Climatic and Biotic Events of the Paleogene Conference
Climatic and Biotic Events of the Paleogene Conference
This August, Miriam Slodownik travelled to Washington DC, US, to participate and present at the “Climatic and Biotic Events in the Paleogene” Conference held at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum. Approximately 100 delegates from the US and beyond participated in this conference, bringing different areas of expertise together that do not necessarily use the same techniques but focus on the same time interval, creating great potential for future collaboration. Notably, there was a large proportion of Palaeobotanists and Palynologists present at the conference.
The conference dinner was held in the spectacular Fossil Hall of the museum, which was filled not only with exciting animal fossils, but also spectacular plant fossils and reconstructions. The conference was followed by a magnificent field trip in the outskirts of Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia, where sediments and marine fossils of Cretaceous and Paleogene age were observed and collected.
Witness Trees Project 2026 Fieldwork Campaign
Five years of monitoring trees for a more climate-resilient future
The Witness Tree Project is a long-term monitoring initiative that began in 2022 at the Trinity College Botanic Garden and expanded to the National Botanic Gardens in 2024. Each summer, researchers monitor 21 tree species to better understand how climate change is affecting tree health and resilience, while also investigating the important role these species play in retaining airborne pollutants in urban environments. The project has completed its 2026 summer fieldwork campaign this July.
This year’s fieldwork was led by Dr. Leticia Figueiredo Candido at the National Botanic Gardens, together with intern Julia and volunteers Blanka and Chiara. At the Trinity College Botanic Garden, the Research Assistant Msc. Richard Slevin led the field team, supported by interns Charles, and Antony and volunteers Liza, and Qudseya. Members of the Plant–Climate Interaction Lab, including Dr. Christos Chondrogiannis, Dr. Michelle Murray, and Dr. Miriam Słodownik, also contributed to data collection, continuing their involvement from previous years. A huge thanks to everyone who contributed to the data collection and continues helping the project.
During the campaign, researchers collected a range of physiological measurements to assess tree health and resilience. These included stomatal conductance, leaf temperature, and chlorophyll fluorescence. Leaf samples were also collected for carbon isotope (δ¹³C) analysis, with the goal of providing insights into long-term water-use efficiency and how trees respond to environmental stress.
In addition, leaf samples were collected to quantify the amount and chemical composition of particulate matter retained by different tree species, helping researchers evaluate the ecosystem service that urban trees provide by improving air quality. The team also collected herbarium specimens from all monitored species, creating a permanent historical record of the trees while providing valuable material for future studies, these specimens will be available at the Trinity College Dublin Herbarium.
The project’s genetic component also continued in 2026. This work, initiated in 2025 by Dr. Ailbhe Brazel, aims to identify molecular biomarkers associated with environmental responses in selected species, including alder, hazel, common oak, and maidenhair tree. This year’s sampling was carried out by Dr. Brazel together with research assistant James, continuing the development of this important aspect of the project.
The data collected during the 2026 campaign will contribute to the project’s long-term dataset, helping researchers better understand how urban trees respond to changing environmental conditions and informing evidence-based strategies for selecting resilient tree species for future cities.
How will pioneer salt marsh plants respond to rising CO2?
How will pioneer salt marsh plants respond to rising CO₂?
In the VAL Lab, a new experiment is underway using the PGC20 Growth Chambers. Over the next six months, Jenny Clarke – a second-year PhD researcher co-supervised by Iris Moller (Geography) and Jennifer McElwain (Botany) – will use the chambers to investigate the potential impacts of climate change on two species of pioneer salt marsh plants.
Jenny is growing Spartina anglica and Salicornia europaea under two scenarios: current climate conditions and a potential future, high-CO₂ climate. By comparing the two, she aims to determine how rising atmospheric CO₂ concentrations may affect the germination, establishment, and biophysical properties of each species.
To recreate a working salt marsh inside each chamber, Jenny uses a two-tank system. One tank represents the marsh itself, holding pots of tidal flat mud sown with seeds of one or both species collected from her field site on North Bull Island in Dublin Bay; the other supplies a reservoir of artificial seawater that floods the marsh semi-diurnally, reproducing the twice-daily tidal rhythm experienced by the pioneer zone at North Bull Island.
