OUR TECHNICIANS

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DIANA M. DAVIES
Senior Marine Chemist

E: diana.davies@csiro.au

Social Links

Current AAPP Activities:

Whole water sample collection for nutrients and phytoplankton community composition from moorings in the Southern Ocean over a 12month period, and the associated problems of preservation, corrosion and biofouling continue to present challenges for the IMOS program.  With the decommissioning of the successful Pulse mooring, the McLane Remote Access Sampler (500mL) has been relocated from a cage at 30m to the hull of the SOTS mooring. This has added engineering problems including mooring failure to the list of challenges. Although the transition has not been smooth, samples have been returned successfully, the RAS operation is simpler, novel solutions have been found and plenty more are needed. SOTS voyage participation and provision of methods and equipment to ground truth sensor data remains part of the activity with plenty of scope remaining for creative variations.

Current AAPP Activities:

Whole water sample collection for nutrients and phytoplankton community composition from moorings in the Southern Ocean over a 12month period, and the associated problems of preservation, corrosion and biofouling continue to present challenges for the IMOS program.  With the decommissioning of the successful Pulse mooring, the McLane Remote Access Sampler (500mL) has been relocated from a cage at 30m to the hull of the SOTS mooring. This has added engineering problems including mooring failure to the list of challenges. Although the transition has not been smooth, samples have been returned successfully, the RAS operation is simpler, novel solutions have been found and plenty more are needed. SOTS voyage participation and provision of methods and equipment to ground truth sensor data remains part of the activity with plenty of scope remaining for creative variations.

More about Diana

Biography

An abiding interest in spectroscopy, chromatography and laboratory automation and a love of the marine environment combined with limited opportunities locally leads to a varied work history. I have been privileged to work with the late Prof Eric Holdsworth and John Jordan (UTAS) in the field of marine photosystem pigments leading to the separation of pigments by HPLC, one of the earliest publications in this area. During a contract with CSIRO Atmospheric Research, precipitation chemistry with Dr Greg Ayers and Dr John Ivey, it became clear that what had been identified as fluoride ions by ion chromatography, was actually methane sulphonate, an atmospheric oxidation product of dimethyl sulphide and a source of marine aerosols.  The next step was to look for it in other environmental samples i.e. high volume atmospheric samples from Cape Grim and Antarctic ice cores from Law Dome, laying the foundations for ongoing future programs.

There is a lot of water in between, including some time the HEC Civil Engineering corrosion and materials laboratory, Australian Government Analytical Labs., Cawthron Institute (NZ) and a lot of time at sea. More recently, as an ACE CRC employee based at CSIRO Marine with Dr Tom Trull, light natural abundance isotope mass spectroscopy of size fractionated marine particles collected on various voyages (in cold water and including a ship wreck) and a project with deep sea corals has been a joy.  In the current AAPP and IMOS programs I have happily handed over sediment traps, established as a long running time series in the Southern Ocean by Dr Tom Trull and Stephen Bray, and continue to develop the remote water sampler at the Southern Ocean Time Series site as my hours reduce on my way to retirement.

 

Awards / Grants

ARGC grant, PS2 pigments
Australian Brewers Association Grant: Cr insulin cofactor from Brewers yeast
RACI Prize for Chemistry, Tasmanian Branch
ACE CRC CEO’s award for excellence

