Chercheurs

Sciences de la Terre / DAMSTE, JAAP S. SINNINGHE

damste

Position

Professor in Molecular Palaeontology, Utrecht University, Faculty of Geosciences,

Department Head at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Texel, Netherlands

Thèmes de recherche

The marine fossil record contains a myriad of organic molecules, which derive from marine (algae, (cyano)bacteria, archae) and terrestrial organisms living at the time of deposition. These so-called biomarkers contain information which, if properly decoded, can give insight in past climatic and palaeo-environmental changes. This can help in :
- understanding natural and anthropogenic influences on present-day climates and depositional systems, and
- deciphering the conditions which have led to sequestration of organic carbon in the geological record, and thus to the formation of marine petroleum source rocks. Sedimentary organic components are derived from biochemicals of primary producers and organisms processing primary produced carbon.

On a molecular level three different features of biochemicals can be discriminated:
- the carbon skeleton,
- functional group(s),
- stable carbon isotopic composition.

If these three types of information are fully preserved in sedimentary biomarker counterparts the most accurate palaeodepositional reconstruction can be obtained. However, a wide range of microbial and (physico)chemical processes during settling of the detritus to the sediment and during subsequent burial of the sediment affect biochemicals. Therefore, molecular biogeochemists have to unravel the diagenetic and catagenetic processes which alter the structures of primary biochemicals in order to properly decode the sedimentary record. A very important process in this respect is reaction of reduced inorganic sulfur species with organic molecules during early diagenesis which leads to sequestration of biochemicals in complex sulfur-rich macromolecular aggregates. The structural identification and quantitation of sedimentary biomarkers, the determination of their 13C content, the unravelling of their origin through understanding of their diagenetic pathway of formation, and the application of concentrations and 13C contents of biomarkers to trace changes in past depositional systems are all topics of prime interest in my research. The structure, properties and origin of the major form of organic carbon in the geosphere, kerogen, is a second item of major interest. Kerogen is defined as the fraction of organic matter insoluble in common organic solvents and typically represent >90% of the total organic matter in immature sediments. Kerogen is the major precursor of petroleum and its properties determine the timing of petroleum generation during burial of kerogen in the subsurface and the quality of the petroleum formed. However, the origin and chemical structure of kerogen are still a matter of debate and my research aims to solve these questions.

Prix et récompenses

2007 : Vernadsky Medal Award from the European Geosciences Union General Assembly, for innovative use of biomarkers.
2005 : Geochemistry Fellow (European Asociation for Geochemistry)
2005 : Treibs Medal Award from the American Geochemical Society
2004 : Spinoza Prize
1993 : Pionner Award (Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research)
1993 : Schenck Award (European Association of Organic Geochemists)
1988 : Best Paper Award (American Geochemical Society)

Publications

Castaneda, IS; Schefuss, E; Patzold, J; Damste, JSS; Weldeab, S; Schouten, S. "Millennial-scale sea surface temperature changes in the eastern Mediterranean (Nile River Delta region) over the last 27,000 years." PALEOCEANOGRAPHY 25: , 2010.

Jaeschke, A; Abbas, B; Zabel, M; Hopmans, EC; Schouten, S; Damste, JSS. "Molecular evidence for anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing (anammox) bacteria in continental shelf and slope sediments off northwest Africa." LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY 55: 365, 2010.

Kim, JH; Zarzycka, B; Buscail, R; Peterse, F; Bonnin, J; Ludwig, W; Schouten, S; Damste, JSS. "Contribution of river-borne soil organic carbon to the Gulf of Lions (NW Mediterranean)." LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY 55: 507, 2010.

Pitcher, A; Rychlik, N; Hopmans, EC; Spieck, E; Rijpstra, WIC; Ossebaar, J; Schouten, S; Wagner, M; Damste, JSS. "Crenarchaeol dominates the membrane lipids of Candidatus Nitrososphaera gargensis, a thermophilic Group I. 1b Archaeon." ISME JOURNAL 4: 542, 2010.

Powers, L; Werne, JP; Vanderwoude, AJ; Damste, JSS; Hopmans, EC; Schouten, S. "Applicability and calibration of the TEX86 paleothermometer in lakes." ORGANIC GEOCHEMISTRY 41: 404, 2010.

Rampen, SW; Abbas, BA; Schouten, S; Damste, JSS. "A comprehensive study of sterols in marine diatoms (Bacillariophyta): Implications for their use as tracers for diatom productivity." LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY 55: 91, 2010.

