Upload
others
View
2
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
The Peter Buck Fellowship Program
2014 - 2015 Progress Report
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 2
Overview
This year, the National Museum of Natural History’s Peter Buck Fellowship Program welcomes
its fifth class of participants. Reaching this milestone offers a unique perspective, both for
reflecting on the Buck Program’s past success and for envisioning the course of its future.
Through contributions to research, publications, and educational outreach across all of the
Museum’s scientific departments, each class further defines the scope and impact of what it
means to be a Peter Buck Fellow. Throughout the Smithsonian and scientific communities, their
work is advancing learning about nature and culture—knowledge that ultimately drives solutions
for the global challenges we face. For the 67 predoctoral and postdoctoral fellows admitted since
the Program began, the experience is a pivotal step in advancing their science careers.
The Peter Buck Fellowship Program currently includes a robust group of 34 fellows in residence
or anticipated in the next few months. The most recent 14 awardees, selected as the Class of
2015, hail from a variety of academic institutions throughout the United States and beyond. A
growing alumni base—currently made up of 27 individuals who have since completed their
tenure at the Museum—provides yet another lens for understanding the far-reaching effects of
the fellowship experience as they pursue the next phase of their careers.
This year also welcomes the first recipients of Buck Fellowships contributing specifically to the
goals of two major Museum initiatives. Deep Time fellowship opportunities are aimed at
increasing the research, education, and outreach productivity of the Initiative during the period
leading up to the opening of the permanent Fossil Hall in 2019. Similarly, Buck Fellows whose
research area is related to overarching themes of the Global Genome Initiative (GGI) are
committing their time to biodiversity genomic research and other GGI-related activities. This
expansion of fellowships, aligning directly with Museum priorities, further demonstrates the
significant role of this program in advancing our mission.
These emerging scientists are investigating big questions: What might the giant flightless
elephant bird of Madagascar teach us about humans’ role in extinction? How might we use
records of ancient organisms on Earth as analogue to look for evidence for extraterrestrial life?
How are shallow coral reef fishes adapting to the global decline of their habitat in a changing
ocean environment? Behind every inquiry lies a wealth of knowledge to be gained, relationships
to be forged, and discoveries to be shared with the world. Your generosity and commitment to
the Museum’s education and research efforts through the Peter Buck Fellowship Program make
this important work possible. Thank you for your ongoing support in building this legacy, which
will continue to impact generations of scholars within the scientific community for years to
come.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 3
The following progress report contains three sections:
Alumni Update: Where are They Now?
An update on the activities and achievements of alumni who have come through the Peter
Buck Fellowship Program.
Peter Buck Fellows: At a Glance
A profile and questionnaire from each of the current Peter Buck Fellows, including the
most recent award recipients of 2015.
Fellows in-residence were asked to discuss the importance of their research, their progress,
favorite moments, notable ways they have disseminated their science, and their plans for
the future. Newly selected fellows shared why their research became of personal interest to
them, and what they expect to achieve out of their experience at the Smithsonian.
Recent Publications
A bibliographic listing that captures the 69 most recent works published by Peter Buck
Fellows between August 2014 and September 2015.
To date, scientific papers co-authored by Peter Buck Fellows exceed 217, often appearing
in highly regarded publications and receiving broad media attention. These include a
Journal of Petrology article by Laura Waters (who was one of the Fellows who visited with
you in your home last spring) that challenged previously held convictions within the
scientific field, and a first author paper by Neil Kelley that appeared in Science—a
capstone career achievement for any scientist. Copies of these two articles are included in
this report, and we would be happy to forward copies of any of the others included in the
bibliography.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 4
Alumni Update: Where are They Now?
With its fifth year underway, the Peter Buck Fellowship Program has naturally seen quite a few
of its participants complete their training and move on to continue their careers. Program
advisors recently spoke with 21 of the program’s 27 alumni to find out what they are doing now.
Over half of the group have already obtained permanent or career-track positions in science or
cultural studies. Another nine have moved on to subsequent postdoctoral positions or other
temporary employment in their fields, and one has taken parental leave while still working part-
time on research.
Of those in career positions, there are seven tenure-track Assistant Professors or Lecturers at
academic institutions, three museum curators, and a journal editor. The academic institutions that
have hired Peter Buck Fellows include Massey University in New Zealand, the University of
Akron in Ohio, Haifa University in Israel, the University of Minnesota, the University of
Chicago, Marshall University in West Virginia, and the University of Puerto Rico. Of the three
museum curators, one is at the Denver Museum of Natural History, the very museum where Sant
Director Kirk Johnson was Chief Scientist before his role at the Smithsonian. Another is at the
Arizona Museum of Natural History, and the third was selected to become a Curator of
Entomology here at the National Museum of Natural History. Finally, the editor is at Science, the
prestigious international journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Nearly half of the group reported that they obtained another postdoctoral fellowship or other
temporary funding for their careers following their Peter Buck Fellowship. This group includes
highly accomplished scientists who can be expected to find permanent career positions. Of the
21 alumni who provided feedback, all are pursuing careers that make use of their museum-based
training.
As alumni attain permanent positions in their fields, their training at the Museum serves as an
important foundation upon which they are building their careers. This exemplifies the long-term
benefits of the Peter Buck Fellowship Program, both to the lives of the fellows themselves, and
to the general advancement of museum-based scholarship. The investment made in a predoctoral
or postdoctoral fellow is highly leveraged when that scholar becomes a productive career
scientist inspired by experiences at the National Museum of Natural History.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 5
Peter Buck Fellows: At a Glance
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 6
Current Buck Fellow Listing
Name Department Dates of Fellowship
Cheryl Ames Invertebrate Zoology January 2014 – December 2015
Bastian Bentlage Invertebrate Zoology July 2015 – June 2017
Antoine Bercovici Paleobiology
(Deep Time Fellow) December 2014 – December 2016
Monica Carlsen Botany February 2015 – February 2017
Frederick Davis Mineral Sciences September 2012 – September 2015
Kristina M. G. Douglass Anthropology and Vertebrate
Zoology January 2016 – January 2018
Klint Ericson Anthropology September 2013 – September 2016
Nathaniel Evans Invertebrate Zoology August 2014 – August 2015
Danielle Fraser Paleobiology August 2015 – August 2017
Jessica Goodheart Invertebrate Zoology September 2015 – August 2017
Morgan Gostel Botany
(GGI Fellow) September 2015 – September 2017
Andrew Gottscho Vertebrate Zoology September 2015 – June 2017
AJ Harris Botany January 2016 – January 2018
Maria Heikkilä Paleobiology February 2015 – January 2017
Margaret A. G. Hinkle Mineral Sciences June 2015 – June 2017
Ana Ješovnik Entomology July 2014 – July 2016
Caroline Judy Vertebrate Zoology January 2014 – January 2016
Ehsan Kayal Invertebrate Zoology September 2014 – August 2016
Neil Kelley Paleobiology January 2014 – December 2015
Fredrick Larabee Entomology September 2015 – September 2017
Francesca Leasi Invertebrate Zoology
(GGI Fellow) September 2015 – August 2017
Stéphanie Leclerc-Caffarel Anthropology January 2016 – January 2018
Nicole Lunning Mineral Sciences September 2015 – September 2017
Matthew McCurry Paleobiology August 2015 – August 2016
Molly McDonough Vertebrate Zoology February 2014 – February 2016
Bryan McLean Vertebrate Zoology January 2015 – December 2015
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 7
Theresa Miller Anthropology June 2015 – June 2017
Miguel Pinto Vertebrate Zoology February 2015 – January 2017
Eduardo Ribeiro Anthropology July 2014 – June 2016
Erin Sigel Botany September 2014 – September 2016
Emily Smith Paleobiology September 2015 – September 2017
Laura Soul Paleobiology
(Deep Time Fellow) July 2015 – July 2017
Lauren Spearman Entomology January 2015 – January 2016
Nawa Sugiyama Anthropology September 2014 – December 2015
Luke Tornabene Vertebrate Zoology August 2015 – August 2017
Maureen Turcatel Entomology September 2014 – September 2016
Rachel Warnock Paleobiology March 2014 – March 2016
Laura Waters Mineral Sciences January 2015 – December 2016
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 8
Cheryl L. Ames, Dept. of Invertebrate Zoology
University of Maryland, College Park
Predoctoral Fellow: January 2014 – December 2015
Research Title: Differential expression of genes implicated in venom, vision and sex in the
aggregating box jellyfish Alatina alata
Advisors: Allen G. Collins (Research Zoologist, NMNH & NMFS, NOAA) and Karen Osborn
(Research Zoologist)
Cheryl Ames’ research focuses on uncovering the molecular basis of the stinging cells of the box
jellyfish Alatina alata, which forms monthly reproductive swarms in several Caribbean and Pacific
localities. Stinging cells are venom-filled organelles, called nematocysts, found in all species of the
phylum Cnidaria (e.g. corals, sea anemones, and jellyfish), and are used in predation and defense.
