Daniel Conley

Daniel Conley is a Professor in the Department of Geology at Lund University and Principal Investigator with BECC (Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate). His work spans multiple institutions through collaborations, particularly with Jarone Pinhassi's research group at the Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial model Systems (EEMiS) at Linnaeus University. He leads significant research projects funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, Crafoord Foundation, and FORMAS.

Conley's research focuses on biogeochemical cycles of nutrients, especially silicon, and the linkages between land and aquatic ecosystems. His work examines how massive amounts of amorphous silica accumulate on land in soils from plant phytoliths and in lakes as diatoms, affecting the export of weathering products from landscapes to aquatic ecosystems. He investigates long-term trends driven by climate and nutrients, using paleoecological techniques and long-term monitoring data to help manage aquatic ecosystems. His research spans geological time periods from the Proterozoic to the present, examining how changes in silicon cycling have affected ocean productivity and climate.

His recent publications reveal a strong focus on Baltic Sea ecosystems, diatom evolution, biogenic silica dynamics, and the impacts of diagenesis on biogenic silica. The research shows increasing integration of geological records with experimental microbiological investigations, creating a comprehensive understanding of Earth's oceanic functioning through time. His work demonstrates significant interdisciplinary connections between biogeochemistry, geology, aquatic microbiology, and genomics.

• Vladimir Ivanovich Vernadsky Medal (2024)
• Björn Carlsons Östersjöpris (2023)
• Fellow of the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (2016)
• Top 10 cited paper, 2012-2015 (2016)
• Swedish Geologist of the Year (2014)

Professor Conley has supervised numerous PhD students including Brylka, K., Zahajská, P., and Nantke, C. His research has been supported by major grants from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, Crafoord Foundation, and FORMAS. He manages infrastructure including a gamma counter for the measurement of 210Pb. His collaborative network spans multiple countries and institutions, with significant work on understanding silicon cycling across geological time periods and its implications for climate change.

Conley leads the BECC research environment focusing on biodiversity and ecosystem services in a changing climate. His work integrates geological records with experimental microbiological investigations of key prokaryotes and silicifying eukaryotic phytoplankton groups. This research helps interpret how environmental changes impact global climate and food webs, contributing to understanding of the UN Sustainable Development Goals related to climate action and life below water.