Rattray, JE; van de Vossenberg, J; Jaeschke, A; Hopmans, EC; Wakeham, SG; Lavik, G; Kuypers, MMM; Strous, M; Jetten, MSM; Schouten, S; Damste, JSS. "Impact of Temperature on Ladderane Lipid Distribution in Anammox Bacteria." APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY 76: 1596, 2010.

van Soelen, EE; Lammertsma, EI; Cremer, H; Donders, TH; Sangiorgi, F; Brooks, GR; Larson, RA; Damste, JSS; Wagner-Cremer, F; Reichart, GJ. "Late Holocene sea-level rise in Tampa Bay: Integrated reconstruction using biomarkers, pollen, organic-walled dinoflagellate cysts, and diatoms." ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE 86: 216, 2010.

Willmott, V; Rampen, SW; Domack, E; Canals, M; Damste, JSS; Schouten, S. "Holocene changes in Proboscia diatom productivity in shelf waters of the north-western Antarctic Peninsula." ANTARCTIC SCIENCE 22: 3, 2010.

Weijers, J.W.H., Schouten, S., Schefuss, E., Schneider, R.R., Sinninghe Damsté, J.S. Disentangling marine, soil and plant organic carbon contributions to continental margin sediments: A multi-proxy approach in a 20,000 year sediment record from the Congo deep-sea fan. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 73, 119-132, 2009.

Schouten, S., Baas, M., Hopmans, E.C., Sinninghe Damsté, J.S. An unusual isoprenoid tetraether lipid in marine and lacustrine sediments. Org. Geochem. 39, 1033-1038, 2009.

Balk, M., Altinbas, M., Rijpstra, W.I.C., Sinninghe Damsté, J.S.,Stams, A.J.M. Desulfatirhabdium butyrativorans gen. nov., sp nov., a butyrate-oxidizing, sulfate-reducing bacterium isolated from an anaerobic bioreactor. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 58, 110-115, 2009.

Schouten, S., Baas, M., Hopmans, E.C., Reysenbach, A-L., Sinninghe Damsté, J.S. Tetraether membrane lipids of Candidatus “‘Aciduliprofundum boonei”, a cultivated obligate thermoacidophilic euryarchaeote from deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Extremophiles 12, 119-124, 2009.

Mollenhauer, G., Eglinton, T.I., Hopman0s, E.C., Sinninghe Damsté, J.S. A radiocarbon-based assessment of the preservation characteristics of crenarchaeol and alkenones from continental margin sediments. Org. Geochem. 39, 1039-1045, 2009.

Rattray, J. E., van de Vossenberg, J., Hopmans, E.C., Kartal B., van Niftrik L., Rijpstra, W.I.C., Strous, M., Jetten, M.S.M., Schouten, S., Sinninghe Damsté, J.S. Ladderane lipid distribution in four genera of anammox bacteria. Arch. Microbiol. 190, 51-66, 2009.

Beckmann, B., Hofmann, P., Marz, C., Schouten, S., Sinninghe Damsté, J.S., Wagner, T. Coniacian-Santonian deep ocean anoxia/euxinia inferred from molecular and inorganic markers: Results from the Demerara Rise (ODP Leg 207). Org. Geochem. 39, 1092-1096, 2009.

Coolen, M.J.L., Talbot, H.M., Abbas, B.A., Ward, C., Schouten, S., Volkman, J.K., Sinninghe Damsté, J.S. Sources for sedimentary bacteriohopanepolyols as revealed by 16S rDNA stratigraphy. Environ. Microbiol. 10, 1783-1803, 2009.

Forster, A., Kuypers, M.M.M., Turgeon, S.C., Brumsack, H.-J., Petrizzo, M.R., Sinninghe Damsté J.S. The Cenomanian/Turonian oceanic anoxic event in the South Atlantic: New insights from a geochemical study of DSDP Site 530A. Palaeogeograph. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. 67, 256–283, 2009.

Bauersachs, T; Compaore, J; Hopmans, EC; Stal, LJ; Schouten, S; Damste, JSS. "Distribution of heterocyst glycolipids in cyanobacteria." PHYTOCHEMISTRY 70: 2034, 2009.

Bauersachs, T; Hopmans, EC; Compaore, J; Stal, LJ; Schouten, S; Damste, JSS. "Rapid analysis of long-chain glycolipids in heterocystous cyanobacteria using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry." RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY 23: 1387, 2009.