Despite sometimes causing painful stings or fatalities in human victims, the molecular basis of these
novel structures is poorly understood. Equally enigmatic is the process by which this small group of
gelatinous invertebrates evolved complex eyes, equipped with cornea, lens, and retina. As a Buck
Fellow, Ames’ research objectives are to identify the genes (using transcriptomics) associated with
box jellyfish nematocyst production and the molecular cues involved in vision during sexual
reproduction, to determine at what stages of development these genes are expressed (i.e. transcribed
from the genome), and to characterize the venom proteins encoded by those genes (using
proteomics).
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 9
Cheryl L. Ames The Stakes
Understanding molecular mechanisms of the coordinated components of elaborate sexual behavior of
box jellyfish, and their onset during larval development, will provide insight into the evolution of the
proteins associated with these novel functions. Box jellyfish stings notoriously range from annoying
to deadly. By characterizing the genes encoding venom components, we can better understand their
bioactive properties, thus enabling biomedical personnel to develop more effective prevention and
treatment methods for human stings and explore applications to gene therapy.
Research Highlights
The transcriptomic data I have generated has already been used in one publication, on which I am
coauthor, and are the main focus of my second and third dissertation chapters, which are well
underway. I have identified genes related to venom, vision, and sex that are known from snake
venom, vertebrate eyes, and human reproduction respectively in these ancient organisms with more
than a 600-million-year evolutionary history.
Favorite Moment
My favorite moment was realizing my dream to establish a live jellyfish culture room at the Museum
for rearing jellyfish. In April 2014, after procuring aquarium room supplies through various
donations, we set up the department’s first aquarium tank. Subsequently, we received several animal
transfers from colleagues (Baltimore National Aquarium, National Zoo, and several local and foreign
museums and universities), and with the help of student volunteers and interns, established the
“Aquaroom”—a multi-tank room in which we culture ten different marine and freshwater species of
jellyfish and their kin. Another highlight was being coauthor on a new species description of the
deep-sea sea cucumber Myriotrochus ahearnae.
Disseminating my Science
In January and June of 2015, I managed a team of ten Aquaroom volunteers during a science
outreach “live feeding” event at the Museum’s science learning center, Q?rius, showing off Museum
collaborations with the National Zoo and the Baltimore National Aquarium for World Ocean Day to
more than 500 public participants. During “Expert is In” in Q?rius and the temporary Genome
exhibit, I have showcased my research using activities relevant to children and adults alike.
Looking Ahead
I have acquired a number of important skills thanks to my fellowship experience: transcriptomics, as
well as gene and protein identification capabilities, bioinformatics skills, jellyfish culturing
awareness for conducting gene expression studies, and histological techniques for examining the
ultrastructure of organs and cell types of interest. Opportunities to present my work during
international conferences, symposia, and Museum outreach events have allowed me to dive deeper
into my marine biology research to better explain its relevance to the field of science and to a broader
public audience. As an organismal biologist, my goal is to balance research with teaching and
mentoring students, while also interacting with the public through science outreach events.
Word of Thanks
I would like to extend my gratitude to you, Dr. Buck, for your generosity in providing me with a two-
year fellowship to pursue my Ph.D. research goals. I wish you all the best in health, family, and life,
and look forward to the day when I can finally meet you and thank you in person.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 10
Bastian Bentlage, Dept. of Invertebrate Zoology
University of East Anglia (Norwich, UK)
Postdoctoral Fellow: July 2015 – June 2017
Research Title: Loss and gain of complex life history characters in trachyline jellyfish
(Cnidaria: Medusozoa: Hydrozoa)
Advisors: Allen G. Collins (Research Zoologist, NMNH & NMFS, NOAA) and Karen Osborn
(Research Zoologist)
Bastian Bentlage received his Ph.D. from the University of Kansas in 2012. He is interested in the
biogeographic patterns and ecological processes that govern species distributions and interactions in
aquatic environments. As such, Bentlage employs methods and concepts from different fields of
inquiry, including phylogenetic systematics, population genetics, and ecological modeling. His
favorite study organisms are jellyfish. Jellyfish display a remarkable diversity of different life cycles,
often including a sessile stage (the polyp) that lives on the ocean floor and a mobile stage (the
jellyfish that is familiar to most people) that disperses in the water column. In his research at the
Smithsonian, Bentlage aims to address how both the environment and variations in life history affect
large-scale distribution and diversification patterns in these marine organisms. In addition, he is
interested in studying how differences in life cycles evolved by modifications of the underlying
molecular machinery that modulates the metamorphosis from sessile polyp stage to adult jellyfish.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 11
Bastian Bentlage The Stakes
This project will provide new insights into the evolution of complex life cycles by investigating life
cycle stage losses and gains in jellyfish, addressing broader questions on the evolution of complex
life history characters. The public will be engaged in my research through the “Scientist is in” and
“Expert is in” programs at the Museum. For this project, I am using animals already in culture at the
Museum to provide visitors with an active learning experience to gain insights into the connections
among different aquatic habitats. Specifically, I provide hands-on experiences with live animals for
museum visitors that reveal the link between the lesser-known sessile polyp stage and the free-
swimming jellyfish they are familiar with.
The Story
I started a marine biology program in my home country, Germany, some 15 years ago. Sorting
through plankton samples, I became aware of the fact that jellyfish are poorly understood and little
studied despite playing a major role in marine and other aquatic environments, both as predators and
prey. Our lack of understanding is fundamental in the sense that we have yet to describe much of the
diversity of jellyfish and understand their distributional limits. So I saw a clear need for studying
these organisms while at the same time being fascinated with their fragile beauty. This latter
fascination is mirrored in the popularity of jellyfish exhibits in aquaria these days and goes far back,
with Ernst Haeckel prominently featuring drawings of jellyfish in his Artforms of Nature, published
at the turn of the 19th century.
The Smithsonian Difference
The Smithsonian is a premier institution for natural history research, housing a wealth of specimens
that seeks comparison. By being at the Smithsonian, I gain access to this unique resource, allowing
me to study the morphology of my study organisms in detail. In addition, the Smithsonian also
provides state-of-the-art facilities for molecular genetic work. Thus, this institution allows me to
blend traditional specimen-based research with modern molecular approaches, a situation quite
unique compared to other institutions.
Looking Ahead
I am particularly looking forward to being part of the Smithsonian community. I am excited to share
my research with others working here and learn from them through formal and informal exchanges.
Further, I am sincerely looking forward to being able to engage visitors to the Museum on issues
surrounding my own research and marine biology in general. I have been a part of Smithsonian
outreach efforts in the past and find the opportunity to share my enthusiasm with the general public
and be challenged by questions I had not thought of previously very rewarding.
Word of Thanks
I would like to express my gratitude for being given the opportunity to study at the Smithsonian
through a Buck Fellowship. Being able to dedicate the next two years of my life to truly focus on
developing a research program that I believe has the potential to lay the foundation for my further
academic career is truly a blessing.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 12
Antoine Bercovici, Dept. of Paleobiology
University of Rennes 1 (France)
Postdoctoral Fellow: December 2014 – December 2016
Research Title: How to survive a mass extinction? Understanding the recolonization process after
major environmental devastation at the end of the Cretaceous in southwestern North Dakota.
Advisor: Hans-Dieter Sues (Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology)
Antoine Bercovici received his Ph.D. in Sedimentology and Paleobotany at the University of Rennes
1, France, in December 2009. His main research interest lies in the study of the dynamics of plant
communities during mass extinction events, using fossil pollen as an indicator to track extinction and
re-colonization patterns. More specifically, his research focuses on a) the Cretaceous–Paleogene
(dinosaur) extinction associated with the impact of an asteroid 66 million years ago, and b) the end-
Permian mass extinction that obliterated ~90% of life on earth associated to a time of intense global
warming and volcanism. Antoine has published 23 papers, including the description of the youngest
known dinosaur specimen, the horn of a Triceratops found just 13cm below the asteroid impact bed.
During his Buck Fellowship, Antoine is describing the changes observed in the plant cover after the
Cretaceous extinction to better understand how biodiversity and devastated ecosystems reconstruct
themselves, and how long it takes. Evidence from the distant past can give insights of the current
vegetation dynamics in a changing world.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 13
Antoine Bercovici The Stakes
The extinction of the non-avian dinosaurs has always been a topic of interest and fascination for the
public, but few realize that these animals were part of complex, structured ecosystems, comparable to
those we have today. The Deep Time exhibition can be used as a laboratory to better understand, test,
and predict what could happen to stressed ecosystems, with direct implications for today's challenge
of maintaining biodiversity in a world experiencing major climate and landscape modifications
associated to human activity.
