Nicole Bale	ROYAL NETHERLANDS INSTITUTE FOR SEA RESEARCH (NIOZ)   Postal address: P.O. Box 59, NL-1790 AB Den Burg (Texel) The Netherlands   Visiting address: Landsdiep 4 NL-1797 SZ ’t Horntje (Texel) The Netherlands Room: A20   Phone (reception): (+31) (0)222-369300 Fax: (+31) (0)222-319674
E-mail: nicole.bale@nioz.nl   Direct Phone: (+31) (0)222-369369

 

General
2009 - Present	Post-doc, Department of Marine Organic Biogeochemistry, NIOZ
2005 - 2009	PhD, Plymouth Marine Laboratory and The University of Bristol, UK. Thesis entitled “Type I and Type II chlorophyll-a transformation products associated with phytoplankton fate processes”
2001 - 2005	MSci (Hons) Chemistry with Study in Continental Europe. University of Bristol. Final year research project and dissertation: “The Identification of Maleimides in Marine Sediments from the Benguela and Peru Upwelling Zones”
2002 - 2003	Participation in European Erasmus programme, Université Montpellier II Montpellier, France
Research Interests
The study of the marine nitrogen cycle through the analysis of lipids from nitrogen cycling organisms. Microbial processes in the water column, sediment and in microbial mats.
Previous research: Algal pigments, chlorophyll transformations, the fate of phytoplankton.
Current  Project
The nitrogen cycle and changes in the carrying capacity of coastal waters (NICYCLE, Part 1) (2009-2012)   Nitrogen is one of the key nutrients in marine waters and is often limiting primary production. Besides algae, bacteria and archaea are important players in the nitrogen cycle. Recent new discoveries on nitrogen fixation and ammonium oxidation have indicated that our understanding of the nitrogen cycle is still limited. In a multi-disciplinary project of the Sea and Coast Programme of the Dutch funding agency NWO, the NIOZ, the Netherlands Institute for Ecology (NIOO) and the University of Amsterdam will perform a detailed study of the nitrogen cycle in the Dutch North and Wadden Sea coordinated by Prof. dr. L. Stal (NIOO). The task of the BGC department in this project will be the analysis of specific lipids of key players in the nitrogen cycle to trace their activity and ecological niche.
People involved: Dr. N. Bale (Post-doc), Prof. dr. G.J. Herndl (BIO), Prof. dr. J.J. Middelburg (NIOO-CEME), Prof. dr. L.J. Stal (NIOO-CEME), Prof. Dr. J.S. Sinninghe Damsté (PI)
Funding: ZKO
Duration: 2009-2011
Publications
Llewellyn, C.A., Evans, C., Airs, R.L., Cook, I., Bale, N., Wilson, W.H., 2007. The response of carotenoids and chlorophylls during virus infection of Emiliania huxleyi (Prymnesiophyceae). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 344, 101-112.
Pancost, R.D., Boot, C.S., Aloisi, G., Maslin, M., Bickers, C., Ettwein, V., Bale, N., Handley, L., 2009. Organic geochemical changes in Pliocene sediments of ODP Site 1083 (Benguela Upwelling System). Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeo-ecology 280, 119-131.
Bale, N.J., Llewellyn, C.A., Airs, R.L., 2010. Atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry of type II chlorophyll-a transformation products: Diagnostic fragmentation patterns.  Organic Geochemistry 41, 473-481.
Bale, N.J., Airs, R.L., Llewellyn, C.A. 2011.  Type I and Type II chlorophyll-a transformation products associated with algal senescence. Organic Geochemistry 42,  451–464.