments to uncover ancient carbon fixation pathways and their implications for microbial evolution and carbon cycling. | ERC Synergy ... | € 11.511.103 | 2024 | Details |
The kinetic oxygen cycle in chemical sedimentsKinO aims to develop a method for correcting kinetic effects in oxygen isotope ratios to accurately estimate paleo-temperatures and other parameters, enhancing understanding of historical climate events. | ERC Consolid... | € 2.000.000 | 2024 | Details |
Deep Earth’s Oxygen recycling at subduction ZonesThe OZ project aims to quantify fluid interactions in subduction zones to understand their role in oxidizing the mantle and generating arc magmatism through innovative experimental and modeling approaches. | ERC Consolid... | € 2.000.000 | 2023 | Details |
Deconvolving the early record of eukaryotic evolutionThis project aims to uncover the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of the Neoproterozoic Era through advanced geochemical methods, revealing insights into the rise of complex life and carbon cycle changes. | ERC Starting... | € 1.859.131 | 2025 | Details |
How do diazotrophs shape the ocean biological carbon pump? A global approach, from the single cell to the ecosystemHOPE aims to quantify diazotroph-derived organic carbon export to the deep ocean using innovative isotopic techniques and autonomous platforms to enhance understanding of marine productivity and climate mitigation. | ERC Consolid... | € 2.493.821 | 2023 | Details |
Relicts of Ancient Cellular Biochemistry in High-CO2 Subsurface Ecosystems
This project aims to study microbial life in CO2-rich subsurface environments to uncover ancient carbon fixation pathways and their implications for microbial evolution and carbon cycling.
The kinetic oxygen cycle in chemical sediments
KinO aims to develop a method for correcting kinetic effects in oxygen isotope ratios to accurately estimate paleo-temperatures and other parameters, enhancing understanding of historical climate events.
Deep Earth’s Oxygen recycling at subduction Zones
The OZ project aims to quantify fluid interactions in subduction zones to understand their role in oxidizing the mantle and generating arc magmatism through innovative experimental and modeling approaches.
Deconvolving the early record of eukaryotic evolution
This project aims to uncover the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of the Neoproterozoic Era through advanced geochemical methods, revealing insights into the rise of complex life and carbon cycle changes.
How do diazotrophs shape the ocean biological carbon pump? A global approach, from the single cell to the ecosystem
HOPE aims to quantify diazotroph-derived organic carbon export to the deep ocean using innovative isotopic techniques and autonomous platforms to enhance understanding of marine productivity and climate mitigation.