Research Highlights
As a palynologist, I use the tiniest fossils, pollen, and spores, as evidence for reconstructing ancient
vegetal landscapes. We already knew that plant communities were affected by the disappearance of
many species immediately after the extinction event, as demonstrated by leaf fossils and pollen. My
current research focuses on their recovery, and tend to demonstrate two trends: 1) Barren landscapes
are recolonized by plants very rapidly, but with low diversity communities. Regaining biodiversity is
occurring on a several orders of magnitude longer scale. 2) The diverse and homogeneous plant
communities of the Cretaceous are replaced by very heterogenous assemblages, much like a
patchwork. I am now trying to understand the ecological reasons and duration of this environmental
patchiness.
Favorite Moment
My favorite moment will be completing two years working at the Smithsonian, which is an everyday
excitement; the research possibilities and freedom offered there is like nothing I experienced before.
The Buck Fellowship allows me to be close to many colleagues I have been previously collaborating
with, and the intellectual atmosphere is really helpful to make great things happen.
Disseminating my Science
Being the first Deep Time Buck fellow, I am tightly involved with various outreach activities at the
Museum. I am working in the Last American Dinosaurs exhibition, and behind the window of the
Fossilab, where visitors can see live video from the microscope I am working on. I also regularly go
out to answer questions. Because my research is focusing on the study of the Hell Creek Formation, I
am very familiar with the content of the new exhibit, and with volunteer training, have led guided
tours for various guests. I participated in several Q?rius public events including National Fossil Day.
I have also started to write monthly entries to the blog of the Fossilab, reporting fieldwork and
research activities, and have several ongoing papers
(http://nmnh.typepad.com/smithsonian_fossils/fossilab/).
Looking Ahead
This Peter Buck Postdoctoral Fellowship will be a fantastic springboard for an academic career, and
for keeping long-lasting work relationships with the Museum scientists. Museum positions are
exceedingly rare, and this could make a difference in securing one.
Word of Thanks
In a time of funding sources getting thinner, and postdoctoral experience lasting up to a decade, the
Buck Fellowship at the Smithsonian is the opportunity of a lifetime for many young scientists. The
National Museum of Natural History being one of the most exciting place in the world for natural
sciences, I am grateful to be allowed to take part of this scientific and cultural adventure, thanks to
your support.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 14
Monica Carlsen, Dept. of Botany
University of Missouri, St. Louis
Postdoctoral Fellow: February 2015 – February 2017
Research Title: Understanding species diversity disparities across tropical forest regions
Advisors: W. John Kress (Interim Under Secretary for Science and Distinguished Scientist and
Curator of Botany) and Jun Wen (Research Botanist and Curator of Botany)
Monica Carlsen received her Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution and Systematics with emphasis on
molecular systematics of Neotropical plants from the University of Missouri, St. Louis and the
Missouri Botanical Garden in August 2011. Her primary research interest is to understand the
evolutionary and ecological mechanisms that affect worldwide patterns of tropical species diversity.
She has published 18 papers, including several new plant species. During her Buck Fellowship,
Carlsen will integrate phylogenetic methods with spatial analyses of species distribution models and
the study of the Smithsonian's herbarium collections of two large, widely distributed, tropical forest
plant groups, Araceae - aroids (ca. 3,000 spp.) and Zingiberales - ginger and relatives (ca. 2,000
spp.), in order to understand why the Neotropics contain twice as many species as the Asian tropics.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 15
Monica Carlsen The Stakes
This research will contribute to a major goal in ecology and evolutionary biology: to understand how
and why the number of species varies among regions and groups, by combining several areas of
biology (i.e. phylogenetics, systematics, ecology, and evolution) in an integrative framework. This
study will increase our understanding of worldwide patterns of species diversity, identify factors
influencing species richness within highly diverse tropical regions, and assess the generality of these
processes across various continents and plant clades. This project will contribute to free, international
online data dissemination efforts (www.araceae.e-monocot.org and www.botany.si.edu/Zingiberales,
Encyclopedia Of Life) by validating taxonomic information and geographic occurrences. Above all,
this study will help meet the Smithsonian’s Grand Challenge of “Understanding and Sustaining a
Biodiverse Planet.”
Research Highlights
During the first five months of my Buck Fellowship, I have been assembling, formatting, and
cleaning up all the data necessary to analyze molecular phylogenetic and geographic distribution
patterns of ca. 3,000 tropical plant species. So far, I have compiled 15,000 DNA sequences from
GenBank and the Barcode of Life databases, and 85,000 localities from herbarium specimens.
Favorite Moment
My favorite moment of the fellowship so far was being featured in the Smithsonian 2014 Annual
Report “Today, Tomorrow, Forever” along with several other Buck Fellows. It was exciting to be
recognized as an exceptional scholar, and to showcase the impact that these fellowships have on the
Smithsonian Institution and on our future careers.
Disseminating my Science
This summer, I had the opportunity to mentor an undergraduate senior student from Smith College,
Massachusetts. The student spent ten weeks working full-time on databasing U.S. Herbarium
collections and producing geographic distribution models. Some of the results from this small project
will be incorporated in a peer-reviewed article with the student as a coauthor.
Looking Ahead
My long-term career goal is to become a Botany curator in a herbarium or museum and to promote
interdisciplinary, integrative research in tropical plant groups. This Fellowship is helping me to
develop a wide-ranging set of analytical and outreach skills that will improve my overall scientific
foundation, as well as offering networking opportunities. The Smithsonian is providing unique
hands-on experiences with frontline technologies, such as genome sequencing.
Word of Thanks
I would like to deeply thank you for your generosity and support to young scholars at the National
Museum of Natural History. I am extremely honored to have been chosen for a Peter Buck
Postdoctoral Fellowship. I feel grateful to be learning so much about research, museum collections,
and professional interactions. Every day is a new wonderful experience at the Smithsonian, and I am
making the most out of it. I am also giving back the best way I can, by volunteering for special
events involving scientific learning activities for kids, such as the “Night at the Museum” series and
Breakfast at the Zoo program through the Smithsonian Associates.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 16
Frederick Davis, Dept. of Mineral Sciences
University of Minnesota
Postdoctoral Fellow: September 2012 – September 2015
Research Title: First-row transition elements in oceanic island basalts and upper mantle lithologies
Advisor: Elizabeth Cottrell (Director, Global Volcanism Program)
Frederick Davis earned his Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Minnesota in 2012. His primary
research interests are in the chemical evolution and dynamics of the Earth’s crust and mantle. He
studies the chemistry of basaltic lavas and mantle xenoliths—rocks that are transported from the
mantle to the surface by volcanoes—to better understand the current chemical state of the Earth’s
interior and its history. While at the Museum, Davis has used the electron microprobe in the
Department of Mineral Sciences to analyze the major element and oxidation-reduction chemistry of
xenoliths as part of an investigation of the formation of basaltic lavas at ocean islands. His work has
also taken him to the National Synchrotron Light Source at Brookhaven National Laboratory and the
Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory, where he uses X-Ray absorption
techniques to study the oxidation state of Earth materials.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 17
Frederick Davis The Stakes
Through the processes of plate tectonics, the Earth’s mantle, crust, hydrosphere, and atmosphere are
exchanging material and evolving. Magmas produced in the deep Earth erupt at ocean ridges to make
new crust, and old crust and sediments elements return to the mantle at subduction zones. At the
surface, we can see only a small part of this planet-scale process. My research makes connections
between surface observations from erupted lavas and xenoliths to geochemical processes operating at
depths that we cannot directly observe. These observations inform geophysicists and geodynamicists
who study the physical properties of the whole Earth about processes operating at depth, and together
we paint a clearer picture of the present state and the evolutionary history of our planet.
Research Highlights
By investigating the chemistry of peridotite xenoliths from Earth’s mantle, my collaborators and I
have found that the thermal history of these rocks influences how they record oxidation-reduction
(redox) reactions that operate in the mantle. This thermal history needs to be accounted for to
accurately interpret the redox history of mantle rocks. This discovery may help to resolve an
incongruence in the rock record between lavas generated in the mantle and mantle rocks that have
been transported to the surface.
Favorite Moment
I mentored an undergraduate researcher, Ms. Kellie Wall, through the Museum’s Natural History
Research Experiences program last summer. We investigated the redox chemistry of peridotite
xenoliths from several volcanic Pacific Islands. We learned that the thermal history of these rocks
was critical to interpreting redox processes operating in the Earth’s shallow mantle, which may help
us to better connect the redox records of lavas and mantle rocks to processes operating in the deep
Earth. Ms. Wall presented these results at two international scientific conferences, and we are
preparing a manuscript to be submitted in early 2016. This was an incredibly valuable experience for
me to mentor an undergraduate researcher, while also performing exciting scientific research.
