Biogene Hartgewebe mit jรคhrlichen und tรคglichen Wachstumsinkrementen, insbesondere Schalen von Muscheln und Schnecken sowie Zรคhne von Wirbeltieren werden mit rรคumlich und zeitlich hochaufgelรถsten stabilen Isotopen- und elementchemischen Daten von der AG Palรคontologie/Sclerochronologie untersucht.
Paleontology reconstructs the development of life on Earth. It investigates the causes of evolution, the strategies organisms use to survive in an environment that is constantly changing, to colonize new habitats, and to produce viable offspring. Former ecosystems, the distribution of land and sea and the position of the continents, as well as past weather and climate dynamics, can be reconstructed on the basis of fossilsโthe remains of former organismsโand the sediment in which they are embedded.
Paleontology provides the language needed to decipher the book of life. Paleontology links biology with the dimension of time. Understanding how communities change over time in response to natural climate and environmental change helps us to estimate and evaluate the consequences of current global climate change. No other discipline can do this!
Following its reorganization in September 2006, Paleontology in Mainz has focused on modern, analytical, and applied aspects of Paleontology. Paleontology in Mainz operates at the interface of archaeology, anthropology, paleoclimate research (including numerical modeling), Sedimentology, and geochemistry. The focus is on the environmental and climate history of the Quaternary, i.e., the past 2.6 million years. In addition, members of the working group also address much earlier periods of Earth history, e.g., the Paleogene and Neogene, the Cretaceous, the Jurassic, and the Devonian, as well as mass extinction events in Earth history.
Close cooperation in research and teaching with neighboring disciplines ensures comprehensive, diverse, and interdisciplinary course offerings. Practical work in the laboratory and in the field forms an essential foundation of training. This includes not only teaching anatomical and skeletal-morphological knowledge, but also experience with modern analytical procedures for determining the isotopic and elemental-chemical composition of soft tissue and hard parts.
Students who wish to specialize in Paleontology are provided in Mainz with broad knowledge that prepares them for a wide range of professionsโwhether in petroleum exploration, in museum careers (collection curation) or state agencies, in paleoclimate research, environment protection and retrospective environmental monitoring, or in materials science. Not least, paleontological training in Mainz also prepares students for an academic career. The professional qualifications available are the B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Geosciences. A specialization in Paleontology is possible in both the bachelor’s and master’s degree program. Interested individuals may also obtain a doctorate (fromโฆ [XY University] with a dissertation on โฆ) in the subject of Paleontology.
SEACHANGE – Quantifying the impact of major cultural transitions on marine ecosystem functioning and biodiversity (ERC Synergy; Co-PIs: James Scourse [U Exeter; cPI], Kristine Bohmann [U Copenhagen], Callum Roberts [U Exeter], 2020-2027)
Chemical and mineralogical changes of calcareous shell material during fossilisation processes โ an experimental ap
Shells of freshwater mussels โ Hydrological archive of streamflow generation processes (DFG, 2026-2028)
A multi-archive approach to high-resolution paleoclimatic reconstructions in the Red Sea (MPGC, 2024-2027)
Collaboration partner in the Emmy Noether project “SEAFRONT – The Climatic impacts on the Neolithic Dispersal in the Mediterranean” (PI Niklas Hausmann, DFG, 2020-2027)
Collaboration partner in the research project “Shell material from Ginnerup” (PI Niels Nรธrkjรฆr Johannsen, Velux Foundation, 2025-2026)
Collaboration partner in the research project “BivalveSPEECH – Bivalve Sclerochronology – lessons from Past Ecology and Environments for the future Coastal ecosystem Health” (PI Melita Peharda Uljeviฤ, HRZZ, 2025-2027)
Equipment
CF-IRMS stands for Continuous Flow Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry. It is an analytical method from isotope geochemistry and analytical chemistry that is used to determine the ratio of stable isotopes of an element in a sample with very high precision, for example carbon (13C/12C), nitrogen (15N/14N), or oxygen (18O/16O).
Contact persons: Prof. Dr. B. Schรถne, Michael Maus
In combination with the GasBench, the GC-IRMS can be used to determine stable isotope ratios of oxygen and carbon in carbonates and waters.
Contact persons: Prof. Dr. B. Schรถne, Michael Maus
TC-EA stands for Thermal Combustion Elemental Analyzer. At high temperatures of 1450ยฐC in a Glassy carbon- reactor, it can reduce various oxygen-bearing substances such as phosphates, waters, or cellulose to carbon monoxide, whose oxygen isotope composition is then measured in a CF-IRMS.
Contact persons: Prof. Dr. B. Schรถne, Michael Maus
EA stands for Elemental Analyzer. Using this instrument, organic substances weighed into tin capsules (e.g., leaves, hair, collagen, cellulose, or biominerals) are oxidized at 1050ยฐC in a cobalt oxide-containing reactor with the addition of oxygen. A downstream reactor with elemental copper removes excess oxygen and reduces nitrogen oxides to nitrogen gas. Using an attached CF-IRMS, the isotope ratios of stable isotopes of carbon (13C/12C) in CO2 or nitrogen (15N/14N) in N2 can thus be determined with an accuracy of a few tenths of a per mil.
