Marcel van der Meer

Marcel van der Meer is a Senior Scientist at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), specializing in isotope ecology and marine biogeochemistry. His research focuses on using stable isotopes (δD, δ13C, δ15N) to reconstruct past ocean salinity, study climate change impacts on marine systems, and investigate biogeochemical cycles in coastal and pelagic environments.

• Key Research Areas: Stable Isotope Geochemistry, Paleoclimatology, Ocean Circulation Modeling, Algal Biomarker Development, Trophic Interactions, Plastic Biodegradation
• Methodologies: Molecular fossil analysis, hydrogen isotope tracing, compound-specific isotope analysis, experimental algae culturing

Recent Publications highlight his work on:

• Trophic connections between gall crabs and coral hosts using stable isotopes
• 2H-depletion patterns in alkenones for reconstructing paleosalinity
• Carbon and nitrogen cycling in intertidal and deep-sea sponge ecosystems
• Biodegradation of polyethylene by marine fungi

Collaborations include projects with Utrecht University and Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), focusing on isotopic indicators, marine disease dynamics, and ocean-atmosphere carbon exchange.