Project acronym VERTEBRATE HERBIVORY
Project Evolution of herbivory in vertebrates: developing combined isotope (Ca, Sr) and dental surface texture analysis as deep time diet proxies
Researcher (PI) Thomas Tütken
Host Institution (HI) JOHANNES GUTENBERG-UNIVERSITAT MAINZ
Call Details Consolidator Grant (CoG), PE10, ERC-2015-CoG
Summary Diet is a key factor driving vertebrate evolution. Exploring dietary traits and trophic relationships in fossil food webs is fundamental for understanding radiation and extinction events. This project aims to constrain the evolution of herbivory (plant feeding) and trophic interaction of extinct vertebrates at different spatiotemporal scales by analysing their teeth with isotopic and dental wear techniques. A new approach of combined Ca and stable Sr isotope as well as 3D surface texture (3DST) analysis will be developed and applied to fossil teeth of mammal-ancestors and dinosaurs. Teeth record time-series of diet-related isotope compositions in their enamel while their surface tracks short-term food abrasion. These diet proxies will be calibrated on extant vertebrates with well-known diets from wild animals and controlled feeding experiments simulating diet and trophic level switches. Both Ca isotopes and enamel surface textures have a high preservation potential in fossil teeth and enable micro sampling of enamel for Ca isotope and non-destructive 3DST analysis. For the first time, I will combine Ca isotope and 3DST analysis to reconstruct the diet of extinct key vertebrate taxa and their trophic level in fossil food webs. This multi-proxy approach will provide a versatile toolset to test independently feeding hypotheses that mostly hinge on tooth and skeletal morphology, leading to fundamental new insights into the palaeoecology, dietary flexibility and niche partitioning of fossil vertebrates. The aim is to reconstruct the evolution of herbivory in vertebrates. Here, major objectives are: 1) to infer ontogenetic and evolutionary diet changes by combined Ca isotope and 3DST analysis of fossil teeth, 2) explore stable and radiogenic Sr isotopes as combined proxies for trophic level and habitat use, and 3) pioneer 3DST analysis for reptiles. Beyond the field of palaeontology these dietary proxies will be broadly applicable in archaeology, anthropology and ecology.
Summary
Diet is a key factor driving vertebrate evolution. Exploring dietary traits and trophic relationships in fossil food webs is fundamental for understanding radiation and extinction events. This project aims to constrain the evolution of herbivory (plant feeding) and trophic interaction of extinct vertebrates at different spatiotemporal scales by analysing their teeth with isotopic and dental wear techniques. A new approach of combined Ca and stable Sr isotope as well as 3D surface texture (3DST) analysis will be developed and applied to fossil teeth of mammal-ancestors and dinosaurs. Teeth record time-series of diet-related isotope compositions in their enamel while their surface tracks short-term food abrasion. These diet proxies will be calibrated on extant vertebrates with well-known diets from wild animals and controlled feeding experiments simulating diet and trophic level switches. Both Ca isotopes and enamel surface textures have a high preservation potential in fossil teeth and enable micro sampling of enamel for Ca isotope and non-destructive 3DST analysis. For the first time, I will combine Ca isotope and 3DST analysis to reconstruct the diet of extinct key vertebrate taxa and their trophic level in fossil food webs. This multi-proxy approach will provide a versatile toolset to test independently feeding hypotheses that mostly hinge on tooth and skeletal morphology, leading to fundamental new insights into the palaeoecology, dietary flexibility and niche partitioning of fossil vertebrates. The aim is to reconstruct the evolution of herbivory in vertebrates. Here, major objectives are: 1) to infer ontogenetic and evolutionary diet changes by combined Ca isotope and 3DST analysis of fossil teeth, 2) explore stable and radiogenic Sr isotopes as combined proxies for trophic level and habitat use, and 3) pioneer 3DST analysis for reptiles. Beyond the field of palaeontology these dietary proxies will be broadly applicable in archaeology, anthropology and ecology.