Disseminating my Science
I have had several opportunities for science outreach, including presenting my research interests to
amateur and professional societies in the DC area. The most memorable was a six-minute Lightning
Talk that I gave to the public and museum community. It was a great opportunity to practice
communicating my science to a broad audience and to get feedback about what others find
interesting about my research.
Looking Ahead
This fall I will begin a faculty appointment in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
at the University of Minnesota at Duluth. I credit my time spent as a Buck Fellow with opportunities
to develop my research program, to connect with a fantastic mentor, Liz Cottrell, and other great
collaborators, and to experience mentoring graduate and undergraduate researchers. All of these
experiences have been critical in preparing me to begin my new faculty position.
Word of Thanks
I want to express my sincerest gratitude to Dr. Buck for the opportunities I have had to develop as a
scientist, both as a researcher and a mentor, through the Buck Postdoctoral Fellowship. Dr. Buck’s
generous gift has enabled me to pursue my interests in Earth Science and advance to the next stage of
my career. Thank you so much for your support, Dr. Buck.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 18
Kristina M. G. Douglass, Depts. of Anthropology and Vertebrate Zoology
Yale University
Postdoctoral Fellow: January 2016 – January 2018
Research Title: Human-ratite interaction in southwest Madagascar: Understanding the extinction of
the elephant bird
Advisors: Torben Rick (Director and Curator, North American Archaeology) and Helen James
(Curator-in-Charge, Division of Birds)
Kristina Douglass received her Ph.D. in Anthropology, in the subfield of Archaeology, from Yale
University. Her dissertation investigates the relationship between humans and their environment in
southwest coastal Madagascar through time, from the earliest settlements in the region around 1,500
years ago until the 19th century. She is particularly interested in understanding patterns of resource
exploitation and the dynamics that led to the extinction of Madagascar’s giant flightless elephant
birds. During her Buck Fellowship, Douglass will analyze the eggshell remains of elephant bird eggs
from archaeological contexts to determine whether human predation of eggs played a role in elephant
bird population declines. Her research will provide much needed direct evidence of human impact on
elephant bird populations. She will also study the first recorded worked pieces of elephant bird
eggshell, including the first recovered eggshell beads from Madagascar, which she excavated during
her doctoral fieldwork. Douglass’ analysis will allow her to describe the crafts and trade associated
with elephant bird remains. She will compare Madagascar’s eggshell working traditions to the
working of other ratite species’ eggshell in other regions of the world by using the Museum’s
extensive collection of eggshell and eggshell artifacts.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 19
Kristina M. G. Douglass The Stakes
Madagascar was colonized by humans sometime in the last few thousand years. In the period
following human arrival, a suite of animals went extinct in Madagascar—a scenario that has played
out in other famous examples of island colonization, like New Zealand. In Madagascar, however,
little direct evidence of human impact on the environment and on endemic fauna has been recovered,
particularly for the earliest period of human occupation of the island. Despite the relative paucity of
direct evidence of human impact on the environment and now-extinct fauna, it has long been
assumed that human arrival precipitated this wave of extinctions. My project will provide insight into
the resource exploitation patterns of human communities along the southwest coast of Madagascar
through time. In particular, it will provide data regarding human exploitation of elephant birds, so
that we will have a basis for discussing the role humans may have played in driving elephant bird
extinction.
The Story
Madagascar is an incredibly rich country in terms of culture and biodiversity. Unfortunately, it is also
challenged by extremely difficult economic conditions and widespread poverty. In recent times,
poverty and lack of alternate livelihoods to fishing, hunting, and foraging have put pressures on
communities all over the island to increase the intensity of natural resource exploitation for local
consumption and for market sale. This pressure on natural resources has led to significant declines in
fauna and flora populations and has led conservation groups to promote community-based
conservation initiatives. Many of these initiatives, however, do not have the benefit of a long-term
perspective on local communities’ relationship with their environment. I believe that the choices
people make to exploit natural resources are complex and that an archaeological perspective can lend
important insights to modern conservation initiatives and environmental policy, in addition to helping
us understand past extinctions.
The Smithsonian Difference
My research questions require the input and expertise of scholars across the sciences, and I am
greatly looking forward to developing my project further with the support and feedback of the
Smithsonian’s incredible core of researchers and with the benefit of the Museum’s lab facilities. The
Museum’s extensive collections of eggshell and eggshell artifacts will provide an unparalleled
comparative collection for my research.
Looking Ahead
My co-advisors’ areas of expertise are a dream pairing for the work I am doing, and I believe that
working on my project with their guidance will allow me to make a stronger contribution to science
and become a better researcher. I am also looking forward to doing research in the context of a
museum, where the objective is to make research and knowledge relevant and accessible to the
public.
Word of Thanks
When I first read about the Peter Buck Fellowship Program, I knew that it would provide me with the
best possible resources, facilities, training, and guidance for my current research project and for my
long-term professional development. I am honored and feel very privileged to have the opportunity to
learn from the scholars at the Museum and to become a part of such a long and important tradition of
research and education. Thank you for supporting me in my research and for giving me this
incredible opportunity to develop as a scientist.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 20
Klint Ericson, Dept. of Anthropology
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Predoctoral Fellow: September 2013 – September 2016
Research Title: Sumptuous and Beautiful, As They Were: Architectural Form, Everyday Life, and
Cultural Encounter in a Seventeenth-Century New Mexico Mission
Advisor: Gwyneira Isaac (Curator of North America)
Klint Ericson is a Ph.D. candidate in the Art History Department at the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill, with an emphasis in Spanish colonial architecture and material culture. His
dissertation project combines anthropological and art historical approaches in an interdisciplinary
exploration of seventeenth-century mission architecture in New Mexico, focusing on a case study of
the Purísima Concepción (1629-1672) mission at the Zuni Pueblo of Hawikku. From 1917 to 1923,
the Smithsonian Institution and the Museum of the American Indian-Heye Foundation conducted
excavations at Hawikku, work which was published in 1966, but without the important artifacts from
the Purísima Concepción. Ericson’s research focuses on the cultural encounters and negotiations that
took place between Spanish friars and Zuni members of the mission community, relying upon the
mission artifacts as a body of primary evidence, along with primary sources, ethnographic
contextualization, and comparison to other New Mexico missions. This work will present the mission
artifacts for the first time, nearly one hundred years after their original excavation. Through their
analysis, Ericson will articulate a new interpretation of mission architecture, shifting focus from the
church building and Spanish agency, to the architectural spaces of everyday life and the role of
community members in constructing meaning.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 21
Klint Ericson The Stakes
My research revisits one of the largest excavations in American anthropological history. Located in
western New Mexico, Hawikku is an often-overlooked site of great significance as the place of first contact
between European, African, and Native cultures in the American Southwest (1538). Its later role in the
Spanish campaign to convert Native peoples to Catholicism makes it a prime candidate for glimpsing how
Pueblo and European cultures interacted in the close intimacy of everyday colonial life. Hawikku’s
previously unpublished mission artifacts present a rich source for understanding the reception of architecture
and material culture among Spanish and Zuni community members.
Research Highlights
Through archival work to reconstruct the process of Hawikku’s excavation, I identified artifacts
associated with the mission, which are now the focus of my research as I inspect, measure, photograph,
and document each piece. I employ a range of media-specific techniques which allow me to characterize
the artifacts individually while inferring their relationship to the larger mission assemblage and social
interactions in the mission community. Ongoing dialogue with the Zuni Tribal Council, institutions such
as the A:shiwi A:wan Museum in Zuni Pueblo, and interested tribal members comprise an added level of
review, ensuring the relevance of my work and its availability to the descendent community—the most
important stakeholder in this history’s telling.
Favorite Moment
Travels to both to Zuni Pueblo and to the Extremadura region of Spain have been a highlight of my
research. In Zuni, I was honored and humbled to see the warm reception of my work among tribal
historians. I have been able to fill in areas of interest to them through my access to archives and
collections of their ancestral heritage long removed from their community. Additionally, visiting the
Extremadura region of western Spain has allowed me to document numerous monastic and parish
churches, collecting a body of comparative material that promises to offer new insights on the roots and
significance of colonial architecture in New Mexico.
Disseminating my Science
I have presented papers at the annual conferences of the Society of Architectural Historians and the
College Art Association, two of the premier organizations in my field. I also contributed to a coauthored
chapter for the next volume of Smithsonian’s Handbook of North American Indians. Finally, I will be
presenting my research in several talks over the next year, for the Smithsonian and the Latrobe Chapter of
the Society of Architectural Historians, among others.
Looking Ahead
My career objective is to teach art history as a politically engaged discourse that facilitates more
democratic and inclusive narratives of the past. I am passionate about teaching as a dialogue of mutual
growth, and seek to expand the historical perspectives, expressive voices, and critical faculties of students
in my classes. This fellowship has furnished the research materials that will be the basis of my work and
publications over the coming years, and has allowed me to establish vital relationship with members of
the Zuni and scientific communities which will prove invaluable.
