Geobiology

This group studies the effects of biological processes on the Earth System and geological records of the evolution of life. Principal themes are: 1) the taxonomy and palaeobiology of invertebrates, plants, and algae, 2) the global environmental effects of the colonization of the land in the Palaeozoic, 3) bacterial processes, biodiversity and function in the environment, particularly near-surface and subsurface (deep biosphere) sedimentary systems, their geochemical impacts, and biosphere-geosphere interactions. Within the group there are two divisions reflecting different research aspects.

Palaeobiology

While maintaining its strong core theme on the phylogeny and systematics of invertebrates, plants and algae, the group has numerous interests in palaeontology, palaeoenvironments, palaeoecology, palaeobiogeography, biodiversity, evolutionary studies and biogeochemistry, incorporating aspects of several closely related disciplines such as palaeoclimatology and taphonomy. As an established centre for palaeobotany, it has continued to set benchmarks for studies on the origin and early evolution of land plants, pollen and spores and calcareous algae and bacteria. Multidisciplinary studies advanced by the Group include biomechanical and comparative developmental studies on modern plants, geomicrobiology, palaeobiogeography, palaeophysiology and functional morphology, taphonomy and terrestrialization.

Geomicrobiology

Research investigates bacterial activities in geological settings particularly near-surface and subsurface sediments. These environments often have low energy flow resulting in bacterial activities operating on geological time scales. However, these activities have a major impact on processes in deep sediments, such as, deep methane formation, organic and inorganic diagenesis. There is strong coupling of biosphere and geosphere processes which provides “dark energy” for bacteria resulting in them driving deep sedimentary processes. This can continue even into very deep and hot deposits (>100°C) and include processes previously thought to be purely thermogenic (e.g. fossil fuel formation).

Biodiversity of deep biosphere communities are being investigated by both culture dependent (including high pressure and temperature) and independent methods (e.g. molecular genetic approaches in collaboration with the School of Biosciences).

We have a number of Postgraduate Research Opportunities available.