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Award Abstract # 2142904
CAREER: Leveraging benthic foraminiferal biogeography to recognize ecosystem responses to climate change and engage first-generation students in scientific inquiry

NSF Org: EAR
Division Of Earth Sciences
Recipient: TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY
Initial Amendment Date: April 28, 2022
Latest Amendment Date: April 1, 2024
Award Number: 2142904
Award Instrument: Continuing Grant
Program Manager: Yurena Yanes
yyanes@nsf.gov
 (703)292-0000
EAR
 Division Of Earth Sciences
GEO
 Directorate for Geosciences
Start Date: June 1, 2022
End Date: May 31, 2027 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $506,289.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $321,424.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2022 = $163,451.00
FY 2023 = $50,276.00

FY 2024 = $107,697.00
History of Investigator:
  • Christina Belanger (Principal Investigator)
    Christina.Belanger@tamu.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: Texas A&M University
400 HARVEY MITCHELL PKY S STE 300
COLLEGE STATION
TX  US  77845-4375
(979)862-6777
Sponsor Congressional District: 10
Primary Place of Performance: Texas A&M University
3115 TAMU
College Station
TX  US  77843-3115
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
10
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): JF6XLNB4CDJ5
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES,
Marine Geology and Geophysics,
XC-Crosscutting Activities Pro,
Sedimentary Geo & Paleobiology
Primary Program Source: 01002223DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
01002324DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT

01002425DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT

01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT

01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s): 1045, 7459
Program Element Code(s): 157500, 162000, 722200, 745900
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.050

ABSTRACT

This project aims to understand how ancient ocean ecosystems were altered by past warming events that serve as analogs for future global environmental change. By analyzing both modern and ancient marine sedimentary records, PI Belanger will determine the range of ecosystem changes possible with future warming and identify ocean regions that are most vulnerable to its negative impacts, including the loss of oceanic oxygen. This assessment is important for the maintenance of economically valuable marine resources. Further, this work will identify ocean regions important for CO2 storage during past warming and improve our ability to forecast how the global carbon cycle will respond to ongoing climate change, which is critical for formulating national climate-related polices. PI Belanger will mentor first-generation college students in research related to this project via a structured program developed through this grant, which will enhance their retention in STEM fields and, thus, broaden our future STEM workforce.

The delivery of organic matter produced in the surface water to the deep ocean fluctuates with climate change, which affects the amount of CO2 stored in the ocean as well as the distribution of oxygen and organisms. Single-celled organisms, such as benthic foraminifera, living on the ocean floor vary depending on the organic matter and oxygen available, thus their fossilized remains preserved in ocean sediment cores can be used to reconstruct these environmental factors over time. This project will create a global database of modern and fossil benthic foraminifera, quantify the relationships between benthic foraminifera and modern oceanic conditions, and apply those relationships to marine sedimentary core records to reconstruct spatial patterns in oceanic changes during past warming events. This data-driven project will provide accessible research experiences to first-generation college students and create a supportive community through a newly-developed program which will broaden participants? mentor networks and provide skills-training needed to pursue advanced STEM education.

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This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

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