DETECTORS research project

My name is María Yolanda, I am a marine biologist, and for the past few years, I have been dedicated to naturalistic illustration and science communication. I am currently involved in the DETECTORS project (Disentangling the Palaeoproxy Challenge for the Humboldt Current System and Beyond), a research initiative connecting Chile and the United Kingdom to uncover the history of our ocean using current data from planktonic foraminifera.

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Foraminifera are microscopic marine organisms that float in the ocean. They are highly sensitive to their environment and are encased in shells that can persist for centuries. When these tiny organisms die, their shells settle on the seafloor, forming layers of microfossils that allow us to reconstruct what the ocean was like in the past.

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Our research aims to calibrate historical records of the Pacific Ocean by studying living planktonic foraminifera, providing more precise information about how our ocean has changed over time.

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As part of the science communication project Oceanographic Logbook: Exploring the Past of Our Oceans with Foraminifera (2024), I aim to share this research and highlight the importance of foraminifera and plankton in general through freely accessible educational and audiovisual materials on this blog.

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If you would like to contact me or learn more about the project, please email me at mynunez@uc.cl