Dr Alexandra Nederbragt
Teams and roles for Alexandra Nederbragt
Stable Isotope Mass Spectrometer Specialist
Overview
I run the stable isotope facility, where we measure light isotopes (H, C, N, O) in a range of materials. The facility provides a service to the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences as well as other schools within Cardiff University and researchers from other institutions.
Publication
2025
- Alcantara Fors, R. et al., 2025. Cattle on the rocks: Understanding cattle mobility, diet, and seasonality in the Iberian Peninsula. The Middle Neolithic site of Cova de les Pixarelles (Tavertet, Osona). PLoS ONE 20 e0317723. (10.1371/journal.pone.0317723)
- Aubineau, J. et al., 2025. Iron-rich microband formation in marine sediments by hydrothermal iron cycling bacteria at Lucky Strike. Communications Earth & Environment 6 338. (10.1038/s43247-025-02223-2)
- Esposito, C. et al., 2025. Diverse feasting networks at the end of the Bronze Age in Britain (c. 900-500 BCE) evidenced by multi-isotope analysis. iScience 28 (9) 113271. (10.1016/j.isci.2025.113271)
- Morez Jacobs, A. et al., 2025. Whole-genome ancestry of an Old Kingdom Egyptian. Nature 644 , pp.714-721. (10.1038/s41586-025-09195-5)
- Starr, A. et al., 2025. Shifting Antarctic Circumpolar Current south of Africa over the past 1.9 million years. Science Advances 11 (1) eadp1692. (10.1126/sciadv.adp1692)
- Tangunan, D. N. et al. 2025. Photic zone niche partitioning, stratification, and carbon cycling in the tropical Indian Ocean during the Piacenzian. Climate of the Past 21 (12), pp.2541-2560. (10.5194/cp-21-2541-2025)
2024
- de Gruchy, Y. A. et al. 2024. Bone of contention: Intra-element variability in remodelling of human femora based on histomorphometric and isotope analyses. PLoS ONE 19 (6) e0305089. (10.1371/journal.pone.0305089)
- Guillamon-Davila, A. et al. 2024. Tracing the path: First attempt of a multi-isotope approach to animal management in the Late Roman city of Torreparedones (Baena, Spain). Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 60 104851. (10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104851)
- Pichevin, L. E. et al., 2024. North Atlantic temperature control on deoxygenation in the northern tropical Pacific. Nature Communications 15 (1) 7919. (10.1038/s41467-024-52197-6)
2023
- Nederbragt, A. J. 2023. The effect of seawater carbonate chemistry on the stable isotope composition of Cibicidoides wuellerstorfi and other Cibicidoides species. Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology 38 (9) e2023PA004667. (10.1029/2023PA004667)
2022
- Barker, S. et al. 2022. Persistent influence of precession on northern ice sheet variability since the early Pleistocene. Science 376 (6596), pp.961-967. (10.1126/science.abm4033)
2021
- Madgwick, R. et al. 2021. A veritable confusion: use and abuse of isotope analysis in archaeology. Archaeological Journal 178 (2), pp.361-385. (10.1080/00665983.2021.1911099)
- Scorrer, J. et al. 2021. Diversity aboard a Tudor warship: investigating the origins of the Mary Rose crew using multi-isotope analysis. Royal Society Open Science 8 (5) 202106. (10.1098/rsos.202106)
2020
- Craig-Atkins, E. et al., 2020. The dietary impact of the Norman Conquest: a multiproxy archaeological investigation of Oxford, UK. PLoS ONE 15 (7) e0235005. (10.1371/journal.pone.0235005)
2019
- Madgwick, R. et al. 2019. Multi-isotope analysis reveals that feasts in the Stonehenge environs and across Wessex drew people and animals from throughout Britain. Science Advances 5 (3) eaau6078. (10.1126/sciadv.aau6078)
- Madgwick, R. et al. 2019. Feasting and mobility in Iron Age Ireland: Multi-isotope analysis reveals the vast catchment of Navan Fort, Ulster. Scientific Reports 9 (1) 19792. (10.1038/s41598-019-55671-0)
2018
- Dias, R. et al., 2018. Mesolithic human occupation and seasonality: sclerochronology, δ18O isotope geochemistry, and diagenesis verification by Raman and LA-ICP-MS analysis of Argyrosomus regius (meagre) sagittae otoliths from layer 1 of Cabeço da Amoreira Mesolithic shell midden (Muge, Portugal). Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences (10.1007/s12520-017-0569-3)