Word of Thanks
Support from the Buck Fellowship has shaped my work and professional identity. If not for its visionary
emphasis on interdisciplinary work and sustained support for original projects, I could not have
completed the time consumptive research program that I laid out for my dissertation. My time at the
Museum has enabled me to undertake a broader scope of research than would otherwise have been
possible, avoiding a narrow project definition that would have limited my future opportunities and failed
to account for the rich potential of the Hawikku artifacts.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 22
Nathaniel Evans, Dept. of Invertebrate Zoology
University of Florida
Predoctoral Fellow: August 2014 – August 2015
Research Title: Morphological and developmental disparity dynamics associated with the
emergence of commensalism and the loss of swimming in “swimming” crabs
Advisor: Rafael Lemaitre (Curator of decapod Crustacea) and Christopher Meyer (Curator of
Mollusca)
Nathaniel Evans is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Zoology at the University of Florida. He is
interested in studying the systematics and evolutionary history of marine invertebrates, especially
crustaceans. He also frequently participates in marine invertebrate biodiversity surveys where he
actively contributes to the collection, identification, and curation of specimens for Museum
collections. His Ph.D. research, including that conducted as a Buck Fellow, focuses on using
molecular and morphometric data to better understand how morphology evolved during the radiation
of an important lineage of tropical, reef associated crabs belonging to the family Portunidae (a group
that includes our local blue crab, Callinectes sapidus). Evans’ research is also considerably
improving our understanding about the systematics of the crab superfamily Portunoidea (a clade
encompassing ~455 species).
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 23
Nathaniel Evans The Stakes
Morphological disparity is an important measure of biodiversity and understanding its origin is a
significant part of macroevolutionary theory. An active area of research in this field examines the
relative influence of extrinsic (e.g. ecological) and intrinsic (e.g. developmental) factors on
morphological evolution. As a Buck Fellow, I am contributing to this work by using Museum
collections to investigate how morphological and developmental disparity accumulated in a unique
and charismatic lineage of crabs belonging to the economically important “swimming crab” family
Portunidae. Diversification of these crabs included significant ecological divergence that involved
abandoning a swimming lifestyle for sedentary, symbiotic relationships with reef-associated
organisms.
Research Highlights
One really cool finding from my work has been the discovery of additional portunid crabs that have
evolved symbiotic relationships with other reef organisms. This was only made possible by
examining both phylogenetic data and revisiting habitat collection data. These results add important
context for understanding the diversity of these crabs.
Favorite Moment
My phylogenetic work has confirmed and highlighted the talent of previous taxonomists. That is, as a
result of my findings, I will “resurrect” at least one previously described family, one genus and two
species. Figuring out these issues has brought to life the work of previous scientists and I always
enjoy these discoveries.
Disseminating my Science
My research is contributing to six papers, of which four should be submitted by the end of the year.
However, some of my favorite ways of disseminating my work has been through public outreach.
With the help of our Ocean Education staff, I have done several outreach events in the science
learning center, Q?rius. Through these events, I have interacted with over 350 visitors, discussing my
research and hopefully expanding their appreciation for the diversity of an important group of
crustaceans. More broadly, I believe these interactions have also done a small part in helping visitors
better appreciate the importance of natural history museums.
Looking Ahead
For my career I am interested in continuing to conduct collections-based research to investigate
questions about the biology and evolution of crustaceans. I am also interested in disseminating these
findings to the public. The Buck Fellowship has provided a unique opportunity for me to do both of
these things at a premier institution.
Word of Thanks
I would like to sincerely thank you for supporting the work of early career scientists like myself.
Buck Fellowships support an incredibly important part of the research community here at the
Smithsonian. The Buck Fellowships help bring many talented students and postdocs into a large
community of excellent researchers, and give them access to the world’s best natural history
collections while also providing the necessary infrastructure to conduct cutting-edge science. I have
enjoyed and benefited greatly by being a part of this community.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 24
Danielle Fraser, Dept. of Paleobiology
Carleton University (Ottawa, Canada)
Postdoctoral Fellow: August 2015 – August 2017
Research Title: Late Cenozoic mammal phylogenetic community structure
Advisor: Kate Lyons (Research Geologist for Evolution of Terrestrial Ecosystems (ETE) Program)
and Peter Wagner (Curator of Paleozoic Molluscs)
Danielle Fraser received her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Carleton University (Ottawa, Canada)
in May 2015 with an emphasis on Cenozoic (65 Ma – present) North American mammal responses to
global climate changes. She is interested in understanding how climate drives changes in both
speciation and extinction and the community structure of terrestrial vertebrates. She has published 12
papers in prestigious journals including Evolution. During her Peter Buck Fellowship, Fraser will be
studying how the phylogenetic structure of North American mammals has changed in both space and
time under late Cenozoic (~25 Ma – present) climate and environmental changes. Danielle’s project
is a critical step in answering “What factors have led to the emergence of communities as we know
them today?” and will generate predictions for the impact of ongoing global climate change on
terrestrial animal communities that particularly addresses the role of extinction.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 25
Danielle Fraser The Stakes I believe that understanding how and why the numbers and types of animals change under climate
perturbation is particularly critical in the context of ongoing global change. I also believe that the
fossil record is the best source of data on the long-term responses of animals to climate change. The
fossil record is a result of a natural experiment that can help illuminate the processes that lead to the
formation of modern communities and uniquely address the roles of speciation and extinction in
climate change responses. I believe that studies based solely on living (not extinct) organisms are
unlikely to accurately predict the response of organisms due to the exclusion of evolutionary
processes. For these reasons, I use the fossil record to develop predictions for how modern animal
communities might change as global climate change continues.
The Story
In general, paleontology appeals to my tendency to think about biological patterns over thousands of
kilometers and across millions of years. I started my academic career as much more of a traditional
paleontologist, measuring bones and making inferences about the life styles of extinct organisms
(particularly the diets of fossil hoofed mammals; something I still find very interesting). However,
the realization that the fossil record contains high resolution information on how animal communities
have changed over millions of years and that it can have real implications for understanding the
modern world is what really gives me that sense of wonder.
The Smithsonian Difference
The Smithsonian has one of the premier collections of fossil mammals in North America. I can
therefore collect mountains of data on their response to climate change in the last 65 million years.
The National Museum of Natural History is also home to some of the premier researchers in my
field, thus providing me with an unprecedented opportunity for academic enrichment and research
collaboration. Furthermore, I have always worked in departments where almost no one else shared
my research interests. Working at the Smithsonian with researchers whose interests overlap with my
own will be refreshing.
Looking Ahead
I am most excited to meet the numerous research scientists at the Museum and to share my research
ideas with them. I am also looking forward to working with the impressive paleontological
collections at the Museum. On a more specific note, I am looking forward to disseminating my
research at the Museum in both academic (i.e. scientific journals) and public media (e.g. blogs,
twitter) outlets. The Smithsonian affiliation will improve the visibility of my research to the general
public and the impact of my research in the scientific community.
Word of Thanks
I am immensely thankful for the opportunity to work at the Smithsonian Institution. You have given
me an amazing opportunity for career advancement and academic enrichment that I could not have
gotten elsewhere. Your generosity has allowed me to work at one of the most respected institutions in
paleontology and numerous other fields. The benefits of a Peter Buck Postdoctoral Fellowship to my
career will be immeasurable. Not only am I given the opportunity to work at a premier institution but
also to live in a beautiful city in a new country. Please accept my sincere thanks for this amazing
opportunity.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 26
Jessica Goodheart, Dept. of Invertebrate Zoology
University of Maryland, College Park
Predoctoral Fellow: September 2015 – August 2017
Research Title: Phylogenetics of Cladobranchia (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) and the Evolution of
Stinging Organelles (nematocysts) as a Defense Mechanism
Advisors: Ellen Strong (Research Zoologist, Curator of Mollusca) and Allen G. Collins (Research
Zoologist, NMNH & NMFS, NOAA)
Jessica Goodheart is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Maryland, College Park with a
focus on nudibranch systematics. She is interested in understanding the evolutionary relationships
and biodiversity of marine invertebrates, with a particular interest in nudibranch sea slugs. She has
published three papers thus far, including a systematic revision of the sea slug genus
Pleurobranchus. During her Buck Fellowship, Goodheart will perform phylogenomic analyses on
Cladobranchia, a group of nudibranch sea slugs. This will provide a framework for studying the
ability to sequester the stinging organelles of cnidarians, which a number of species within this group
have. Her research will provide the first solid phylogeny of Cladobranchia, and will allow for a
multitude of other studies on the evolution of characters within these sea slugs.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 27
Jessica Goodheart The Stakes
The field of systematics is critical for the advancement of science. Without understanding the
relationships between organisms, we have no basis for comparison in regard to the ecology,
chemistry, behavior, etc., of those organisms. Within sea slugs, there have been multiple species used
for experimentation within the field of medicine, including neurological and pharmaceutical research,
among others. In this regard, two things are critical: 1) the ability to define a species, and 2) an
understanding of which species are most closely related. When these critical points are not followed,
the conclusions drawn in any experiment may be incorrect. My job is to use scientific tools to
organize groups of organisms and to clarify their evolutionary relationships so all scientists can feel
confident in their conclusions.
