Stellenbeschreibung

Background:

This project will build on the R/V SONNE expedition SO-309 to the SW Pacific around New Zealand in January/February 2025. During this expedition cold-water coral ecosystems on volcanic structures and along the New Zealand continental margin will be investigated. The main objectives are (a) a systematic inventory of the recent distribution and biodiversity of cold-water coral ecosystems under the influence of the prevailing environmental conditions, and (b) a reconstruction of their development under the influence of climate change in the geological past.

Tasks:

The successful candidate will (1) participate in the SO-309 expedition, (2) analyse coral-bearing sediment cores by computer-tomography scanning and Th/U-dating of corals to reconstruct cold-water coral mound development, and (3) analyse coral-barren sedimentary records with paleoceanographic methods (stable isotopes and Mg/Ca...