During the glacial-interglacial cycles of the Pleistocene, coral reefs likely experienced a range of stressful conditions. Understanding what factors cause reefs to survive or perish is critical for mitigating modern climate change.

Fossil reef terraces off the island of Hawai'i preserve several glacial-interglacial cycles. As a member of the science party for IODP Expedition 389, I intend to study nitrogen cycling in the coral reef environment during these climate fluctuations.