MAUREEN H. CONTE

Associate Research Scientist
Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences
Ferry Reach
St. Georges GE01
BERMUDA

Tel: (508) 289-7744
FAX: (508) 457-1548
Email: mconte@mbl.edu or maureen.conte@bios.edu

• Trace level molecular and isotopic organic geochemistry
• Development of applications of lipid biomarker compounds in studies of the organic carbon cycle, including molecular proxies for paleoclimate reconstructions
• The production, flux and early diagenesis of organic material in the marine environment, in particular the use of biomarkers (and inorganic tracers) to elucidate fundamental interactions and linkages of particle flux with physical, chemical and biological processes on timescales of days to decades
• The use of plant biomarkers in aerosols and climate studies as indicators of terrestrial biosphere functioning
  
  

EDUCATION

1989 PhD

Columbia University, New York NY (Lamont-Doherty Geological
Observatory, Palisades NY) (Geology)

PhD thesis: The Biogeochemistry of Particulate Lipids in Warm-Core Gulf
Stream Rings Systems

1987 MPhil

1982 MA

1975 BA

1971/72

Columbia University, New York NY (LDGO) (Geology)

Columbia University, New York NY (LDGO) (Geology)

The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD (Geography and Environmental Engineering)

Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta GA (Civil/Sanitary Engineering)

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

American Geophysical Union
American Society of Limnology and Oceanography
American Chemical Society, Geochemistry Division
The Oceanography Society

PUBLICATIONS

(44) Mortazavi, B., J. Chanton, M. Conte, T. Martin, W. Cropper, T. Teklemariam and J.C. Weber. (2009) Carbon isotopic composition of assimilated and respired CO₂ in Southeastern US pine forests Global Change Biology (submitted)

(43) Mortazavi, B., M.H. Conte, J. Chanton, M. C. Smith, J. C. Weber, J. Crumsey and J. Ghashghaie. (2009) Does the ¹³C of foliage respired CO₂ and biochemical pools reflect the ¹³C of recently assimilated carbon? Plant, Cell and Environment 32, 1310-1323.

(42) Roberts, K. A., C. Xu, C.-C Huang, M. H. Conte, P. H. Santschi. (2009) Scavenging and fractionation of thorium vs. protactinium in the ocean, as determined from particle-water partionaing experiments with sediment trap material from the Gulf of Mexico and Sargasso Sea. Earth Planet. Sci. Letts. 286, 131-138.

(41) Helmke P., S. Neuer, M. W. Lomas, M. Conte and T. Freudenthal. (2009) Cross-basin differences in the organic carbon export and flux attenuation in the subtropical North Atlantic Gyre. Deep-Sea Res. I 10.1016/j.dsr.2009.11.001.

(40) Tian, Z., P. Ollivier, T. M. Church, M. H. Conte and S. Huang (2009) Coupling between atmospheric deposition and oceanic flux of Fe and Al in the Sargasso Sea. Mar. Chem. (in revision)

(39) Hobbie J. E., E. A. Hobbie, J.C. Weber, J. Shamhar, H. Drossman, and M. Conte (2009) Mycorrhizal fungi supply nitrogen to host plants in arctic tundra and boreal forests: ¹⁵N is the key signal. Can. J. Microbiology 55, 84-94.

(38) Huang, S. and M. Conte (2009) Source/process apportionment of major and trace elements in sinking particles in the Sargasso Sea, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 73, 65-90.

(37) Turich, C. M., K. H. Freeman, M. A. Bruns, M. Conte, A. Jones and S. G. Wakeham. (2007) Lipids of the marine Archea: Patterns and provenance in the water-column and sediments. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 71, 3272-3291

(36) Stoll, H., P. Ziveri, N. Shimizu, M. Conte and S. Theroux. (2007). Relationship between coccolith Sr/Ca ratios and coccolithophore production and export in the Arabian Sea and Sargasso Sea. Deep-Sea Res. II, 54, 581-600.

(35) Van Beek, P., R. Francois, M. Conte, J.-L. Reyss, M. Souhant and M. Charette (2007) ²²⁸Ra/²²⁶Ra and ²²⁶Ra/Ba ratios in seawater and particles at the OFP site in the western Sargasso Sea near Bermuda. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta. 71, 71-86.

(34) Huang, S., E. R. Sholkovitz and M. H. Conte. (2007) Application of high-temperature fusion for analysis of major and trace elements in marine sediment trap samples. Limnol. Oceanogr: Methods.5, 13-22.