The Story
Jellyfish are pretty cool organisms already, and the fact that they can sting other organisms to defend
themselves or capture food makes them deadly cool. But what if there were other animals that could
steal those stingers and use them for themselves? Enter nudibranchs! Though not the only animals
that can do so, some of the nudibranchs I study can steal those stinging organelles (called
nematocysts) and use them in their own defense. But how did this ability evolve? Some of the
structures involved are complex, and very little is known about the steps involved in the evolution of
this ability. This story really captured my attention simply by being so fascinating: sea slugs that can
steal stingers from (arguably) some of the more dangerous organisms in the world? How could I not
be interested!
The Smithsonian Difference
I know the Smithsonian is going to be a fantastic place to do my research. The top-notch laboratory
facilities will make it easy to do my research, but what I’m most excited about is the knowledge and
expertise at the National Museum of Natural History. I expect to learn a lot in my time at the
Smithsonian and I hope to do some really great research.
Looking Ahead
The taxonomic, systematic, and morphological expertise is fantastic at the National Museum of
Natural History, and I am excited to work with some of the top scientists in their fields. It is not
every day you get to work with and beside world-renowned scientists.
Word of Thanks
I would like to express my most sincere gratitude to Dr. Buck for this wonderful opportunity. The
chance to continue my scientific inquiry at an institution as renowned as the Smithsonian is
unbelievably exciting for any young scientist, and I recognize that the National Museum of Natural
History will be a great place to advance my work.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 28
Morgan Gostel, Dept. of Botany
George Mason University
Postdoctoral Fellow: September 2015 – September 2017
Research Title: A conserved ortholog set (COS) for Compositae: A case study in Moquiniastrum
and outreach through GGI-Gardens
Advisor: Vicki Funk (Curator, Botany) and Rebecca Dikow (co-advisor, Postdoctoral Fellow in
Biodiversity Genomics)
Morgan Gostel joined the Global Genome Initiative as a postdoctoral fellow in September 2015.
Gostel manages outreach, training, and development of the GGI Gardens program and is using
phylogenomics methods to explore species-level evolutionary relationships in flowering plants. He
will be studying the diversity and evolutionary history among approximately 20 species of
Moquiniastrum, a diverse genus of herbaceous plants and trees from South America. The molecular
tools that he is using to study Moquiniastrum will also allow researchers to better understand the
evolutionary history of other groups in the family to which it belongs (Asteraceae) which, with ca.
25,000 species, is one of the most diverse families of angiosperms on Earth. Gostel’s research
interests include angiosperm systematics, comparative phylogenomics, historical biogeography,
biodiversity conservation policy, and the role of natural history collections for genomics. He received
his Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Policy from George Mason University.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 29
Morgan Gostel The Stakes
The diversity of life has an incredible history and GGI is helping to share it by preserving genomes.
My research will represent a collection of genome-quality tissue samples from all of the families and
50% of the named genera from plants on Earth. Thanks to partnerships with botanic gardens,
greenhouses, and arboreta worldwide, GGI Gardens will be a leader in plant genomics. Information
contained within the DNA of genomes is tantamount to understanding the evolutionary history of life
on Earth. Our capacity to understand the evolutionary process depends on methods to sequence and
compare regions of DNA that contain fragments of this history. My research with Moquiniastrum
and the sunflower family (Asteraceae) will enable discoveries that help reconstruct the historical
events and evolutionary innovations leading to one of the most diverse groups on plants on Earth.
The Story
I have been captivated by the natural world since I was a child. Growing up on a small farm, my
earliest memories are of walking through orchards, picking and eating fruit off of a branch. My
family instilled within me a deep appreciation for the beauty of biological diversity by sharing
outdoor experiences across US National Parks throughout my childhood. These memories inspire my
interests and research today, but they are directed by a curiosity to understand the origins of such
incredible diversity. What drives the evolution of such endless forms most beautiful?
The Smithsonian Difference
The Museum’s Botany Department houses one of the most diverse research collections of flowering
plants in the United States, and GGI is an example of ambitious, transformative biological research
achievable only at the Smithsonian. My work is possible thanks to the vision of GGI, diversity of
Museum collections, global reach of the Smithsonian, technological laboratory resources, and tissue
preservation capacity of the Biorepository. Ultimately, what drives the work of the Smithsonian are
the global experts working here. Vicki Funk is a world-renowned expert in the diversity of
Asteraceae, with over 35 years of research experience. No one on Earth knows more about the
sunflower family—one of the most species rich families of plants—than Dr. Funk. Rebecca Dikow, a
postdoctoral fellow with the Institute for Biodiversity Genomics, brings a similar expertise to 21st
genomic data analysis. Together, we will work to transform our knowledge of tropical plant diversity
and evolution—that is Seriously Amazing.
Looking Ahead
I am most excited about the opportunity to extend the Smithsonian’s global network by expanding
the GGI Gardens program and working with botanic gardens worldwide. This program will allow the
Smithsonian to partner with other research institutions that have living collections of a majority of
plant diversity. Partnering with these institutions to collect genomic tissues will be the biggest project
I have ever been a part of and one that can transform the landscape of plant genomics.
Word of Thanks
The opportunity to work at the Smithsonian as a Buck postdoctoral fellow is the most important
achievement in my life, to date. I remember visiting the Museum as a child and imagining what it
would be like to one day work at such a place. Today I am living a dream, fulfilled through hard
work, but tempered with curiosity and joy that comes through discovery every day. I cannot thank
you enough for making this research fellowship possible and providing researchers like me with an
opportunity to pursue a career in natural history. I hope that I can express my gratitude fully through
my commitment every day to tireless effort and patience that comes with a love for the work I do.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 30
Andrew Gottscho, Department of Vertebrate Zoology
San Diego State University
Postdoctoral Fellow: September 2015 – June 2017
Research Title: Systematics and Species Delimitation of Zebra-tailed Lizards (Callisaurus)
Advisors: Kevin de Queiroz (Research Zoologist) and Michael Braun (Research Scientist)
Andrew Gottscho received his Ph.D. in August 2015 from San Diego State University and the
University of California, Riverside (joint-doctoral program in Evolutionary Biology). His primary
research interests are speciation, species delimitation, phylogeography, and conservation of lizards
(family Phrynosomatidae) in southwestern North America. As a Peter Buck postdoctoral fellow,
Gottscho will be studying the systematics of species of zebra-tailed lizards (Callisaurus), integrating
morphological and genomic data to test alternative species delimitation hypotheses.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 31
Andrew Gottscho The Stakes
One of the four grand challenges of the Smithsonian is understanding and sustaining a biodiverse
planet, specifically to “improve understanding of and access to the biology and natural history of
species” and to “increase knowledge of the evolutionary and ecological history of species and
ecosystems.” I anticipate that my research will make valuable contributions to the fields of
population and evolutionary biology and historical biogeography by synthesizing and integrating
across a variety of disparate disciplines including morphology, genomics, bioinformatics, ecology,
and geology.
My research may also have important conservation implications. Notwithstanding disagreements
over definitions, the species remains the most fundamental unit of biodiversity for conservation, and
the North American deserts represent a high conservation priority. Thus, systematic research is
important because we need to have a solid understanding of species limits and relationships to
accurately quantify biodiversity. We cannot protect biodiversity, much of it hidden in plain sight,
unless we know what is out there and how it evolved.
The Story
Over the course of my graduate education, I have worked with Callisaurus extensively in the field
and they have become, in my opinion, the most interesting lizard in southwestern North America. I
am especially interested in them because: 1) they have a huge range across the deserts of North
America, including the Great Basin, Mojave, Sonoran, and Peninsular Deserts, spanning a large
latitudinal range, 2) they occur on at least 16 islands in the Gulf of California/Pacific Ocean, making
them ideal organisms to test hypotheses regarding islands biogeography, 3) they occur on either side
of the Gulf of California, making them ideal organisms to test hypotheses regarding the role of the
San Andreas Fault system in promoting speciation, and 4) numerous subspecies have been described
over the past 100+ years, but none of these subspecies are currently recognized, making them an
ideal group to test alternative species delimitation hypotheses.
The Smithsonian Difference
I am sure that my time as a postdoctoral fellow at the Smithsonian will open many doors for me,
especially future career opportunities. I am excited that USGS and NOAA also have offices at the
Museum, because these are agencies that I would be happy to work with in the future—I would like
to make a real difference in biodiversity conservation and management. Regardless of whether I end
up primarily doing teaching, research, or outreach in the future, I expect that I will grow as a scientist
during my fellowship and build new connections that will last throughout my career.
