Archives of environmental change

As a paleoclimatologist (someone who studies past climates), I am interested in using archives of environmental change, like clam, mussel, & snail shells, to broaden our understanding of climate and environmental perturbations over the recent past. As these organisms grow their shells, they record a variety of environmental conditions. By examining modern, archaeological, & fossil shells, we can better understand how increases in extreme weather, land-use change, and climate change, affect the environment over time.