The ‘current’ climate conditions simulated by the chambers are informed directly by data collected at a monitoring station set up at her field site on North Bull Island. The raised-CO₂ conditions mirror these current settings in every respect except atmospheric CO₂, which is elevated to 820 ppm, in line with the IPCC’s SSP3-7.0 projection for the year 2100.
Salt marshes are among the most valuable habitats on our coastlines: they sequester large amounts of carbon, buffer the shore against storms and erosion, and support rich communities of plants, birds, and invertebrates. They are also highly sensitive to environmental change. By focusing on the pioneer species that first colonise the bare tidal flat, allowing marshes to establish and expand, Jenny’s work should help clarify how these critical ecosystems might respond as the climate continues to change over the coming century.
Insights from the 2025 Summer School on Precision Forestry
A Week of Innovation and Learning at the 2025 Interdisciplinary Summer School on Precision Forestry
Dr Sate Ahmad had the chance to attend the 2025 Interdisciplinary Summer School on Precision Forestry, an event organised by the COST Action 3DForEcoTech, in collaboration with the European Forest Institute (EFI), IUFRO – International Union of Forest Research Organizations, and the Department of Geomatics at the Forest Research Institute, Poland.
During this incredible week, Sate gained hands-on experience in using Airborne and Terrestrial LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data to characterize forests. This experience has greatly enhanced the understanding of how LiDAR technology can be utilized for future research in ecosystem restoration and microtopography monitoring.
A special thanks to the event organizers—María Menéndez Miguélez, Mattia Balestra, Bartłomiej Kraszewski, Martin Mokros, and Krzysztof Stereńczak—whose hard work and dedication ensured the success of the event. Beyond mastering the technical aspects of LiDAR technology, the event provided a valuable platform for building connections, and Sate left with many ideas for future research collaborations.
The insights gained during this experience will undoubtedly shape the future of our research at Plant Climate Lab, and Sate is eager to incorporate TLS (Terrestrial Laser Scanning) and ALS (Airborne Laser Scanning) into ongoing and upcoming projects.
PlantClimate Lab Represents Trinity at IPSAM 2025 in Galway
Planting Knowledge, Cultivating Insight - PlantClimate Lab at IPSAM
Our PlantClimate Lab had an outstanding presence at this year’s Irish Plant Scientists’ Association Meeting (IPSAM 2025) in Galway on 16–17 June. Across five talks and two posters, our team shared research spanning paleoenvironmental chemistry, epigenetic stress responses, ecosystem water balance, restoration ecology, and climate-focused tree monitoring.
Talks
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Ailbhe Brazel presented “Understanding the role of histone methylation in plant hypoxia responses”, exploring how epigenetic mechanisms help plants adapt to low oxygen stress conditions.
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Emma Blanka Kovács delivered “Mercury analyses of modern and fossil plant substrates as indicators of atmospheric Hg loading”, highlighting how modern and historical plant material can trace mercury pollution through time.
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Sate Ahmad shared “On Weather, Water & Willows: Stomatal Response to Meteorological Forcings in Salix viminalis”, examining the effects of meteorological variability on plant water use and ecosystem balance.
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Miriam Slodownik presented findings from the Witness Tree Project, which uses mature trees at Trinity Botanic Garden to monitor environmental change. Her talk focused on long-term tracking of physiological responses—such as stomatal conductance and particulate capture—to air pollution and climate stressors.
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Christos Chondrogiannis gave an evolutionary perspective in his talk on the origins and evolution of CAM (Crassulacean Acid Metabolism) photosynthesis, using cycads as a model. His research contributes to understanding how ancient plant lineages adapted to arid environments, providing insight into the evolutionary drivers of water-use efficiency in plants.
Posters
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Siddiq Muhammad presented “How Atmospheric Change Influences Elemental Composition in Woody Plants Across Global Biomes”, a global-scale study leveraging herbarium collections to assess how rising CO₂ and nitrogen deposition have shifted leaf nutrient profiles across biomes.
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Sate Ahmad also presented “The Role of Landscape Ecology in Ecosystem Restoration”, outlining a multidisciplinary project that combines ecological data, spatial analysis, and long-term field monitoring to assess restoration outcomes across Irish landscapes.
