Coccolithophore microalgae have lived and died in the oceans throughout Earth's history, with their remains accumulating on the ocean floor. Some of these algal relics, known as paleo-proxies, contain valuable chemical information that can provide insight into past environmental conditions. We want to understand how algal physiology is influenced by environmental conditions and microbial interactions, and how these processes impact the formation of algal paleo-proxies. We believe that a deeper understanding of algal physiology in the context of microbial interactions is needed for a better interpretation of the geological record.
