Ralf Schiebel

Professeurr en Géologie

Université d'Angers
Laboratoire des Bio-Indicateurs Actuels et fossiles, BIAF
UPRES EA 2644, UFR Sciences
2 bd Lavoisier
49045 ANGERS Cedex 01
FRANCE

Tel. +33 2 41 73 52 38
Fax +33 2 41 73 53 52

Français English

Teaching

Research Philosophy & Activities

My professional work is focused on understanding modern and past climate and ocean systems, using paleoceanographical proxies based in micropaleontology and biogeochemistry. My work combines different disciplines of research, ranging from geology to biology and oceanography. My research follows three main and continuously evolving directions, which are closely connected to each other:

•    Ecology and palaeoecology of planktic foraminifers
•    Sedimentation of calcareous plankton and the open marine carbon budget
•    Automated recognition, morphometry and classification of microparticles

Research interests

Ecology and palaeoecology of planktic foraminifers

Understanding population dynamics and shell chemistry of modern and fossil foraminifers, in combination with data on the physical and chemical state of the ambient sea water (e.g., temperature, salinity, trophic condictions, ∑CO2) allows calibration and application of foraminifer shells in palaeoceanography and palaeoclimate research. Population dynamics, test morphometry, and test chemistry as proxy of, e.g., temperature (Mg/Ca) and nutrient utilization (Cd/Ca) are analyzed from live and fossil assemblages, as well as laboratory experiments both essential for understanding the ecology of planktic foraminifers.
Sedimentation of calcareous plankton and the open marine carbon budget

Calcareous plankton, i.e., mainly coccolithophores, foraminifers, and snails affect, and are affected by the carbonate chemistry of the ambient sea water when forming their shell. Changing CO2 concentration of the atmosphere and upper ocean (“ocean acidification”) is buffered by shell formation through various feedbacks. Reconstructing the global open marine carbonate budget and the affect of CO2 changes on planktic calcite formation helps to better understand palaeoclimate change.
Automated recognition, morphometry and classification of microparticles
Automated microscopy is applied to morphometric analyses in palaeoceanography and micropaleontology. Microfossils play a key role in palaeoceanography, largely as proxies of changing water mass properties and traceable by their fauna and test chemistry. Although major effects on the population structures and evolutionary developments of associated planktic assemblages are expected, little work has been done so far, largely because of the time-consuming morphometric data collection. This problem has been overcome by automated high-resolution data acquisition and processing at high precision and accuracy.

Career & University Education

since 2008 Professor of Geology, Université d’Angers, France, succession Prof. J.-P. Debenay, France
2005-2008 Lecturer in Palaeoceanography, School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton (NOCS), University of Southampton, succession Prof. John W. Murray, UK
2001-2008 Privatdozent, Institute of Geoscience, Tübingen University, Germany
2001 Habilitation, Institute and Museum for Geology and Paleontology, Tübingen University
2000-2005 Oberassistent, Geological Institute, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich (ETH), Switzerland
1993-2000 Research Associate (Post-doc), Institute and Museum for Geology and Paleontology, Tübingen University, and Attempto Service for Research and Education GmbH, Tübingen
1992 Lecturer in Micropaleontology, stand-in for Prof. G.F. Lutze, Institute and Museum for Geology and Paleontology, Kiel University
1990-1992 Doktorate in Geologie and Paleontology, Institute and Museum for Geology and Paleontology, Kiel University, Stipend of the German Science Foundation (DFG)
1984-1990 Diplom in Geology and Paleontology, Institute and Museum for Geology and Paleontology, Kiel University, Germany


Research projects

16 major research grants awarded from German, Swiss,  British, and European funding agencies between 1996 and 2009, in cooperation with colleagues (about 3M€ in total). Research proposals are in preparation to be submitted to French funding agencies. 

Oceanographic cruises

2004 RV POSEIDON 308, Modern Azores Front-Current System, Bremerhaven – Funchal 
1999 RV METEOR 45/5, Paleoceanography of the Azores Front, Bremen - Las Palmas 
2004 JOIDES RESOLUTION expedition, IODP 303, St. Johns – Ponta Delgada, biostratigraphy and paleoceanography
since 1993 parcticipation in 15 major scientific cruises to the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean 

Selected publications (pdf on request)

Retailleau, S., Howa, H., Schiebel, R., Lombard, F., Eynaud, F., Schmidt, S., Jorissen, F. and Labeyrie, L., 2009. Planktic foraminiferal production along an offshore–onshore transect in the south-eastern Bay of Biscay. Continental Shelf Research. doi: 10.1016/j.csr.2008.12.021. 

Ripperger, S., Schiebel, R., Rehkämper, M. and Halliday, A.N., 2008. Cd/Ca ratios of in situ collected planktonic foraminiferal tests. Paleoceanography, 23, PA3209, doi:10.1029/2007PA001524. 

Schiebel, R., Barker, S., Lendt, R., Thomas, H. and Bollmann, J., 2007. Planktic foraminiferal dissolution in the twilight zone. Deep-Sea Research II, 54: 676-686. doi:10.1016/j.dsr2.2007.01.009.

Schiebel, R. and Hemleben, Ch., 2005. Modern Planktic Foraminifera. Paläontologische Zeitschrift, 79(1): 135-148. 

Schiebel, R., Zeltner, A., Treppke, U.F., Waniek, J., Bollmann, J., Rixen, T. and Hemleben, Ch., 2004. Distribution of diatoms, coccolithophores and planktic foraminifers along a trophic gradient during SW monsoon in the Arabian Sea. Marine Micropaleontology, 51: 345-371.

Schmidt, D.N., Thierstein, H.R., Bollmann, J. and Schiebel, R., 2004. Abiotic forcing of plankton evolution in the Cenozoic. Science, 303: 207-210.

Ivanova, E., Schiebel, R., Singh, A.D., Schmiedl, G., Niebler, H.-S. and Hemleben, Ch., 2003. Primary production in the Arabian Sea during the last 135,000 years. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 197: 61-82. 

Schiebel, R., 2002. Planktic foraminiferal sedimentation and the marine calcite budget. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 16(4): 13-1 – 13-21. 

Schiebel, R., Schmuker, B., Alves, M. and Hemleben, Ch., 2002. Tracking the Recent and late Pleistocene Azores front by the distribution of planktic foraminifers. Journal of Marine Systems, 37: 213-227. 

Schiebel, R., Waniek, J., Zeltner, A. and Alves, M., 2002. Impact of the Azores Front on the distribution of planktic foraminifers, shelled gastropods, and coccolithophorids. Deep-Sea Research II, 49: 4035-4050. 

Schmuker, B. and Schiebel, R., 2002. Spatial and temporal distribution of planktic foraminifers in the eastern Caribbean. Marine Micropaleontology, 46: 387-403. 

Schiebel, R., Waniek, J., Bork, M. and Hemleben, Ch., 2001. Planktic foraminiferal production stimulated by chlorophyll redistribution and entrainment of nutrients. Deep-Sea Research I, 48: 721-740.