Max ERC Funding
1 728 065 €
Duration
Start date: 2016-09-01, End date: 2021-08-31
Project acronym VORTEX
Project Plastic in the Ocean: Microbial Transformation of an ‘Unconventional’ Carbon Substrate
Researcher (PI) Helge NIEMANN
Host Institution (HI) STICHTING NEDERLANDSE WETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK INSTITUTEN
Call Details Consolidator Grant (CoG), PE10, ERC-2017-COG
Summary Large quantities of plastics comprising a diverse set of hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon-like polymers are constantly released to the oceans. The impacts of plastics in marine environments are detrimental, as they are seemingly recalcitrant and harmful to marine life. The severity of this problem is gaining momentum because the untamed demand for plastics has led to an ever-increasing release of plastic to the sea. However, despite their seemingly persistent properties, they do not accumulate as expected, indicating a substantial sink for plastics in the ocean. Plastics are synthetic and thus rather new and ‘unconventional’ compounds in the marine realm, yet microbes can utilise plastics as carbon substrates. However, the potential for microbial degradation of plastics in the ocean as well as key factors controlling degradation kinetics are largely unknown and have been discussed controversially. Using innovative stable isotope assays, my preliminary research has shown that plastics can be degraded in marine sediments under aerobic as well as anaerobic conditions. Here I propose to further investigate the potential for marine plastic degradation by microbes in laboratory- and field-based experiments across a wide range of contrasting environmental boundary conditions. In the VORTEX project, we will use cutting-edge stable isotope labelling and stable isotope probing assays in combination with biogeochemical/microbiological and organic geochemical tools to trace isotopically labelled carbon from the plastic-substrate pools into microbial metabolites (e.g. CO2) and biomass (e.g. diagnostic lipid biomarkers, DNA/RNA). This will lead to a breakthrough in our understanding of microbial plastic degradation in the ocean because the proposed analytical approaches allow to quantify kinetics of microbial polymer breakdown, to identify and quantify the responsible microbes and degradation pathways, and to determine environmental conditions conducive for plastic degradation.
Summary
Large quantities of plastics comprising a diverse set of hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon-like polymers are constantly released to the oceans. The impacts of plastics in marine environments are detrimental, as they are seemingly recalcitrant and harmful to marine life. The severity of this problem is gaining momentum because the untamed demand for plastics has led to an ever-increasing release of plastic to the sea. However, despite their seemingly persistent properties, they do not accumulate as expected, indicating a substantial sink for plastics in the ocean. Plastics are synthetic and thus rather new and ‘unconventional’ compounds in the marine realm, yet microbes can utilise plastics as carbon substrates. However, the potential for microbial degradation of plastics in the ocean as well as key factors controlling degradation kinetics are largely unknown and have been discussed controversially. Using innovative stable isotope assays, my preliminary research has shown that plastics can be degraded in marine sediments under aerobic as well as anaerobic conditions. Here I propose to further investigate the potential for marine plastic degradation by microbes in laboratory- and field-based experiments across a wide range of contrasting environmental boundary conditions. In the VORTEX project, we will use cutting-edge stable isotope labelling and stable isotope probing assays in combination with biogeochemical/microbiological and organic geochemical tools to trace isotopically labelled carbon from the plastic-substrate pools into microbial metabolites (e.g. CO2) and biomass (e.g. diagnostic lipid biomarkers, DNA/RNA). This will lead to a breakthrough in our understanding of microbial plastic degradation in the ocean because the proposed analytical approaches allow to quantify kinetics of microbial polymer breakdown, to identify and quantify the responsible microbes and degradation pathways, and to determine environmental conditions conducive for plastic degradation.
Max ERC Funding
1 999 185 €
Duration
Start date: 2018-06-01, End date: 2023-05-31
Project acronym WELL-BEING
Project The dynamics underlying Well-being; Understanding the Exposome-Genome interplay
Researcher (PI) Meike BARTELS
Host Institution (HI) STICHTING VU
Call Details Consolidator Grant (CoG), SH4, ERC-2017-COG
Summary In light of major demographic trends, building and maintaining health and well-being amongst citizens is one of the most important societal challenges European countries face. People who feel well, function better, are less susceptible to mental illness, and thus are better able to retain competitive advantage and expand human capital. People who feel well also facilitate social capital by enjoying stronger and more-lasting relationships. Consequently, maintaining, facilitating, and building well-being (WB) would not only improve individual (health) outcomes, but also reduce economic and health care burdens. To sustainably facilitate and build WB, thorough understanding of its underlying dynamics, especially the interplay between an individual’s genetic makeup, epigenetic make-up, and (social) environmental exposure, is crucial.
In this project, I will cross disciplinary boundaries to initiate the urgently needed integration of multiple layers of influence in the study of WB. The key objectives are to (1) identify, quantify, and integrate static and dynamic environmental and social exposures to build the well-being exposome, (2) understand the multi-layer interplay of the genome, the epigenome, and the exposome, and (3) integrate the empirical findings into a novel comprehensive framework of WB. I will employ an interdisciplinary approach, using association, real-life, and network methodology to assess the dynamics underling WB. To apply these state-of-the-art techniques, I will bring together longitudinal twin-family data, molecular genetic data, and big data from satellite positioning (GPS), bluetooth beacons, geographical information systems (GIS), ambulatory assessment, and social network linkage. This project will mark a shift in scientific approach and enables the development of interdisciplinary academic theories and health, social, and economic policies to maintain, facilitate, and build WB to withstand our demanding and rapidly changing world.
Summary
In light of major demographic trends, building and maintaining health and well-being amongst citizens is one of the most important societal challenges European countries face. People who feel well, function better, are less susceptible to mental illness, and thus are better able to retain competitive advantage and expand human capital. People who feel well also facilitate social capital by enjoying stronger and more-lasting relationships. Consequently, maintaining, facilitating, and building well-being (WB) would not only improve individual (health) outcomes, but also reduce economic and health care burdens. To sustainably facilitate and build WB, thorough understanding of its underlying dynamics, especially the interplay between an individual’s genetic makeup, epigenetic make-up, and (social) environmental exposure, is crucial.