Bauersachs, T; Kremer, B; Schouten, S; Damste, JSS. "A biomarker and delta N-15 study of thermally altered Silurian cyanobacterial mats." ORGANIC GEOCHEMISTRY 40: 149, 2009.

Bauersachs, T; Schouten, S; Compaore, J; Wollenzien, U; Stal, LJ; Damste, JSS. "Nitrogen isotopic fractionation associated with growth on dinitrogen gas and nitrate by cyanobacteria." LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY 54: 1403, 2009.

Bauersachs, T; Schouten, S; Compaore, J; Wollenzien, U; Stal, LJ; Damste, JSS. "Nitrogen isotopic fractionation associated with growth on dinitrogen gas and nitrate by cyanobacteria." LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY 54: 1403, 2009.

Blaga C.I., Reichart G.J., Heiri O. and Sinninghe Damsté J.S. Tetraether membrane lipid distributions in lake particulate matter and sediments: A study of 47 European lakes along a North-South transect. J. Paleolimnol.: 41, 523-540, 2009.

Boere, AC; Abbas, B; Rijpstra, WIC; Versteegh, GJM; Volkman, JK; Damste, JSS; Coolen, MJL. "Late-Holocene succession of dinoflagellates in an Antarctic fjord using a multi-proxy approach: paleoenvironmental genomics, lipid biomarkers and palynomorphs." GEOBIOLOGY 7: 265, 2009.

Boumann, HA; Longo, ML; Stroeve, P; Poolman, B; Hopmans, EC; Stuart, MCA; Damste, JSS; Schouten, S. "Biophysical properties of membrane lipids of anammox bacteria: I. Ladderane phospholipids form highly organized fluid membranes." BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 1788: 1444, 2009.

Boumann, HA; Stroeve, P; Longo, ML; Poolman, B; Kuiper, JM; Hopmans, EC; Jetten, MSM; Damste, JSS; Schouten, S. "Biophysical properties of membrane lipids of anammox bacteria: II. Impact of temperature and bacteriohopanoids." BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 1788: 1452, 2009.

Castaneda, IS; Mulitza, S; Schefuss, E; dos Santos, RAL; Damste, JSS; Schouten, S. "Wet phases in the Sahara/Sahel region and human migration patterns in North Africa." PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 106: 20159, 2009.

Damste, JSS; Ossebaar, J; Abbas, B; Schouten, S; Verschuren, D. "Fluxes and distribution of tetraether lipids in an equatorial African lake: Constraints on the application of the TEX86 palaeothermometer and BIT index in lacustrine settings." GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA 73: 4232, 2009.

Donders, TH; Weijers, JWH; Munsterman, DK; Hoeve, MLKV; Buckles, LK; Pancost, RD; Schouten, S; Damste, JSS; Brinkhuis, H. "Strong climate coupling of terrestrial and marine environments in the Miocene of northwest Europe." EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS 281: 215, 2009.

Gontharet, S; Stadnitskaia, A; Bouloubassi, I; Pierre, C; Damste, JSS. "Palaeo methane-seepage history traced by biomarker patterns in a carbonate crust, Nile deep-sea fan (Eastern Mediterranean Sea)." MARINE GEOLOGY 261: 105, 2009.

Herfort, L; Kim, JH; Coolen, MJL; Abbas, B; Schouten, S; Herndl, GJ; Damste, JSS. "Diversity of Archaea and detection of crenarchaeotal amoA genes in the rivers Rhine and Tet." AQUATIC MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 55: 189, 2009.

Herfort, L; Kim, JH; Coolen, MJL; Abbas, B; Schouten, S; Herndl, GJ; Damste, JSS. "Diversity of Archaea and detection of crenarchaeotal amoA genes in the rivers Rhine and Tet." AQUATIC MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 55: 189, 2009.

Jaeschke, A., Op den Camp, H.J.M., Harhangi, H., Klimiuk, A., Hopmans, E.C., Jetten, M.S.M., Schouten, S., Sinninghe Damsté, J.S. 16S rRNA gene and lipid biomarker evidence for anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (anammox) in California and Nevada hot springs. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 67: 343-350, 2009.

Jaeschke, A; Rooks, C; Trimmer, M; Nicholls, JC; Hopmans, EC; Schouten, S; Damste, JSS. "Comparison of ladderane phospholipid and core lipids as indicators for anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) in marine sediments." GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA 73: 2077, 2009.