(33) Conte, M. H., M.-A. Sicre, C. Ruhlemann, J. C. Weber, S. Schulte, D. Schulz-Bull and T. Blanz (2006) Global temperature calibration of the alkenone unsaturation index (U^K’₃₇) in surface waters and comparison with surface sediments. Geochem., Geophys., Geosys. 7, doi:10.1029/2005GC001054

(32) Medeiros, P. M., M. H. Conte, J. C. Weber and B. R. T. Simoneit (2006) Sugars as source indicators of biogenic organic carbon in aerosols collected above the Howland Experimental Forest, Maine. Atmos. Environ. 40, 1694-1705.

(31) Conte, M. H., T. D. Dickey, J. C. Weber, R. J. Johnson and A. H. Knap. (2003) Transient physical forcing of pulsed export of bioreactive organic material to the deep Sargasso Sea. Deep-Sea Research I 50, 1157-1187.

(30) Anand, P., H. Elderfield and M. H. Conte (2003) Calibration of Mg/Ca thermometry in planktonic foraminifera from a sediment trap time series. Paleoceanogr. 18, doi: 10.1029/2002PA000846.

(29) Conte, M. H., J. C. Weber, P. J. Carlson and L. B. Flanagan. (2003) Molecular and carbon isotopic composition of leaf wax in vegetation and aerosols in a northern prairie ecosystem. Oecologia, 135, 67-77.

(28) Conte, M.H. and J.C. Weber (2002) Long range atmospheric transport of terrestrial biomarkers to the western North Atlantic, Global Biogeochem. Cycles. 16(4), 1142, doi:10.1029/2002GB001922.

(27) Conte, M.H. and J.C. Weber (2002) Plant biomarkers in aerosols record isotopic discrimination of terrestrial photosynthesis. Nature 417, 639-641.

(26) Antia, A.N. , W. Koeve,, G. Fischer, T. Blanz, D. Schulz-Bull, J. Scholten, S. Neuer, K. Kremling, J. Kuss, R. Peinert, D. Hebbeln, U. Bathmann, M. Conte, U. Fehner, B. Zeitzschel. (2001) Basin-wide particulate carbon flux in the Atlantic Ocean: regional export patterns and potential for atmospheric CO₂ sequestration. Global Biogeochem. Cycles 15, 845-862.

(25) Bijma J., Altabet M., Conte M., Kinkel H, Versteegh J. M., Volkman J. K., Wakeham S. G. and Weaver P. P. (2001) Primary signal: Ecological and environmental factors- Report from Working Group 2. Geochem., Geophys., Geosystems, 2, paper number 2000GC000051.

(24) Eglinton, T. I., M. H. Conte, G. Eglinton and J. M. Hayes (2001) Proceedings of a workshop on alkenone-based paleoceanographic indicators. Geochem., Geophys., Geosystems, 2, paper number 2000GC000122.

(23) Conte, M.H., J.C. Weber, L.L. King, S.G. Wakeham (2001) The alkenone temperature signal in western North Atlantic surface waters. Geochem. Cosmochim. Acta 65, 4275-4287

(22) Conte, M. H., N. Ralph and E. Ross (2001) Seasonal and interannual variability in deep ocean particle fluxes at the Oceanic Flux Program/Bermuda Atlantic Time-series (BATS) site in the western Sargasso Sea near Bermuda, Deep-Sea Res. II, 48, 1471-1505.

(21) Conte, M. H., J. C. Weber, and N. Ralph (1998) Episodic particle flux in the deep Sargasso Sea: An organic geochemical assessment. Deep-Sea Res. I 45, 1819-1841.

(20) Conte, M. H., A. Thompson, D. Lesley and R. P. Harris (1998) Genetic variability and physiological influences on the alkenone/alkenoate versus growth temperature relationship in Emiliania huxleyi and Gephyrocapsa oceanica. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 62, 51-68.

(19) Madureira, L. A. S., S. van Keveld, G. Eglinton, M. H. Conte, G. Ganssen, J. E. van Hinte, J. Ottens. (1997) Late Quaternary high-resolution biomarker and other sedimentary climate proxies in a northeast Atlantic core. Paleoceanogr. 12, 255-269.

(18) Ternois, Y., M.-A. Sicre, A. Lorre, A. Saliot, M. H. Conte and G. Eglinton (1997) Evaluation of long-chain alkenones as paleotemperature indicators in the Mediterranean Sea. Deep-Sea Res. 44, 271-286.