It was a fantastic two days of science, collaboration, and connection. We’re incredibly proud of our team for representing PlantClimate Lab with such energy and excellence, and for contributing to important conversations on how plants respond to a changing planet.
Representing Our Research at the 42nd Mid-Continent Paleobotanical Colloquium
Representing Our Research at the 42nd Mid-Continent Paleobotanical Colloquium
This past month, two of our very own PhD students, Catarina (me!) and Antonietta, travelled to Middletown, Connecticut, to present at the 42nd Mid-Continent Paleobotanical Colloquium, hosted by Wesleyan University (Go Cardinals!).
Antonietta delivered a well-received talk titled “Regional Plant Ecological Turnover and Diversity Loss at the End-Triassic Mass Extinction at the Jameson Land Basin, East Greenland” and fielded more questions than any other speaker!
Catarina, despite battling jetlag, presented a poster titled “Sampling Strategies and Their Influence on Paleoecological Interpretations at the Triassic–Jurassic Boundary”, a follow-up to her earlier IGRM presentation.
Reflecting on the experience, Antonietta shared, “Visiting the palaeobotany collections at museums of such importance as the Yale Peabody Museum was an absolutely amazing experience.” Catarina added, “It was great getting to meet everyone and share the work we’ve been doing with our American peers — and to see what they’ve been working on as well!”
by Catarna Barbosa
Harnessing botanical remedies for respiratory health
Plant-based cough syrup - a blend of tradition and science
Muhammad Siddiq, a PhD student, recently carried out a project exploring natural alternatives to synthetic cough syrups, with a focus on medicinal plants from the TCD Botanical Garden. This independent project, while separate from his doctoral research on plant chemistry and climate change, contributes to the broader conversation about the role of plants in healthcare.
Siddiq’s work focused on identifying plants with potential cough-relieving properties, drawing on both historical knowledge and scientific evidence. He highlighted five plants known for their medicinal value: Allium sativum (garlic), prized for its antibacterial and immune-boosting effects; Aloe vera, recognized for its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties; Equisetum hyemale (horsetail), a mild expectorant; Thuja occidentalis, traditionally used for respiratory congestion but requiring controlled use due to its thujone content; and Rubus armeniacus (blackberry), rich in antioxidants that help alleviate throat irritation.
Using these plants, Siddiq developed a natural cough syrup, blending garlic extract, aloe vera juice, horsetail infusion, blackberry syrup, and honey—an age-old natural remedy known for its preservative and throat-soothing properties. This simple yet effective formulation offers a plant-based alternative to commercial cough syrups and demonstrates the potential of botanicals in modern medicine.
Although separate from his PhD research, Siddiq’s work highlights the relevance of plant-based treatments in healthcare, bridging traditional knowledge with modern scientific validation. His project also emphasizes the value of locally available medicinal plants, many of which visitors to the TCD Botanical Garden can explore firsthand to learn about their historical and medicinal significance, both in Ireland and beyond.
by Muhammad Siddiq
Understanding how fossilisation of plants works
A pilot project in experimental taphonomy
Researchers from the TERRAFORM team visited University College Cork in March to carry out a pilot project in experimental taphonomy with collaborator Maria McNamara. Postdoc Will Matthaeus and PhD student Catarina Barbosa are interested in testing hypotheses regarding the effect of certain aspects of the process that plant parts undergo in the transition between life and preservation in the fossil record (i.e., taphonomy). Maria is a leading expert in the interpretation of the fossil record using experimental alteration of biological materials. The group aims to develop robust interpretations of signals from the plant fossil record for use in ecosystem simulations.
Members of the Terraform team take part in the first Irish Paleo Forum (IPF) in Cork
The first Irish Paleo Forum (IPF) - Cork, January 2024
On January 18th, our lab members, Antonietta Knetge, Catarina Barsboa and William Matthaeus joined fellow Irish palaeontologists for the first Irish Paleo Forum (IPF) meeting at University College Cork. The organisation of the IPF was proposed by Prof. Maria McNamara, Dr. Chris Mays, and our own, Prof. Jennifer McElwain. The forum aims to enhance the palaeontology community in Ireland by offering an open space for current research, communication and innovation. Members of Trinity College Dublin’s Plant Climate Interaction lab look forward to participating in future IPF meetings, making history in Ireland for the bright future of palaeontology.