- Dodd, M. S. et al., 2018. Organic remains in late Palaeoproterozoic granular iron formations and implications for the origin of granules. Precambrian Research 310 , pp.133-152. (10.1016/j.precamres.2018.02.016)
2016
- Reynolds, D. J. et al. 2016. Annually resolved North Atlantic marine climate over the last millennium. Nature Communications 7 13502. (10.1038/ncomms13502)
2011
- Littler, K. et al., 2011. High sea-surface temperatures during the Early Cretaceous Epoch [Letter]. Nature Geoscience 4 (3), pp.169-172. (10.1038/ngeo1081)
2010
- Tyler, J. J. et al., 2010. Assessing past temperature and soil pH estimates from bacterial tetraether membrane lipids: Evidence from the recent lake sediments of Lochnagar, Scotland. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences 115 G01015. (10.1029/2009JG001109)
2009
- Schouten, S. et al., 2009. An interlaboratory study of TEX86 and BIT analysis using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems 10 (3) Q03012. (10.1029/2008GC002221)
2008
- Nederbragt, A. J. , Thurow, J. W. and Bown, P. R. 2008. Paleoproductivity, ventilation, and organic carbon burial in the Santa Barbara Basin (ODP Site 893, off California) since the last glacial. Paleoceanography 23 (1) PA1211. (10.1029/2007PA001501)
- Robinson, S. A. et al., 2008. Mid-Cretaceous oceanic anoxic events in the Pacific Ocean revealed by carbon-isotope stratigraphy of the Calera Limestone, California, USA. Geological Society of America Bulletin 120 (11-12), pp.1416-1426. (10.1130/B26350.1)
2005
- Cheshire, H. , Thurow, J. W. and Nederbragt, A. J. 2005. Late Quaternary climate change record from two long sediment cores from Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California. Journal of Quaternary Science 20 (5), pp.457-469. (10.1002/jqs.944)
- Kuhnt, W. et al., 2005. Orbital-scale record of the late Cenomanian-Turonian oceanic anoxic event (OAE-2) in the Tarfaya Basin (Morocco). International Journal of Earth Sciences 94 (1), pp.147-159. (10.1007/s00531-004-0440-5)
- Nederbragt, A. J. and Thurow, J. 2005. Amplitude of ENSO cycles in the Santa Barbara Basin, off California, during the past 15 000 years. Journal of Quaternary Science 20 (5), pp.447-456. (10.1002/jqs.946)
- Nederbragt, A. J. and Thurow, J. 2005. Geographic coherence of millennial-scale climate cycles during the Holocene. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 221 (3-4), pp.313-324. (10.1016/j.palaeo.2005.03.002)
2004
- Nederbragt, A. J. et al. 2004. Modelling oceanic carbon and phosphorus fluxes: implications for the cause of the late Cenomanian Oceanic Anoxic Event (OAE2). Journal of the Geological Society 161 (4), pp.721-728. (10.1144/0016-764903-075)
2001
- Nederbragt, A. J. , Fiorentino, A. and Klosowska, B. 2001. Quantitative analysis of calcareous microfossils across the Albian-Cenomanian boundary oceanic anoxic event at DSDP Site 547 (North Atlantic). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 166 (3-4), pp.401-421. (10.1016/S0031-0182(00)00227-3)
- Nederbragt, A. J. and Thurow, J. W. 2001. A 6000 yr varve record of Holocene climate in Saanich Inlet, British Columbia, from digital sediment colour analysis of ODP Leg 169S cores. Marine Geology 174 (1-4), pp.95-110. (10.1016/S0025-3227(00)00144-4)
2000
- Erlich, R. N. et al., 2000. Birth and death of the Late Cretaceous "La Luna Sea", and origin of the Tres Esquinas phosphorites. Journal of South American Earth Sciences 13 (1-2), pp.21-45. (10.1016/S0895-9811(00)00016-X)
- Vonhof, H. B. et al., 2000. Global cooling accelerated by early late Eocene impacts?. Geology 28 (8), pp.687-690. (10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<687:GCABEL>2.0.CO;2)
Articles