(17) Conte, M. H., G. Eglinton and L. A. S. Madureira (1995) Origin and fate of organic biomarker compounds in the water column and sediments of the eastern North Atlantic. Phil. Transactions of the Royal Society 348, 169-178.

(16) Conte, M. H., J. C. Green and G. Eglinton (1995) Lipid biomarker diversity in the coccolithophorid Emiliania huxleyi (PRYMNESIOPHYCEAE) and the related species Gephyrocapsa oceanica. J. Phycol. 31,272-282.

(15) Madureira, L. A. S., M. H. Conte and G. Eglinton (1995) The early diagenesis of lipid biomarker compounds in North Atlantic sediments. Paleoceanogr. 10, 627-642.

(14) Peterson, L. C., M. R. Abbott, D. M. Anderson, J. P. Caulet, M. H. Conte, K. C. Emeis, A. E. S. Kemp, and C. P. Summerhayes. (1995) How do upwelling systems vary through time? pp. 285 - 313 in C. P. Summerhayes et al. (eds.) Upwelling in the Ocean: Modern Processes and Ancient Records. J. Wiley and Sons, Chichester. 422 pp.

(13) Conte, M. H., A. Thompson, and G. Eglinton (1994) Primary production of lipid biomarker compounds by Emiliania huxleyi: Results from an experimental mesocosm study in fjords of southern Norway. Sarsia 79, 319-331.

(12) Conte, M. H., L. A. S. Madureira, D. Keen, C. Rendall, and G. Eglinton (1994) Millimeter-scale profiling of abyssal marine sediments: Role of bioturbation in early sterol diagenesis. Org. Geochem. 22, 979-998.

(11) Conte, M. H., J. K. Volkman and G. Eglinton (1994). Lipid biomarkers of the Haptophyta In: The Haptophyte Algae, eds. J. C. Green and B. S. C. Leadbetter, Clarendon Press, pp. 351 - 377.

(10) Conte, M. H. and G. Eglinton (1993) Alkenone and alkenoate distributions within the euphotic zone of the eastern North Atlantic: Correlation with production temperature. Deep-Sea Res. 40, 1935 - 1962.

(9) Westbroek, P., C. W. Brown, J. van Bleijswijk, G. J. Brummer, M. H. Conte, J. Egge, E. Fernandez, R. Jordan, M. Knappertsbusch, J. Stefels, M. Veldhuis, P. van der Wal and J. Young (1993) A model system approach to biological climate forcing: The example of Emiliania huxleyi. Global and Planetary Change 8, 27 - 46.

(8) Weeks, A., M. H. Conte, R. P. Harris, A. Bedo, I Bellan, P. H. Burkill, E. S. Edwards, D. S. Harbour, H. Kennedy, C. Llewellyn, P. Burkill, R. F. C. Mantoura, C. E. Morales, A. J. Pomroy and C. C. Turley. (1993) The physical and chemical environment and changes in community structure associated with bloom evolution: the JGOFS North Atlantic Bloom Experiment. Deep-Sea Res. II 40, 347-368.

(7) Conte, M. H , G. Eglinton and L. A. S. Madureira.(1992) Long- chain alkenones and alkyl alkenoates as paleotemperature indicators: Their production, flux and early diagenesis in the Eastern North Atlantic. In: Adv. in Organic Geochemistry 1991, C. B. Eckardt, S. R. Larter et. al, editors, Organic Geochemistry 19, 287-298.

(6) Conte, M. H. and Bishop, J. K. B. (1988) Nanogram quantification of nonpolar lipid classes in environmental samples by high-performance thin-layer chromatography. Lipids 23, 493-500.

(5) Conte, M. H., Bishop, J. K. B. and Backus, R. H. (1986) Nonmigratory, 12-kHz, deep scattering layers of Sargasso Sea origin in warm-core rings. Deep-Sea Res. 33, 1869-1884.

(4) Bishop, J. K. B, Conte, M. H., Wiebe, P. H., Roman, M. R. and Langdon, C. (1986) Particulate matter production and consumption in deep mixed layers: Observations in a warm-core ring. Deep-Sea Res. 33, 1813-1841.

(3) Bishop, J. K. B., Schupack, D., Scherrell, R. M. and Conte, M. H. (1985) A Multiple Unit Large Volume in situ Filtration System (MULVFS) for sampling oceanic particulate material in mesoscale environments. In: A. Zirino, ed. Mapping Strategies in Chemical Oceanography, vol. 209, Adv. in Chemistry Series, Am. Chem. Soc., Washington D. C.

