Research areas
My research focuses on biomineralisation. In particular I study how organisms form CaCO3 biominerals, what the chemistry of these minerals can tell us about past environments and how biomineral formation will be affected by climate and environmental change.
Calcium carbonates are formed by a range of important marine organisms including corals, molluscs and foraminifera. These calcareous structures provide tissue support and protection and serve to provide habitat spaces for other organisms e.g. coral reefs. I maintain an aquaria system to culture marine organisms under tightly controlled conditions to study the effects of rising seawater temperatures and atmospheric CO2 (ocean acidification) on biomineralisation processes. I also research how CaCO3 chemistry is affected by the environment conditions at the time of deposition and investigate how the chemistry of fossil carbonates e.g. ancient reefs, may record climatic information. These accurate records of past seawater temperatures are key to understanding past global climates and for validating models predicting 21st century climate change.
Biominerals are composite materials of both CaCO3 and organic matrices. I have built an apparatus to precipitate biominerals under the conditions analogous to those predicted to occur in organisms and my group is researching how organic materials e.g. amino acids and proteins affect biomineral formation.
Selected publications
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The role of aspartic acid in reducing coral calcification under ocean acidification conditions
Kellock, C., Cole, C., Penkman, K., Evans, D., Kroger, R., Hintz, C., Hintz, K., Finch, A. & Allison, N., 30 Jul 2020, In : Scientific Reports. 10, 8 p., 12797.Research output: Contribution to journal ? Article
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The characteristics and biological relevance of inorganic amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) precipitated from seawater
Evans, D., Webb, P. B., Penkman, K., Kroger, R. & Allison, N., 7 Aug 2019, In : Crystal Growth & Design. 19, 8, p. 4300-4313Research output: Contribution to journal ? Article
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Effects of seawater pCO2 and temperature on calcification and productivity in the coral genus Porites spp. an exploration of potential interaction mechanisms
Cole, C., Finch, A. A., Hintz, C., Hintz, K. & Allison, N., Jun 2018, In : Coral Reefs. 37, 2, p. 471-481 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal ? Article
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Influences of coral genotype and seawater pCO2 on skeletal Ba/Ca and Mg/Ca in cultured massive Porites spp. corals
Allison, N., Cole, C., Hintz, C., Hintz, K. & Finch, A. A., 11 Jun 2018, In : Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. In pressResearch output: Contribution to journal ? Article
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The effect of ocean acidification on tropical coral calcification: insights from calcification fluid DIC chemistry
Allison, N., Cole, C., Hintz, C., Hintz, K., Rae, J. & Finch, A., 10 Oct 2018, In : Chemical Geology. 497, p. 162-169 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal ? Article
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Reconstructing coral calcification fluid dissolved inorganic carbon chemistry from skeletal boron: an exploration of potential controls on coral aragonite B/Ca
Allison, N., Aug 2017, In : Heliyon. 3, 8, 22 p., e00387.Research output: Contribution to journal ? Article
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Understanding cold bias: variable response of skeletal Sr/Ca to seawater pCO2 in acclimated massive Porites corals
Cole, C. S., Finch, A. A., Hintz, C., Hintz, K. & Allison, N., 31 May 2016, In : Scientific Reports. 6, p. 1-8 8 p., 26888.Research output: Contribution to journal ? Article
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Corals concentrate dissolved inorganic carbon to facilitate calcification
Allison, N., Cohen, I., Finch, A. A., Erez, J., Tudhope, A. W. & Edinburgh Ion Microprobe Facility, 22 Dec 2014, In : Nature Communications. 5, p. 1-6 6 p., 5741.Research output: Contribution to journal ? Article
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SIMS sputtering rates in biogenic aragonite: implications for culture calibration studies for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction
Allison, N., Chambers, D., Finch, A. A. & EIMF, Sep 2013, In : Surface and Interface Analysis. 45, 9, p. 1389-1394 6 p.Research output: Contribution to journal ? Article
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A high resolution delta C-13 record in a modern Porites lobata coral: Insights into controls on skeletal delta C-13
Allison, N., Finch, A. A. & EIMF, 1 May 2012, In : Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. 84, p. 534-542 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal ? Article