César N. Rodríguez Díaz

PhD Student

Departament de Biologia Marina i Oceanografia
Institut de Ciències del Mar, CSIC
Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49
08003 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Tel: (34) 93 2309500 Ext: 445671
Fax: (34) 93 2309555
e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

RESEARCH INTERESTS

The aim of my PhD is to gather quantitative information on the evolution of the main stressors currently impacting the oceans from a paleo-perspective, with special emphasis on ocean acidification. The thesis is focused on the Mediterranean Sea, which currently represents one of the most vulnerable climate change hotspots. Reconstructing seawater pH over time for this basin is relevant to understand the evolution of the carbon system and to project future changes in ocean chemistry and climate. For this purpose, I have been collaborating on the set up of boron isotopic composition (δ¹¹B) analyses at the University of Barcelona using a Multi Collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer. Based on this method, I am generating Mediterranean surface and deep seawater pH reconstructions over different timescales and temporal resolutions: from the last centuries to glacial/interglacial cycles through the analysis of δ¹¹B on foraminiferal shells from a series of sediment cores. In addition, I am also working on temperature and deep ocean oxygenation reconstructions through the analysis of organic biogeochemical proxies in marine sediments and trace elements ratios on foraminifera shells in order to complement the environmental information provided by the δ¹¹B proxy.