- Alcantara Fors, R. et al., 2025. Cattle on the rocks: Understanding cattle mobility, diet, and seasonality in the Iberian Peninsula. The Middle Neolithic site of Cova de les Pixarelles (Tavertet, Osona). PLoS ONE 20 e0317723. (10.1371/journal.pone.0317723)
- Aubineau, J. et al., 2025. Iron-rich microband formation in marine sediments by hydrothermal iron cycling bacteria at Lucky Strike. Communications Earth & Environment 6 338. (10.1038/s43247-025-02223-2)
- Barker, S. et al. 2022. Persistent influence of precession on northern ice sheet variability since the early Pleistocene. Science 376 (6596), pp.961-967. (10.1126/science.abm4033)
- Cheshire, H. , Thurow, J. W. and Nederbragt, A. J. 2005. Late Quaternary climate change record from two long sediment cores from Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California. Journal of Quaternary Science 20 (5), pp.457-469. (10.1002/jqs.944)
- Craig-Atkins, E. et al., 2020. The dietary impact of the Norman Conquest: a multiproxy archaeological investigation of Oxford, UK. PLoS ONE 15 (7) e0235005. (10.1371/journal.pone.0235005)
- de Gruchy, Y. A. et al. 2024. Bone of contention: Intra-element variability in remodelling of human femora based on histomorphometric and isotope analyses. PLoS ONE 19 (6) e0305089. (10.1371/journal.pone.0305089)
- Dias, R. et al., 2018. Mesolithic human occupation and seasonality: sclerochronology, δ18O isotope geochemistry, and diagenesis verification by Raman and LA-ICP-MS analysis of Argyrosomus regius (meagre) sagittae otoliths from layer 1 of Cabeço da Amoreira Mesolithic shell midden (Muge, Portugal). Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences (10.1007/s12520-017-0569-3)
- Dodd, M. S. et al., 2018. Organic remains in late Palaeoproterozoic granular iron formations and implications for the origin of granules. Precambrian Research 310 , pp.133-152. (10.1016/j.precamres.2018.02.016)
- Erlich, R. N. et al., 2000. Birth and death of the Late Cretaceous "La Luna Sea", and origin of the Tres Esquinas phosphorites. Journal of South American Earth Sciences 13 (1-2), pp.21-45. (10.1016/S0895-9811(00)00016-X)
- Esposito, C. et al., 2025. Diverse feasting networks at the end of the Bronze Age in Britain (c. 900-500 BCE) evidenced by multi-isotope analysis. iScience 28 (9) 113271. (10.1016/j.isci.2025.113271)
- Guillamon-Davila, A. et al. 2024. Tracing the path: First attempt of a multi-isotope approach to animal management in the Late Roman city of Torreparedones (Baena, Spain). Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 60 104851. (10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104851)
- Kuhnt, W. et al., 2005. Orbital-scale record of the late Cenomanian-Turonian oceanic anoxic event (OAE-2) in the Tarfaya Basin (Morocco). International Journal of Earth Sciences 94 (1), pp.147-159. (10.1007/s00531-004-0440-5)
- Littler, K. et al., 2011. High sea-surface temperatures during the Early Cretaceous Epoch [Letter]. Nature Geoscience 4 (3), pp.169-172. (10.1038/ngeo1081)
- Madgwick, R. et al. 2019. Multi-isotope analysis reveals that feasts in the Stonehenge environs and across Wessex drew people and animals from throughout Britain. Science Advances 5 (3) eaau6078. (10.1126/sciadv.aau6078)
- Madgwick, R. et al. 2019. Feasting and mobility in Iron Age Ireland: Multi-isotope analysis reveals the vast catchment of Navan Fort, Ulster. Scientific Reports 9 (1) 19792. (10.1038/s41598-019-55671-0)
- Madgwick, R. et al. 2021. A veritable confusion: use and abuse of isotope analysis in archaeology. Archaeological Journal 178 (2), pp.361-385. (10.1080/00665983.2021.1911099)
- Morez Jacobs, A. et al., 2025. Whole-genome ancestry of an Old Kingdom Egyptian. Nature 644 , pp.714-721. (10.1038/s41586-025-09195-5)
- Nederbragt, A. J. 2023. The effect of seawater carbonate chemistry on the stable isotope composition of Cibicidoides wuellerstorfi and other Cibicidoides species. Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology 38 (9) e2023PA004667. (10.1029/2023PA004667)