(2) Conte, M. H., Otto, R. G and Miller, P. E. (1980) Day/night distributions of juvenile fishes in the Upper Chesapeake Bay. Special Report No. 80, Chesapeake Bay Institute, Baltimore MD.

(1) Conte, M. H., Otto, R. G. and Miller, P. E. (1979) Short term variability in ichthyoplankton in the Upper Chesapeake Bay. Est. Coastal Mar. Sci. 8, 511-522.

Published in Non-Refereed Literature/Media

Conte, M. H. (2008) Observing the Global Community. BIOS Meridian (Winter 08/09) 20-21.

Conte, M. H. (2006) The R/V Bank of Bermuda Atlantic Explorer: Designed to meet the needs of ocean research and education. BIOS Meridian (Fall 06) 11-13.

Conte, M. H. (2005) Will changing climate change the deep? BBSR Currents (Winter 2005/2006)

Conte, M. H. (2003) OFP: Discovering changes in the deep. BBSR Currents (Winter 2002/2003), 13.

Chamberlin, W. S. and M. H. Conte (2002) An Oceanographer's Holiday to the Bermuda Triangle. (An educational multimedia presentation about the Oceanic Flux Program time-series, targeted for the general public and introductory (non-major) oceanography courses.)

Eglinton, T., M. Conte, G. Eglinton and J. Hayes (2000) Alkenone biomarkers gain recognition as molecular paleoceanographic proxies. EOS 81(23), 253.

Conte, M. H. (1998) The Oceanic Flux Program: Twenty years of particle flux measurements in the deep Sargasso Sea. Oceanus 40(2), 15-19.

Conte, M. H., L. A. S. Madureira and G. Eglinton (1991). From the source to the sink with lipid biomarkers. BOFS News and Views no. 7. UK-JGOFS newsletter.

PRESENTATIONS (2006-2008)

Tian, Z.-L. P. R. Ollivier, T. M. Church, M. H. Conte and S. Huang. 2008. Linking Atmospheric Deposition and Ocean Flux of Fe and Al in the Sargasso Sea. Eos Trans. AGU, 89(53), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstr. OS23E-1291

Conte, M. H. 2008. Amazon Adventures: An expedition to remote Lac Toponowini (French Guiana) to collect sediments for a reconstruction of Holocene climate variability. BIOS Informal Seminar, Nov. 2008.

Conte, M. H. and D. Urrego. 2008. Adventures in Guyane: Investigations into past migrations of the Intertropical Convergence Zone from lacustrine sediments. Univ. Bordeaux UMR CNRS5805 EPOC seminar, Oct 2008.

Conte, M. 2008. The Oceanic Flux Program (OFP): A thirty-year continuous record of particle flux in the deep Sargasso Sea, Geophys. Res. Abstracts, 10, EGU2008-A-09182. European Geophysical Union General Assembly, Vienna, Austria, Apr 08.

Weber, J. C. and M. H. Conte. 2008. Large spatial-scale and temporal variability in carbon isotopic fractionation of atmospheric CO₂ by the terrestrial biosphere: A plant wax-aerosol proxy approach, Geophys. Res. Abstracts, 10, EGU2008-A-10062. European Geophysical Union General Assembly, Vienna, Austria, Apr 08.

Mortazavi, B., J. Chanton, M. Conte and T. Martin. 2008. Influence of tree height on the carbon isotopic discrimination of canopy photosynthesis in southeastern US pine forest ecosystems, Geophys. Res. Abstracts, 10, EGU2008-A-10062. European Geophysical Union, General Assembly, Vienna, Austria, Apr 08.

Mortazavi, B., M. Conte, M. Smith, J. Chanton, J.C. Weber, J. Crumsey and J. Barkman. 2008. Contribution of stored carbon pools to leaf level biosynthesis and respiration as revealed by ¹³C labeling experiments. Geophys. Res. Abstracts, 10, EGU2008-A-09435. European Geophysical Union, General Assembly, Vienna, Austria, Apr 08.

Conte, M. H. 2008. Weather in the Ocean Abyss: Particle Rain, Storms, and Hurricanes. CIMAS/MAC seminar, Univ. Miami (Mar 08)

Conte, M H, Weber, J C 2008. The Oceanic Flux Program (OFP) turns thirty, AGU/ASLO Ocean Sciences Meeting, Orlando FL, Mar 08.

