Director: Miriam Cobianchi
Collaborators: Claudia Lupi, Stefania Bianco, Chiara Bonatelli, Nicoletta Mancin
Headquarters: DSTA - via Ferrata 9 - floor G
The activities carried out in the nannoplankton laboratory concern both the study of calcareous nannofossils and living coccolithophores. Slide preparations are carried out according to standard techniques and samples are analyzed using a polarizing light microscope to obtain quantitative and semi-quantitative estimates of the nannofossil content. In addition, morphometric and morphological analyses of cultured coccolithophores and the study of protein and lipid content in relation to different environmental parameters are performed. These analyses have several applications in the biostratigraphic, paleoceanographic, paleoclimate fields and in the study of the biocalcification mechanisms. In particular, the laboratory supports the research lines related to: 1) climate, carbon cycle and calcareous microbiota, ii) efficiency of coccolithophores in CO2 absorption; iii) marine microorganisms applied to fossil and current records. Samples are also prepared for the study of isolated nannofossils and on bulk for scanning electron microscope analysis.
Main instruments:
- Laboratory oven
- Precision balance
- Ultrasonic bath
- Graduated micropipettes
- Polarizing optical microscopes
- Inverted microscope
- Camera for microscope photo and video
The Laboratory is equipped for:
Bachelor's theses, Doctoral theses, Teaching exercises for the Master's degree in Natural Sciences, Teaching exercises for the Bachelor's degree in Geological Sciences, Teaching exercises for the Master's degree in Geosciences for Sustainable Development, Services for third parties with reference price list, Basic and applied research
The Laboratory is equipped for:
Bachelor's theses, PhD theses, teaching exercises for the Master's Degree in Natural Sciences, teaching exercises for the Bachelor's Degree in Geological Sciences, teaching exercises for the Master's Degree in Geosciences for Sustainable Development, third-party services with a specific price list, basic and applied research