Professor of Botany Peter Siver awarded NSF grant to advance research on microscopic organisms
A new National Science Foundation (NSF) grant will support a major effort to synthesize decades of research on protists—microscopic organisms that play a vital role in aquatic ecosystems but remain largely understudied. Connecticut College botany professor Peter Siver will lead the project, which aims to consolidate his extensive research on these organisms, making it more accessible for future scientists studying microbial ecology, climate change, and evolutionary biology.
Funded through NSF’s Opportunities for Promoting Understanding through Synthesis (OPUS) program, the project will integrate findings from Siver’s lifelong study of silica-scaled chrysophytes, a group of protists found in freshwater environments. His work has provided critical insights into how these microorganisms contribute to nutrient cycling, ecosystem stability, and species migration over geological time.
“This research will help us better understand how microscopic life influences and responds to environmental change,” Siver said. “By synthesizing decades of data, we can provide a clearer picture of how these organisms have shaped aquatic ecosystems and what their role might be in future climate scenarios.”
Siver's recent research includes two landmark studies: one identifying an exceptionally preserved fossil of microscopic algae, reshaping the understanding of algal evolution (Scientific Reports), and another documenting fossilized palm phytoliths in Arctic Canada, offering new insights into ancient climate conditions (Annals of Botany).
“This project provides an opportunity to integrate decades of work on protists and highlight their vital role in shaping aquatic ecosystems over millions of years,” Siver said. “By making these findings accessible, we can better understand how microorganisms influence climate history and biodiversity.”
The NSF grant, totaling $204,499, will allow Siver to integrate these and other findings into a comprehensive resource for future research, ensuring that critical data on protists remains accessible to scientists studying Earth’s environmental history.
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