From past to present: fossil vs. recent marine shelled organisms as a substrate for colonisation and bioerosion

Shells of marine organisms represent specific hard substrates colonised since the beginning of the Phanerozoic by epi- and entobenthos. Unlike other hard substrates, shells are colonised on their outer surface, in their inner space, and in the shelf material itself. Using advanced imaging techniques and through actuoecological observation, experiments, and the molecular identification of boring marine fungi, we will seek to verify the following hypotheses: (1) Whether the formation of carious microniches on shells is determined by a crystal structure of the shell; whether these microniches are settled by specific colonisers; (2) Whether the successions of colonisers in individual microniches differ; (3) Whether fungi with their specific physiology play an important role in shell colonisation; (4) How the evolution of Ordovician-Devonian shells determines the beginning of the modern colonisation of shells; (5) Whether the fluctuation of pH and Mg/Ca-ratio of oceanic water, which affects biomineralisation processes, subsequently affects communities of shell colonisers.

Project name: From past to present: fossil vs. recent marine shelled organisms as a substrate for colonisation and bioerosion
Code: 18-05935S
Duration: 2018–2020
Agency: Czech Science Foundation
Project type: consortial (NM as a secondary investigator)
NM’s investigator: RNDr. Zuzana Heřmanová, Ph. D.
Other participants: Charles University, Faculty of Science (doc. RNDr. Katarína Holcová CSc.), Institute of Botany of the CAS (RNDr. Martin Vohník, Ph.D.), Institute of Geology of the CAS (RNDr. Radek Mikuláš DSc.), University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, Faculty of Education (doc. RNDr. Michal Mergl, CSc.)

Anticipated results/outputs:
Diversification of microniches on colonised shells in the photic zone; Successions of colonisers; Molecular identification of boring marine fungi, their role in shell colonisation; Evolution of shell colonisers in relation to the shell evolution and changes of oceanic water chemistry.