PlantChem

This project will investigate how atmospheric changes over geological and modern timescales have influenced plant chemistry and the broader ecosystem. Muhammad Siddiq recipient of the Trinity Research Doctorate Sanctuary Award, will play a key role in its implementation.

The project focuses on plant adaptations to shifts in atmospheric composition, particularly CO₂, and how these changes impact ecosystems historically, today, and in the future under climate change. By integrating fossil analysis, herbarium studies, and modern experimental approaches, it brings together expertise from plant sciences, paleoecology, and analytical chemistry to better understand long-term plant responses and ecosystem resilience. The study will utilize fossil specimens from key geological periods, historical herbarium samples, and modern plants, combined with advanced techniques like FTIR, SEM, and XRF. Experiments will also be conducted in a Variable Atmosphere and Light Laboratory to simulate ancient atmospheric conditions.

The significant outcomes of this research will be:

1. Improved understanding of how plants adapted to atmospheric shifts during critical geological periods.
2. Insights into modern plant responses to elevated CO₂ levels and their broader ecological implications.
3. Enhanced predictions of future ecosystem resilience, nutrient cycling, and plant-animal interactions under climate change.