New Study Reveals Daily Environmental Adaptations of Prehistoric Plankton

In a groundbreaking study published on June 30, 2025, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers from the University of Southampton have unveiled a novel method for analyzing the fossilized remains of prehistoric plankton, specifically foraminifera. This research offers unprecedented insights into how these ancient organisms adapted to their environments on a daily basis, significantly advancing our understanding of evolutionary biology.

Utilizing high-resolution 3D scanning technology akin to medical CT scans, the team examined the minute shells of foraminifera, which are microfossils measuring approximately the size of a grain of sand. These shells, composed of calcium carbonate, grow incrementally as the organisms add new chambers in a spiraling pattern. Each chamber serves as a historical record of the organism's growth and the environmental conditions it experienced during its life.

Dr. Anieke Brombacher, the lead author of the study, expressed the importance of this research: "The fossil record provides the most powerful evidence of biodiversity change on Earth, but it traditionally does so at a scale of thousands and millions of years. This new way of analyzing them lets us read the pages within each chapter, allowing us to see how individual organisms adapted to their changing environment, not over the course of generations, but within an individual lifespan at day-to-day resolution." (Brombacher, 2025)

The researchers combined advanced CT scanning with chemical analysis through laser ablation techniques, enabling a detailed investigation of how foraminifera grew and the environmental factors that influenced their growth rates. The study revealed that while growth rates across species were similar at lower temperatures, one species demonstrated significantly faster growth in warmer conditions, suggesting that temperature is a more critical factor than age in determining growth rates.

Co-author James Mulqueeney, a PhD researcher at the University of Southampton, highlighted a critical finding of the study: "Of the two species with similar environmental sensitivities, one was able to reach the same size but with a thinner shell, indicating a lower energetic cost and potential evolutionary advantage" (Mulqueeney, 2025).

This innovative approach not only sheds light on foraminifera but also has implications for studying other fossilized organisms, such as ammonoids, corals, and bivalves, allowing scientists to gather similar data for a broader range of species. Prof. Thomas Ezard, supervising author and researcher at the University of Southampton, emphasized the collaborative nature of this project, stating, "By bringing together experts and facilities across the University of Southampton, we’ve been able to make progress on a foundational question in biology that wouldn’t have been possible within a single discipline" (Ezard, 2025).

The research is part of a larger initiative that aims to analyze 2,000 additional plankton specimens to determine how adaptive flexibility in species may lead to divergence into distinct species over time. This study was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and represents a significant step forward in our understanding of evolutionary biology and the ways in which environmental factors can shape the characteristics of living organisms.

As scientific methodologies continue to evolve, the integration of advanced imaging technologies and chemical analysis may unravel more secrets of the past, offering deeper insights into the resilience and adaptability of life on Earth. The implications of this research extend beyond paleobiology; they invite further exploration into the mechanisms of evolution itself and the role of environmental changes in shaping biodiversity throughout history.