Toltin, A C, Weber, J C, Conte, M H. 2008. Phosphorus flux in the deep Sargasso Sea and partitioning between labile and refractory carrier phases, AGU/ASLO Ocean Sciences Meeting, Orlando FL, Mar 08.

Neuer, S, Helmke, P, Lomas, M W, Conte, M H, 2008. The role of carbonate in influencing particulate organic carbon export in the subtropical North Atlantic gyre, AGU/ASLO Ocean Sciences Meeting, Orlando FL, Mar 08.

Conte, M. H. 2008. Weather in the Ocean Abyss: Particle Rain, Storms, and Hurricanes. SMAST seminar, U. Mass. Dartmouth. Jan 08.

Conte, M H and Weber, J C. 2007. Thirty Years of Continuous Particle Flux Observations in the Deep Sargasso Sea: Looking Back, Looking Forward, Fall AGU Mtg., San Francisco CA, Dec 07 (abst. U23C-1457)

Conte, M. H. and J. C. Weber. 2007. Biomass Burning, Long-Range Atmospheric Transport and the Sedimentary Record of Plant Wax Biomarkers, Fall AGU Mtg., San Francisco CA, Dec 07 (abstr. PP51D-08)

Mortazavi, B., Chanton, J, Conte, M, Martin, T. 2007, Influence of Tree Height on the Carbon Isotopic Discrimination of Canopy Photosynthesis in Southeastern Pine Forest Ecosystems, Fall AGU Mtg., San Francisco CA, Dec 07 (abst. B13B-1197)

Turich, C, Freeman, K H, Bruns, M, Conte, M, Jones, A, Wakeham, S G. 2007. Marine Archaea lipids: patterns and provenance in the water-column, Fall AGU Mtg., San Francisco CA, Dec 07 (abst. PP51D-02 INVITED)

Conte, M. 2007. Large spatial-scale and temporal variability in carbon isotopic fractionation of atmospheric CO₂ by the terrestrial biosphere: a plant wax aerosol proxy approach. NOAA Global Carbon Cycle program PI meeting, Silver Spring MD, Sep 07

Conte, M. H. 2007. Assessing large-scale regional and temporal patterns of terrestrial ecosystem discrimination using molecular tracers in aerosols”, MBL Ecosystems Seminar Series, May 07

Neuer, S., P. Helmke, M. Conte 2007. What determines variability in export ratio in the subtropical North Atlantic Atlantic? ORCT Meeting, Seattle.

Conte, M. H. and J. C. Weber 2006. Spatial and Temporal Patterns in δ¹³C of Leaf Wax Aerosols in Continental Air Masses: Linkages with Ecosystem Discrimination, Fall AGU Mtg., San Francisco CA, Dec 06

Crumsey, J., M. Conte, J. C. Weber, B. Mortazavi, M. Smith and J. Chanton. 2006. Turnover of Leaf Waxes in Florida Slash Pine: Results of an Isotopic Labeling Experiment, Fall AGU Mtg., San Francisco CA, Dec 06

Conte, M. H. and J. C. Weber 2006. The Oceanic Flux Program time-series: Seasonality and interannual variability in particle flux in the deep Sargasso Sea” Ocean Chemistry and Biogeochemistry Workshop, WHOI, Woods Hole MA, Jul 06

Weber, J. C. and M. H. Conte “Organic biomarkers of biomass burning in Toolik Lake, AK aerosols: Source characterization and significance for long-range transport of carbon” Toolik Lake LTER meeting, MBL, Woods Hole MA, Mar 06

Weber, J. , M. Conte, S. Huang, T. Dickey and J. Acker 2006. Advection of detrital carbonate sediment ot the deep ocean by passage of Hurricane Fabian over Bermuda” AGU Ocean Sciences Mtg., Honolulu HI, Feb 06

Helmke, P., S. Neuer, M. Conte and J. Koster. 2006. An uneven pair: Organic carbon export in the eastern and western compartment of the North Atlantic subtropical gyre” AGU Ocean Sciences Mtg., Honolulu HI, Feb 06

Conte, M. H., S. Huang, J. C. Weber and T. M. Church. 2006. Modulation of particle scavenging in the ocean interior in response to mesoscale surface ocean forcing” AGU Ocean Sciences Mtg., Honolulu HI, Feb 06

Tian, Z. , T. M. Church, M. H. Conte and S. Huang. 2006. Coupling between the atmospheric deposition and oceanic flux of lithogenic trace elements in the Sargasso Sea” AGU Ocean Sciences Mtg., Honolulu HI, Feb 06