- Nederbragt, A. J. , Fiorentino, A. and Klosowska, B. 2001. Quantitative analysis of calcareous microfossils across the Albian-Cenomanian boundary oceanic anoxic event at DSDP Site 547 (North Atlantic). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 166 (3-4), pp.401-421. (10.1016/S0031-0182(00)00227-3)
- Nederbragt, A. J. and Thurow, J. 2005. Amplitude of ENSO cycles in the Santa Barbara Basin, off California, during the past 15 000 years. Journal of Quaternary Science 20 (5), pp.447-456. (10.1002/jqs.946)
- Nederbragt, A. J. and Thurow, J. 2005. Geographic coherence of millennial-scale climate cycles during the Holocene. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 221 (3-4), pp.313-324. (10.1016/j.palaeo.2005.03.002)
- Nederbragt, A. J. and Thurow, J. W. 2001. A 6000 yr varve record of Holocene climate in Saanich Inlet, British Columbia, from digital sediment colour analysis of ODP Leg 169S cores. Marine Geology 174 (1-4), pp.95-110. (10.1016/S0025-3227(00)00144-4)
- Nederbragt, A. J. , Thurow, J. W. and Bown, P. R. 2008. Paleoproductivity, ventilation, and organic carbon burial in the Santa Barbara Basin (ODP Site 893, off California) since the last glacial. Paleoceanography 23 (1) PA1211. (10.1029/2007PA001501)
- Nederbragt, A. J. et al. 2004. Modelling oceanic carbon and phosphorus fluxes: implications for the cause of the late Cenomanian Oceanic Anoxic Event (OAE2). Journal of the Geological Society 161 (4), pp.721-728. (10.1144/0016-764903-075)
- Pichevin, L. E. et al., 2024. North Atlantic temperature control on deoxygenation in the northern tropical Pacific. Nature Communications 15 (1) 7919. (10.1038/s41467-024-52197-6)
- Reynolds, D. J. et al. 2016. Annually resolved North Atlantic marine climate over the last millennium. Nature Communications 7 13502. (10.1038/ncomms13502)
- Robinson, S. A. et al., 2008. Mid-Cretaceous oceanic anoxic events in the Pacific Ocean revealed by carbon-isotope stratigraphy of the Calera Limestone, California, USA. Geological Society of America Bulletin 120 (11-12), pp.1416-1426. (10.1130/B26350.1)
- Schouten, S. et al., 2009. An interlaboratory study of TEX86 and BIT analysis using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems 10 (3) Q03012. (10.1029/2008GC002221)
- Scorrer, J. et al. 2021. Diversity aboard a Tudor warship: investigating the origins of the Mary Rose crew using multi-isotope analysis. Royal Society Open Science 8 (5) 202106. (10.1098/rsos.202106)
- Starr, A. et al., 2025. Shifting Antarctic Circumpolar Current south of Africa over the past 1.9 million years. Science Advances 11 (1) eadp1692. (10.1126/sciadv.adp1692)
- Tangunan, D. N. et al. 2025. Photic zone niche partitioning, stratification, and carbon cycling in the tropical Indian Ocean during the Piacenzian. Climate of the Past 21 (12), pp.2541-2560. (10.5194/cp-21-2541-2025)
- Tyler, J. J. et al., 2010. Assessing past temperature and soil pH estimates from bacterial tetraether membrane lipids: Evidence from the recent lake sediments of Lochnagar, Scotland. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences 115 G01015. (10.1029/2009JG001109)
- Vonhof, H. B. et al., 2000. Global cooling accelerated by early late Eocene impacts?. Geology 28 (8), pp.687-690. (10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<687:GCABEL>2.0.CO;2)
Research
Interests:
- Mid-Cretaceous Oceanic Anoxic Events
- Holocene climate variability
- Stable isotope systems
Biography
- Stable Isotope Mass Spectrometer Specialist – School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff Unviersity (2012-present)
- Postdoctoral Researcher – Department of Earth Sciences, University College London (1997-2008)
- Postdoctoral Researcher – Institute of Earth Sciences, VU University Amsterdam (1991-1997)
- PhD - Institute of Earth Sciences, VU University Amsterdam (1990)
- MSc Geology - VU University Amsterdam (1985)
Academic positions
- Postdoctoral Researcher – Department of Earth Sciences, University College London (1997-2008)
- Postdoctoral Researcher – Institute of Earth Sciences, VU University Amsterdam (1991-1997)