Selected Publications

Eriksen, R., Trull, T.W., Davies, D., Jansen, P., Davidson, A.T., Westwood, K., van den Enden, R. (2018) “Seasonal succession of phytoplankton community structure from autonomous sampling at the Australian Southern Ocean Time Series (SOTS).” Marine Ecology Progress Series 589, 13-31 DOI: 10.3354/meps12420
Trull, Tom; Passmore, Abe; Davies, Di; Smit, Tim; Berry, Kate; Tilbrook, Bronte (2017) “Distribution of planktonic biogenic carbonate organisms in the Southern Ocean south of Australia: a baseline for ocean acidification impact assessment.” Biogeosciences, vol. 14, 1-19.
T. W. Trull, P. Jansen, E. Schulz, B. Weeding, D.M. Davies and S.G. Bray 2019. “Autonomous multi-trophic observations of productivity and export at the Australian Southern Ocean Time Series (SOTS) reveal sequential mechanisms of physical-biological coupling”. Frontiers in Marine Science. 6:525
A.S. Rigual Hernandes et al, (2020) “Coccolithophore biodiversity controls carbonate export in the Southern Ocean. Biogeoscienes, vol 17, 245-263
Schallenberg C., et al, (2018) “Sustained upwelling of subsurface iron supplies seasonally persistent phytoplankton blooms around the southern Kerguelen plateau, Southern Ocean”, J. Geophysical Research: Oceans vol 123, 5986-6003

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SCOTT MEYERINK
Sea-going Trace Element Chemist

E:  scott.meyerink@utas.edu.au

Current AAPP Activities:

My responsibilities include the preparation of equipment for aerosol and marine based sampling and the day to day support of AAPP and ARC supported trace element groups. I am actively involved in the discovery project ‘Dust to the Southern Ocean: Does it really increase productivity?’ where I work with the primary investigators to support all laboratory and field tasks.

Current AAPP Activities:

My responsibilities include the preparation of equipment for aerosol and marine based sampling and the day to day support of AAPP and ARC supported trace element groups. I am actively involved in the discovery project ‘Dust to the Southern Ocean: Does it really increase productivity?’ where I work with the primary investigators to support all laboratory and field tasks.

More about Scott

Biography

I obtained my Masters degree in Oceanography at the University of Southampton (UK) in September 2010, and completed a PhD in Marine Biogeochemistry at the Australian National University (Australia), where I investigated the effects of iron availability on nutrient uptake in marine diatoms. This work was undertaken as part of a larger project investigating the role the Southern Ocean plays in regulating global climate.

My professional experience includes a supervisory role at an environmental laboratory in Berrimah, Darwin, where I was responsible for the routine analysis of environmental (water) and geological samples for a wide range of clients.

My research interests include the cycling of trace elements in natural waters and their interactions with phytoplankton and analytical techniques related to detection of trace elements and their isotopes. I also have an active interest in water quality principals and EPA legislation.

 

Scientific Committee Memberships

RACI Member since 2013

Selected Publications

Meyerink, S.W., Ellwood, M.J., Maher, W.A., Price, G.D. and Strzepek, R (2017). Effects of iron
limitation on silicon uptake kinetics and elemental stoichiometry in two Southern Ocean diatoms,
Eucampia antarctica and Probocia inermis, and the temperate diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana.
Journal of Limnology and Oceanography, doi: 10.1002/lno.10578.
Meyerink, S.W., Ellwood, M.J., Maher, W.A., Strzepek, R (2017). Iron Availability Influences
Silicon Isotope Fractionation in Two Southern Ocean Diatoms (Proboscia inermis and Eucampia
antarctica) and a Coastal Diatom (Thalassiosira pseudonana). Frontiers in Marine Science, doi:
10.3389/fmars.2017.00217.
Meyerink, S.W., Boyd, P.W. Maher, W.A., Milne, A., Strzepek, R., Ellwood, M.J. (2018) Putting
the silicon cycle in a bag: Field observations of silicon isotope fractionation in subtropical waters
east of New Zealand. Marine Chemistry, 213, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marchem.2019.04.008.

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CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER
Research Technician – Ice Cores

E:  christopher.plummer@utas.edu.au

Social Links

Current AAPP Activities:

Chris Plummer focuses on developing techniques for continuous flow analysis of ice cores in support of Australia’s efforts to retrieve the oldest Antarctic ice. Chris also continuous to develop ice core timescales for existing ice core datasets through layer counting and modelling.