Looking Ahead
I am looking forward to building connections with other researchers at the Museum and National
Zoo, finishing my years of work on Callisaurus, and reaching some sort of closure regarding the
numbers of species and their geographic boundaries within this complex. I am also looking forward
to experiencing the rich intellectual culture of Washington, DC outside of the Museum.
Word of Thanks
I am incredibly grateful for this amazing opportunity, which is afforded to so few researchers. The
applicant pool was very competitive and I am truly fortunate to have made the final cut. Thank you,
Dr. Buck, for funding this fellowship program!
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 32
AJ Harris, Dept. of Botany
Oklahoma State University
Postdoctoral Fellow: January 2016 – January 2018
Research Title: The effects of time, speciation and extinction rates, and morphological traits on
assembly of the woody flora of North America
Advisors: Research Botanists and Curators Jun Wen, Pedro Acevedo, Warren Wagner, and Elizabeth
Zimmer
AJ Harris completed her Ph.D. in Plant Science at the Oklahoma State University in December 2014.
She is interested in all aspects of plant evolution, particularly historical biogeography. She has
published 12 papers, including a new method in historical biogeographic analysis. Additionally,
Harris has also worked extensively on temperate, Northern Hemisphere biogeography with
collaborators in China through a National Science Foundation East Asia Pacific Summer Institutes
Fellowship. She plans to continue her study of the historical biogeography of Northern Hemisphere
plants during her Buck Fellowship. In particular, she will examine the relationships between the
historical colonization of North America by woody tree species in 15 plant families and their rates of
evolution; especially molecular divergence, evolution of functional traits, and speciation and
extinction rates. To more critically examine the relationships between colonization success and
functional traits, Harris will concentrate some of her research efforts on extant and fossil species in
the sister genera Acer L. (maples) and Aesculus L. (buckeyes; Sapindaceae or soapberries). She
expects that her research will lead to a better understanding of the historical assembly of the woody
North American flora and its present patterns of plant biodiversity.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 33
AJ Harris The Stakes
Prior studies have focused on geographic area size as a primary driver of colonization success. My
study will be among the first to consider the roles of biological processes, particularly molecular and
morphological evolution, on colonization success. I expect that my study will provide insights into
the biological influence on colonization success of North American woody plant clades. Moreover,
my study will provide a methodological framework for better integrating biological processes into
future work on colonization.
The Story
I am excited by historical biogeography for two main reasons. First, its multidisciplinary nature
enables me to design and conduct research that utilizes a diverse skill set including skills at working
in molecular and anatomy laboratories, in the field, and behind the computer. Thus, very few ‘days in
the office’ are ever alike. Second, and more importantly, historical biogeography has been
fundamental to advancing theories of evolution (Wallace, 1858; Darwin, 1859), biodiversity (von
Humboldt, 1807), and continental drift (Wegener, 1915). I strongly believe that historical
biogeography can continue to make essential contributions to these great disciplines and others. I am
very happy that I get to play a small role in that.
The research that I plan to accomplish during my Buck Fellowship capitalizes on my existing
research strengths in the areas of phylogeny, bioinformatics, and biodiversity informatics, floras, and
Sapindaceae.
The Smithsonian Difference
My project will benefit from the talents of my four advisors and others in the Smithsonian Botany
and Paleontology Departments in the areas of systematics, morphology, paleobotany, and
biogeography. My project will be dependent upon Smithsonian facilities, especially the herbarium
collections which are unparalleled for representing North American plant species. I will also utilize
the plant anatomy lab for morphological trait research, L.A.B for generating molecular sequences,
and the paleobotanical collections for studying extinct species of Aesculus and Acer, and the high
performance computing system for my data analyses.
I believe that training at Smithsonian facilities will prepare me for a strongly and necessarily
multidisciplinary research career in historical biogeography, and that professionally networking with
Smithsonian scientists will help me to become established in my field.
Looking Ahead
I am excited to get started at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History to take
ownership of my multifaceted project. The project is a big undertaking and will be challenging, but it
is made possible by the Institution’s diverse, onsite resources and facilities.
Word of Thanks
The opportunity to work at the Smithsonian and pursue a self-designed research project in historical
biogeography has been a dream for me since I started work on my M.S. degree. I am not fully able to
convey in words my extreme gratitude to Dr. Buck for his essential role in making my dream a
reality. I sincerely hope that the small contributions of my work will be consistent with Dr. Buck’s
vision for the Fellowship.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 34
Maria Heikkilä, Depts. of Entomology and Paleobiology
University of Helsinki (Finland)
Postdoctoral Fellow: February 2015 – January 2017
Research Title: Improved time frame for the diversification of Lepidoptera (moths & butterflies): a
synthesis of paleontology, next-generation sequencing and morphology
Advisors: Conrad Labandeira (Curator in Paleobiology), Don Davis (Emeritus Curator of
Lepidoptera), and Charles Mitter (NMNH Research Associate, University of Maryland)
Maria Heikkilä received her Ph.D. in December 2014 from the Finnish Museum of Natural History,
University of Helsinki, Finland. In her thesis she dealt with the evolutionary history of one of the
largest groups of insects, moths and butterflies (> 157,000 described species). The emphasis of her
research was in finding morphological evidence to help resolve the evolutionary relationships among
major lineages of moths and butterflies. During her Buck Fellowship she will be using this large
dataset of morphological characters to examine and identify several hundred moth and butterfly
fossils. The securely identified fossils will be used as calibration points in dating analyses aiming at
estimating a time frame for the evolution of this diverse group of insects. She will also explore when
and under what paleoecological circumstances did the major moth and butterfly lineages arise and
how transitions from feeding on dead plant material to live plants have affected diversification rates.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 35
Maria Heikkilä The Stakes
The aim of my project is to greatly increase the number of securely identified moth and butterfly
fossils both in the Smithsonian collection and major external collections. By combining evolutionary
trees based on genomic data and information obtained from fossils, we are able to estimate better
when moths and butterflies have evolved and diversified. We can also explore why certain lineages
are more diverse in terms of species numbers than others, and could the causes be in the geological
and climatic history of the Earth. Such information can potentially help in predicting the effects of
climate change on the extant lineages. Understanding the evolutionary history of moths and
butterflies will also help understand that of many other groups of organisms, for example, bats and parasitoid wasps.
Research Highlights
In the six months that I have worked on my fellowship project, I have already been able to critically
examine the identifications of over 100 fossils. A number of these fossils show reliable
morphological characters that will allow me to place them in a phylogenetic context and use them as
calibration points in divergence time analyses.
Favorite Moment
Finding fossils of moths showing morphological structures that are clear evidence that the moth has
shared a common ancestor with a group extant moths also having this character. Such fossils of
moths and butterflies are rare!
Disseminating my Science
I was asked to coauthor a study to be published in Systematic Entomology on the phylogeny of the
superfamily Gelechioidea by another Buck Fellow, Jae-Cheon Sohn. I have also been invited to
organize a symposium on fossil moths and butterflies at the congress of Societas Europaea
Lepidopterologica this fall.
Looking Ahead
I think the opportunity to work at the Smithsonian will have a significant influence on my
professional development and future possibilities to receive grants and hopefully a permanent
position as a researcher or curator. The Museum has a great reputation also in my home country,
Finland. Having been given the opportunity to work in the exceptional collections and learn from the
leading experts in my field will be appreciated by potential funders and employers. I have already
learned a lot and made many contacts, as many researchers, both American and international, have
visited the Museum.