Contact persons: Prof. Dr. B. Schรถne, Michael Maus
ICP-OES is an analytical method for determining the elemental-chemical composition of a sample. In an Ar plasma, the atoms of the elements are excited and emit characteristic light radiation. This emitted radiation is separated by wavelength and measured in an optical emission spectrometer. Since each element has a characteristic emission spectrum (Fraunhofer lines), the elements present can be identified and their concentrations determined. ICP-OES is frequently used in environmental analysis, materials science, geochemistry, and food analysis to determine metals and trace elements quickly and simultaneously in a single sample.
Contact persons: Prof. Dr. B. Schรถne, Prof. Dr. Thomas Tรผtken
LC-MS with electrospray ionization (ESI) is a powerful analytical method for investigating and determining organic compounds in complex samples. First, the components of the sample are separated from one another by a liquid chromatograph (LC). The eluting compounds then enter an electrospray ionization source, where a fine, electrically charged spray is generated from the liquid phase. As the solvent evaporates, charged molecular ions are formed and then transferred to the mass spectrometer. There, the ions are separated and detected according to their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z). Due to the gentle ionization, this technique is particularly suitable for polar and thermally sensitive molecules. It is therefore frequently used in areas such as pharmaceutical and environmental analysis, food analysis, and biochemical and metabolomic research, especially for the rapid and straightforward determination of dissolved substances such as proteins, nucleic acids, dyes, or metal ions.
Contact person: Prof. Dr. B. Schรถne
The 3rd-generation Phenom PRO offers powerful imaging capabilities in a compact desktop format. It is optimized for users who require precise results with maximum throughput. The ProSuite platform extends the Phenom PRO with specialized analysis tools to extract quantitative data directly from SEM images. In addition, the Leica EM ACE200 sample coater enables fully automated sputter coating with platinum (Pt) and gold/palladium (Au/Pd) for optimal conductivity.
- Analysis: Voltage levels of 5 kV and 10 kV to optimize material contrast and surface details.
- Imaging: Resolution up to 17 nm at magnifications from 20x to 100,000x.
- Electron source: High-intensity CeB6 source for increased brightness and detail resolution.
- Workflow: Sample exchange and image display in 30 seconds.
- Navigation: Combined optical color camera and electron optics for intuitive sample positioning.
Contact person: Prof. Dr. B. Schรถne
PrepFAST from Elemental Scientific (ESI) is used to automate sample preparation for MC-ICP-MS isotope analysis of heavy isotopes. It enables automated ion-chromatographic separation of the elements Ca and Sr from the matrix for isotope analysis. For this purpose, the sample must first be dissolved in HCl.
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Thomas Tรผtken
The Cryomill is a specialized ball mill used to gently grind soft tissue or biomineralizates to an analytical fineness while cooling the grinding jar and material with liquid nitrogen.
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Thomas Tรผtken
The Micromill makes it possible to sample small powder samples (ยตg quantities) from rocks or (bio-)minerals at high spatial resolution for elemental or isotope analyses. Typically, accretionary-growing carbonate archives such as bivalves, otoliths, or speleothems are sampled.
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Thomas Tรผtken
GC-C-IRMS (gas chromatographyโcombustionโisotope ratio mass spectrometry) is an analytical method for determining stable isotope ratios of individual compounds within a sample. With this technique, the individual components of a sample are first separated from one another using a gas chromatograph (GC). The separated compounds are then converted into simple gases such as COโ or Nโ in a combustion furnace (combustion interface). These gases are subsequently analyzed in an isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS), which determines the ratios of stable isotopes (e.g., ยนยณC/ยนยฒC or ยนโตN/ยนโดN) with high precision. The method is used in various scientific fields, including environmental research, food analysis, forensics, and geochemistry. In particular, it is used to investigate sources, origin, and biogeochemical processes of organic compounds.
Contact person: Prof. Dr. B. Schรถne
UV/VIS Spectroscopy is used to determine and quantify substances in solution based on their light absorption in the ultraviolet and visible wavelength range. A sample is irradiated with light in the UV and visible range. Certain molecules absorb light at characteristic wavelengths, exciting electrons to higher energy levels. The attenuation of the light intensity is also measured and can be used to determine the concentration of a substance. Areas of application include chemical analysis, environmental analysis, food analysis, and biochemical research, in particular for the rapid and straightforward determination of dissolved substances such as proteins, nucleic acids, dyes, or metal ions.
Contact persons: Prof. Dr. B. Schรถne, Michael Maus
The Buehler IsoMet 1000 saw is used for precise, material-conserving cutting of smaller hard-tissue or rock samples with water-cooled diamond-coated saw blades, with minimal sample loss.
Contact persons: Prof. Dr. B. Schรถne, Michael Maus
Compulsory elective module: Paleontology
Compulsory elective module: Applied Paleontology
Compulsory elective module: Petrographic internship
Compulsory elective module: Analytical Paleontology
- Biogenic climate and environmental archives
- Field internship
- Project work
- Scientific presentation and text design
Compulsory elective module: Paleoclimate
Compulsory elective module: Fieldwork
Interested in BSc/MSc theses in Paleontology? Please contact us. You can find a list of possible topics on the notice board. Your own suggestions are welcome.