In this project, I will cross disciplinary boundaries to initiate the urgently needed integration of multiple layers of influence in the study of WB. The key objectives are to (1) identify, quantify, and integrate static and dynamic environmental and social exposures to build the well-being exposome, (2) understand the multi-layer interplay of the genome, the epigenome, and the exposome, and (3) integrate the empirical findings into a novel comprehensive framework of WB. I will employ an interdisciplinary approach, using association, real-life, and network methodology to assess the dynamics underling WB. To apply these state-of-the-art techniques, I will bring together longitudinal twin-family data, molecular genetic data, and big data from satellite positioning (GPS), bluetooth beacons, geographical information systems (GIS), ambulatory assessment, and social network linkage. This project will mark a shift in scientific approach and enables the development of interdisciplinary academic theories and health, social, and economic policies to maintain, facilitate, and build WB to withstand our demanding and rapidly changing world.
Max ERC Funding
1 999 722 €
Duration
Start date: 2018-06-01, End date: 2023-05-31
Project acronym XHaLe
Project Hanover experimental lung research project
Researcher (PI) Danny David Jonigk
Host Institution (HI) MEDIZINISCHE HOCHSCHULE HANNOVER
Call Details Consolidator Grant (CoG), LS7, ERC-2017-COG
Summary Non-neoplastic lung diseases (NNLD), such as COPD and interstitial lung diseases rank second among the causes of death and NNLD appear as a growing EU wide challenge. They are characterized by irreversible remodeling with a relentless loss of lung function and a 5-year survival of only 30%. This dysfunctional reaction to injury can be triggered by particulate matters with macrophages (MO) as the key regulators. Wholesale therapeutic suppression of the inflammome actually increases the risk of death, whereas targeted therapy of signalling cascades by novel pharmaceuticals, e.g. nintedanib, only slows disease progression. Thus lung transplantation remains the ultima ratio. However, available grafts are limited, treatment costs are high and the 5-year survival barely surpasses 50%. Therefore novel approaches to understand, prevent and ultimately cure NNLDs are urgently needed. Towards this goal my group focusses on both, the main effector cell in NNLD, the myofibroblast, and the inflammome and particularly MOs, as these orchestrate both, lung healing and remodeling. Modulating the pulmonary immune system, rather than subduing it, holds significant promise. To this end, we have to understand the very early events in NNLDs. There are 2 major obstacles for efficient research: i) the lack of adequate animal models and ii) the availability of human specimens. Therefore we established a unique platform for NNLD: we utilize fresh explanted human lungs from Europe’s largest LuTx program and set up a singular 24h/7d workflow, ensuring short ischemia and tissue viability. In the last years, we have worked up over 500 lungs, acted as an international multiplier for pulmonary research, patented new imaging techniques and described novel diseases. Our understanding MO biology in NNLDs showed us the great potential in macrophages. Now we are going to use these macrophages as potential therapeutics. Hereby we will make a difference in translational medicine in Europe and the world.
Summary
Non-neoplastic lung diseases (NNLD), such as COPD and interstitial lung diseases rank second among the causes of death and NNLD appear as a growing EU wide challenge. They are characterized by irreversible remodeling with a relentless loss of lung function and a 5-year survival of only 30%. This dysfunctional reaction to injury can be triggered by particulate matters with macrophages (MO) as the key regulators. Wholesale therapeutic suppression of the inflammome actually increases the risk of death, whereas targeted therapy of signalling cascades by novel pharmaceuticals, e.g. nintedanib, only slows disease progression. Thus lung transplantation remains the ultima ratio. However, available grafts are limited, treatment costs are high and the 5-year survival barely surpasses 50%. Therefore novel approaches to understand, prevent and ultimately cure NNLDs are urgently needed. Towards this goal my group focusses on both, the main effector cell in NNLD, the myofibroblast, and the inflammome and particularly MOs, as these orchestrate both, lung healing and remodeling. Modulating the pulmonary immune system, rather than subduing it, holds significant promise. To this end, we have to understand the very early events in NNLDs. There are 2 major obstacles for efficient research: i) the lack of adequate animal models and ii) the availability of human specimens. Therefore we established a unique platform for NNLD: we utilize fresh explanted human lungs from Europe’s largest LuTx program and set up a singular 24h/7d workflow, ensuring short ischemia and tissue viability. In the last years, we have worked up over 500 lungs, acted as an international multiplier for pulmonary research, patented new imaging techniques and described novel diseases. Our understanding MO biology in NNLDs showed us the great potential in macrophages. Now we are going to use these macrophages as potential therapeutics. Hereby we will make a difference in translational medicine in Europe and the world.
Max ERC Funding
1 989 250 €
Duration
Start date: 2018-06-01, End date: 2023-05-31