Jaeschke, A; Ziegler, M; Hopmans, EC; Reichart, GJ; Lourens, LJ; Schouten, S; Damste, JSS. "Molecular fossil evidence for anaerobic ammonium oxidation in the Arabian Sea over the last glacial cycle." PALEOCEANOGRAPHY 24: , 2009.

Jagersma, GC; Meulepas, RJW; Heikamp-de Jong, I; Gieteling, J; Klimiuk, A; Schouten, S; Damste, JSS; Lens, PNL; Stams, AJM. "Microbial diversity and community structure of a highly active anaerobic methane-oxidizing sulfate-reducing enrichment." ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY 11: 3223, 2009.

Kim, JH; Buscail, R; Bourrin, F; Palanques, A; Damste, JSS; Bonnin, J; Schouten, S. "Transport and depositional process of soil organic matter during wet and dry storms on the Tet inner shelf (NW Mediterranean)." PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY 273: 228, 2009.

Kim, JH; Crosta, X; Michel, E; Schouten, S; Duprat, J; Damste, JSS. "Impact of lateral transport on organic proxies in the Southern Ocean." QUATERNARY RESEARCH 71: 246, 2009.

Kim, JH; Huguet, C; Zonneveld, KAF; Versteegh, GJM; Roeder, W; Damste, JSS; Schouten, S. "An experimental field study to test the stability of lipids used for the TEX86 and U-37(K ') palaeothermometers." GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA 73: 2888, 2009.

Peterse, F; Kim, JH; Schouten, S; Kristensen, DK; Koc, N; Damste, JSS. "Constraints on the application of the MBT/CBT palaeothermometer at high latitude environments (Svalbard, Norway)." ORGANIC GEOCHEMISTRY 40: 692, 2009.

Peterse, F; Schouten, S; van der Meer, J; van der Meer, MTJ; Damste, JSS. "Distribution of branched tetraether lipids in geothermally heated soils: Implications for the MBT/CBT temperature proxy." ORGANIC GEOCHEMISTRY 40: 201, 2009.

Peterse, F; van der Meer, MTJ; Schouten, S; Jia, G; Ossebaar, J; Blokker, J; Damste, JSS. "Assessment of soil n-alkane delta D and branched tetraether membrane lipid distributions as tools for paleoelevation reconstruction." BIOGEOSCIENCES 6: 2799, 2009.

Pitcher, A; Hopmans, EC; Schouten, S; Damste, JSS. "Separation of core and intact polar archaeal tetraether lipids using silica columns: Insights into living and fossil biomass contributions." ORGANIC GEOCHEMISTRY 40: 12, 2009.

Pitcher, A; Schouten, S; Damste, JSS. "In Situ Production of Crenarchaeol in Two California Hot Springs." APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY 75: 4443, 2009.

Rampen, SW; Schouten, S; Hopmans, EC; Abbas, B; Noordeloos, AAM; Geenevasen, JAJ; Moldowan, JM; Denisevich, P; Damste, JSS. "Occurrence and biomarker potential of 23-methyl steroids in diatoms and sediments." ORGANIC GEOCHEMISTRY 40: 219, 2009.

Rampen, SW; Schouten, S; Hopmans, EC; Abbas, B; Noordeloos, AAM; van Bleijswijk, JDL; Geenevasen, JAJ; Damste, JSS. "Diatoms as a source for 4-desmethyl-23,24-dimethyl steroids in sediments and petroleum." GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA 73: 377, 2009.

Rampen, SW; Schouten, S; Panoto, FE; Brink, M; Andersen, RA; Muyzer, G; Abbas, B; Damste, JSS. "PHYLOGENETIC POSITION OF ATTHEYA LONGICORNIS AND ATTHEYA SEPTENTRIONALIS (BACILLARIOPHYTA)." JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 45: 444, 2009.

Rampen, SW; Schouten, S; Schefuss, E; Damste, JSS. "Impact of temperature on long chain diol and mid-chain hydroxy methyl alkanoate composition in Proboscia diatoms: Results from culture and field studies." ORGANIC GEOCHEMISTRY 40: 1124, 2009.

Rampen, SW; Volkman, JK; Hur, SB; Abbas, BA; Schouten, S; Jameson, ID; Holdsworth, DG; Bae, JH; Damste, JSS. "Occurrence of gorgosterol in diatoms of the genus Delphineis." ORGANIC GEOCHEMISTRY 40: 144, 2009.