Bernd R. Schöne

Research Synopsis


My research focuses on high-resolution reconstructions of climate and environment by means of mollusk sclerochronology. During growth, mollusks (bivalves, gastropods etc.) record environmental changes in their shells in the form of variable increment widths (reflecting changes in growth rate), microstructure and geochemical properties including (bulk and compound-specific) stable isotopes and trace elements.

Extremely long-lived bivalves (> 500 years) are of particular interest for long-term paleoclimate studies, specifically in settings for which other annually and better resolved proxy records are not available such as extratropical marine regions. Well-preserved, single fossil shells can therefore open windows into the climatic past. Furthermore, based on similar growth patterns, shells of contemporaneous specimens with overlapping life spans can be combined to form so-called master chronologies (similar to dendrochronology) that cover centuries to millennia and reflect seasonal to multi-decadal environmental dynamics during that time. For example, using numerous live-collected and fossil specimens of Arctica islandica, nearly 1000 year-long master chronologies for the NE Atlantic were constructed. These time-series reflect distinct decadal and multi-decadal oscillations in stable oxygen isotopes and shell growth, and hence ocean temperature and food availability which can be related to the North Atlantic Oscillation, Atlantic Multidecadal Variability and Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. Furthermore, the shell stable carbon isotopes reflect synchronous changes of the carbon isotope signature of seawater dissolved inorganic carbon. The expanded use of fossil fuels since 1960, resulting in a strong shift toward lower carbon isotope values, is also recorded in the shells. Aside from that, δ13Cshell and Ba/Cashell data indicate strong subseasonal to multidecadal variations of the primary productivity.

Short-lived bivalves can provide details on subseasonal environmental change. For example, by analyzing the daily and fortnightly growth patterns, the date of death of can be determined to the nearest week or so. Such information is of particular interest for archaeologists and anthropologists who are interested in clarifying the seasonal site occupation and subsistence patterns of indigenous peoples.

My research also addresses the development of new and optimization of existing environmental proxies (temperature, primary production, hypoxia, nitrogen isotope baseline, food web complexity etc.). A major focus is on trace elements, shell microstructure and organic compounds (protein amino acid-specific isotope analysis, δ15N and δ13C values). Such studies are accompanied by tank experiments during which growth conditions can be manipulated and light shed on biomineralization processes.


Memberships

Gutenberg Academy (2012-2022)

Max Planck Graduate Center

German Association of University Professors and Lecturers

Society for Sedimentary Geology (SEPM)

American Geophysical Union (AGU)

Paläontologische Gesellschaft (PalGes)

Subcommission on Devonian Stratigraphy (SDS)

Geological Society of America(GSA)

Arbeitskreis Evolutionsbiologie im Deutschen Biologenverband (VBiO)


Editorial Board

Associate Editor of PALAIOS (since 2006)

Associate Editor of Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology (since 2018)

Associate Editor of Nature Scientific Reports (2022)


Publications

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Current Research


  • SEACHANGE - Quantifying the impact of major cultural transitions on marine ecosystem functioning and biodiversity (ERC Synergy; Co-PIs: James Scourse [U Exeter; cPI], Kristine Bohmann [U Copenhagen], Callum Roberts [U Exeter], 2020-2026)

  • Chemical and mineralogical changes of calcareous shell material during fossilisation processes – an experimental approach (DFG-FOR 2685-A6. Co-PI: Thomas Tütken, 2022-2025)

  • Freshwater pearl mussels as stream water stable isotope recorders – MUSES (DFG-FNR, 2021-2025)

  • Developing and calibrating paleoweather proxies from Giant Clams (Chinesisch-Deutsches Zentrum für Wissenschaftsförderung, 2021-2024)

  • „Wir haben die Erde nur von unseren Kindern geliehen.“ Umweltveränderungen und Lebensweise im Zentraloman im 3. und 2. Jahrtausend v. Chr.: Teilprojekt Malakologie (BMBF, 2020-2024)

  • Assessing the history of acidification in aquatic ecosystems – a novel (sclerochronological) way to determine ecological tipping points (JGU Mainz, 2023-2024)