Current AAPP Activities:

My current work focuses on developing techniques for continuous flow analysis of ice cores in support of Australia’s efforts to retrieve the oldest Antarctic ice and other ice core research, with particular interest in major trace ion species, water isotopes, gases through a variety of techniques. I also continue development of ice core timescales for existing ice core datasets through layer counting and modelling, and research into volcanic eruptions in ice cores.

More about Christopher

Biography

I studied geology at UTAS before completing my Honours in the ice core field. Following this I completed my PhD on the major trace ion chemistry of Law Dome ice cores through the Holocene in 2018. I am interested in the chemical composition of ice cores, and using this as proxies for various climate processes to help develop palaeoclimate records. I am also interested in techniques for measuring various ice core chemical properties, and using this information to develop well resolved timescales for ice cores. Additionally I am interesting in investigating volcanic episodes recorded in ice cores and their historical impacts on climate and people.

 

Selected Publications

An independently dated 2000-yr volcanic record from Law Dome, East Antarctica, including a new perspective on the dating of the 1450s CE eruption of Kuwae, Vanuatu; Plummer, CT, Curran, MAJ, van Ommen, TD, Rasmussen, SO, Moy, AD, Vance, TR, Clausen, HB, Vinther, BM, Mayewski, PA, Climate of the Past, doi:10.5194/cp-8-1929-2012
Sub-1 mL sample requirement for simultaneous determination of 17 organic and inorganic anions and cations in Antarctic ice core samples by dual capillary ion chromatography, Estrella Sanz Rodriguez, Christopher Plummer, Meredith Nation, Andrew Moy, Mark Curran, Paul R. Haddad Brett Paull, Analytica Chimica Acta, doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2019.02.014
A 2000-year annual record of snow accumulation rates for Law Dome, East Antarctica; Roberts, J, Plummer, C, Vance, T, van Ommen, T, Moy, A, Poynter, S, Treverrow, A, Curran, M, George, S, Climate of the Past, doi:10.5194/cp-11-697-2015
A Millennial Proxy Record of ENSO and Eastern Australian Rainfall from the Law Dome Ice Core, East Antarctica; Vance, TR, van Ommen, TD, Curran, MAJ, Plummer, CT, Moy, AD, Journal of Climate, doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-12-00003.1

Associated links

https://rmdb.research.utas.edu.au/public/rmdb/q/indiv_detail_warp_trans/36370

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PAM QUAYLE
Laboratory Manager

E: pam.quayle@utas.edu.au

Current AAPP Activities:

From trace chemical labs to ice core research, and from WHS to biosecurity – Pam Quayle is responsible for the overall management and operation of the research laboratories used by AAPP staff located at IMAS.

Current AAPP Activities:

Laboratory manager, Biosecurity manager

More about Pam

Biography

  • TBC

Gemma Woodward square

GEMMA WOODWARD
Marine Carbon Analytical Chemist

E: Gemma.Woodward@utas.edu.au

Social Links

  

Current AAPP Activities:

My responsibilities include the preparation of sediment traps, support during deployment and recovery voyages, and post-recovery sample analysis involved in the Southern Ocean Time Series project.

Current AAPP Activities:

My responsibilities include the preparation of sediment traps, support during deployment and recovery voyages, and post-recovery sample analysis involved in the Southern Ocean Time Series project.

More about Gemma

Biography

I studied environmental science at the University of Leeds, UK before continuing there as a PhD student researching heavy metal contamination in soils. I completed my PhD in 2018 and worked in CROs for several years including undertaking fieldwork for the agrochem industry and carrying out regulatory laboratory experiments for pharmaceutical companies. My curiosity in how the world works and sense of adventure led me to taking a position at UTAS.

Selected Publications

Woodward, G.L., Peacock, C.L., Otero-Fariña, A., Thompson, O.R., Brown, A.P., Burke, I.T. (2018) “A universal uptake mechanism for cobalt(II) on soil constituents: Ferrihydrite, kaolinite, humic acid, and organo-mineral composites”. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 238, 270-291 DOI: 10.1016/j.gca.2018.06.035