Dr Emma J Reeves

Dr Emma Reeves is the Palaeoenvironmental Technician for the School of Geography and Environmental Science. Trained in geology, biology and palaeontology, she is experienced in sampling and processing microfossils from borehole core for palaeoenvironmental analysis and with providing specialist technical support to a multi-disciplinary team by compiling, analysing, interpreting, presenting and publishing scientific data.

As a former Research Assistant on the TW:eed project, based at the School of Ocean and Earth Science at the University of Southampton, Emma has experience of core sampling, processing samples using acids to extract microfossils and analysing palynomorphs to provide qualitative and quantitative datasets to demonstrate changes in ancient ecologies through time. The TW:eed project (funded by the NERC Consortium Grant ‘The Mid-Palaeozoic biotic crisis: setting the trajectory of tetrapod evolution’) investigated the evolution and palaeoenvironment of early terrestrial vertebrate animals (tetrapods) during the earliest stage of the Carboniferous Period. Emma used evidence from fossil plant spores and pollen to clarify the plant recovery immediately after the End Devonian Mass Extinction event. Additionally, she developed a new biostratigraphic scheme to date sediments from the Tournaisian stage of the UK and discovered repeating warm-wet, cold-dry phases indicative of cyclical palaeoclimate change.

Currently, Emma provides support to researchers on the Restore project. Led by Professor Pete Langdon, the Restore project investigates the recovery pathways of the ecosystems of lakes that have previously been impacted by eutrophication with some that subsequently underwent external restoration measures. Data gathered from the lake sediments will provide biological and geochemical signals to determine whether the lakes are truly recovering from the disturbances. Ultimately, models generated from these data will help scientists and resource managers to better understand the processes and timelines of lake recovery.

In addition to supporting the Restore team, Emma contributes to the day to day running of the research and teaching laboratories and provides specialist technical support to researchers in the Environmental Processes and Ancient DNA laboratories. This includes providing practical assistance with sampling soils and sediments, processing samples for charcoal, diatoms and pollen, producing data for Bulk Density, Loss on Ignition and X-Ray Fluorescence, and performing extractions for environmental DNA and sedimentary ancient DNA.

Prizes