Word of Thanks
I am truly grateful that this grant is available for researchers in evolutionary systematics. I have often
felt that this field has less funding opportunities, as people may not see the importance of
understanding the evolutionary history of organisms. I also appreciate that researchers from all
around the world are eligible to apply for the grant. I am very grateful to have been given this
opportunity and will do my best to advance research on the Museum collections.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 36
Margaret A. G. Hinkle, Dept. of Mineral Sciences
Washington University in St. Louis
Postdoctoral Fellow: June 2015 – June 2017
Research Title: Controls on Mycogenic Manganese Oxide Phase Transformations and Subsequent
Impact on Contaminant and Micronutrient Fate
Advisor: Jeffrey E. Post (Geologist and Curator-in-Charge, Mineral Collection) and Cara M. Santelli
(Geologist, Division of Mineralogy)
Margaret Hinkle obtained her Ph.D. from Washington University in St. Louis in Earth and Planetary
Sciences this past May, focusing on aqueous geochemistry and mineralogy. Her interest centers on
understanding how constituents common in natural systems (such as micronutrients and
contaminants) are affected during iron and manganese biogeochemical cycling, and how
biogeochemical processes at the mineral-water interface affect the compositions of natural waters in
present day and geologic systems. She has published three papers and has two papers currently in
review. Through her Buck Fellowship, she will investigate fungi that control the precipitation of
manganese oxides and assess the degree to which these mycogenic manganese oxides alter nickel,
zinc, cobalt, and chromium sorption behaviors and long-term sequestration. Hinkle’s research is
directly applicable to coal mine drainage remediation methods, as manganese oxidizing fungi are
used in some coal mine drainage remediation strategies. In addition, her research will provide insight
into the controls fungi exert on micronutrient bioavailability and the specific manganese oxide
minerals observed in modern and ancient systems.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 37
Margaret A. G. Hinkle The Stakes The research I will conduct with my Buck Fellowship is important in understanding the processes
that affect trace metal concentrations and manganese (Mn) oxide mineral reactivity in natural
systems. Mn oxides are widespread minerals that exert substantial controls on trace metals, including
nickel, zinc, cobalt, and chromium, all of which are important micronutrients but also water and soil
contaminants at higher concentrations. Fungi may be very important in controlling the reactivity of
Mn oxides and Mn oxide formation in natural and metal-polluted systems, such as coal mine
drainage remediation sites, and may stabilize highly reactive Mn oxides similar to those most
common in the geologic record. My project will identify how trace metal uptake in mycogenic Mn
oxides change over time and will provide insight into the controls fungi exert on Mn oxide reactivity.
The Story
I have long been interested in understanding mineral surface reactions as a means to predict the
large-scale behavior and health of environmental systems. Fungi are intimately linked to several
geologic processes, such as element cycling, mineral formation and dissolution, and rock weathering,
and are important players in soil formation, the bioavailability of micronutrients, and the mobility of
contaminants. I find biomineralization to be a fascinating topic, and am very excited to be entering
the burgeoning field of geomycology with my Smithsonian research.
The Smithsonian Difference
Researching biogenic Mn oxides presents a unique set of technical challenges, but the Mineral
Sciences Division at the Smithsonian houses instruments optimized for analyzing such materials: two
rapid µ-X-ray diffractometers and an environmental scanning electron microscope. Making use of
the free and unlimited access to these instruments considerably increases the number of conditions
and variables that could be researched at another institution. During my project, I will learn microbial
research techniques and methods at the cutting-edge of biogeochemical research.
Looking Ahead
I am thrilled to embark on a project that I have envisioned and designed from the ground up. Until
now, I have always focused on abiotic systems, so I am excited to learn how to conduct microbial
experiments as I start my work in the Geomicrobiology lab. Part of my proposed research will entail
conducting synchrotron-based X-ray microprobe analyses—a technique that I have long wanted to
learn and incorporate into my research. Above all, I am most excited to learn from my colleagues in
the Mineral Sciences Department here at the Smithsonian.
Word of Thanks
I would like to thank Dr. Buck for supporting young researchers like myself with his fellowship
program. It is incredibly generous to provide so many Ph.D. graduates and candidates the opportunity
to conduct independent research projects. With your support through this fellowship, I have the
freedom to focus on developing and implementing my own research plan and the ability to learn
microbial research techniques from experts in my field. As I intend to obtain a faculty position and
run a research laboratory focused on mineral surface reactions in microbial systems, the skills I will
learn during my postdoc at the Smithsonian are of critical importance. No other institution has better
resources (both in terms of the instrumentation and the personnel), and I count myself lucky to be
able to spend my next two years here. I hope to be able to help aspiring scientists in their endeavors
as you have helped me through your fellowship program.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 38
Ana Ješovnik, Dept. of Entomology
University of Maryland, College Park
Predoctoral Fellow: July 2014 – July 2016
Research Title: Phylogeny and taxonomy of the fungus-growing ant genus: species delimitation in
Sericomyrmex
Advisor: Ted R. Schultz (Curator of Hymenoptera)
Ana Ješovnik graduated with a Master degree from University in Zagreb in Croatia. She studies ants
and is most interested in their natural history, evolution, and taxonomy. She published four papers,
two of them on fungus-growing ants, and another two are being prepared for publications this year.
During her time as Buck Fellow, she is planning to finish her study of the fungus-growing ant genus
Sericomyrmex: revise its taxonomy, reconstruct its evolutionary history using novel genomic
markers, and understand the relationship of ants with its symbiont—the fungus cultivar they grow in
their nests. She is also interested in ant nest architecture, and is trying to understand what factors
drive nest architecture specificity in Sericomyrmex and other fungus-growing ants. Ješovnik’s
research will provide the much needed key to understanding the species of Sericomyrmex and will be
the first reconstruction of evolutionary history of their fungal cultivars.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 39
Ana Ješovnik The Stakes
Understanding the diversity and biology of fungus-growing ants will bring us closer to understanding
the diversity of very endangered biomes of Central and South America, like the rainforest of Amazon
and Brazilian savanna, and hopefully facilitate the conservation efforts to preserve them.
Research Highlights
Unlike the typical taxonomic revision of any neglected insect genera, where we usually find
previously hidden diversity, genus Sericomyrmex appears to have fewer number of species than
previously believed. This is surprising because it suggests that Sericomyrmex has achieved a broad
geographic and biotic distribution with only a small degree of accompanying speciation, in contrast
to most other ant species.
Favorite Moment
Finding the elusive fungus-farming ant species Mycetosoritis asper during a field trip in Brazil,
previously known from only three specimens. We had the luck of finding and collecting 20 colonies
of this very rare ant, whose position in phylogeny of fungus-growing ants is uncertain, and whose
fungal cultivar was never before collected.
Disseminating my Science
Invited talks
“South American ant farmers: evolution of genus Sericomyrmex” BIOM lectures, held at University
of Zagreb, Faculty of Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia, June 2015. A great opportunity to share my research
to colleagues, friends, and former professors.
“Journey to the Ants,” Croatian Embassy, Washington DC, January 2014. A general public talk for
the monthly social event, “Croatian Hour,” and attended by journalist Branka Slavica, who got
inspired by ants and asked me to film a short news story about me in the Museum’s Antlab for
Croatian National Television show, “Glas domovine” (broadcasted in December 2014).
Looking Ahead
All of the skills that I acquired and will acquire during my stay at the Museum will be highly
valuable once I return to my country, Croatia, where resources and opportunities are much more
limited. I will be highly qualified for many scientific positions in my country, and I will be able to
share my knowledge with people that need them and will appreciate them.
Word of Thanks
The idea that someone cares about students and postdocs, people in early stages of their careers, and
cares enough to donate significant funds for them still amazes me. This reminds me of old-time
science and art patrons, that I read about in old books, and it gives me a lot of hope for humanity in
general. So thank you very much for not just amazing financial support, but for also believing that we
are worthy of that support.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 40
Caroline D. Judy, Dept. of Vertebrate Zoology
Louisiana State University
Predoctoral Fellow: January 2014 – January 2016
Research Title: Speciation and hybridization in the Jamaican-endemic streamertail hummingbirds
(Trochilus polytmus and T. scitulus)
Advisor: Gary R. Graves (Curator of Birds and Head of Vertebrate Zoology) and Robb T. Brumfield
(Director of the Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Science & Roy Paul Daniels
Professor of Biology)
Caroline D. Judy is working toward her doctorate at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge,
Louisiana. Her primary research interests are in the biodiversity and evolution of birds. She
integrates specimen-based research, behavioral studies, and molecular approaches to better
understand what drives speciation and hybridization in natural populations. Her dissertation focuses
on disentangling the evolutionary history of the recently-diverged streamertail hummingbirds
(Trochilus polytmus and T. scitulus). The results of her work will aid in delimitation and conservation
of these Jamaican endemics.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 41
Caroline Judy The Stakes
How species are delimited has a big impact on biodiversity assessments and management decisions.
Yet, in nature, hybridization between or among closely-related organisms can complicate
morphological and genetic patterns, rendering taxonomic decisions difficult. Using an
interdisciplinary approach, my research aims to elucidate the evolutionary patterns that underpin
species divergence in the closely-related streamertail hummingbirds, which are known to hybridize.
The morphological, genetic, and behavioral studies I have conducted throughout my two-year
fellowship will help answer the taxonomic question, “Are these one species or two?” Doing so will
impact how the populations are managed and marketed for ecotourism. Stay tuned!
Research Highlights
In December 2014, I collected streamertail hummingbirds from Jamaica. This effort resulted in the
addition of 29 new museum specimens to the collection. Additionally, I was able to preserve fresh
RNA and DNA material for my genetic studies, which are underway. I have co-authored two papers
this year, and have a third, first-author paper currently in review. I also participated in the Woods
Hole Workshop for Molecular Evolution, an excellent training opportunity for the field of
evolutionary biology.
Favorite Moment
Perhaps my most favorite moment was catching an especially elusive hybrid streamertail in eastern
Jamaica. We have few definitive hybrid individuals in the collection, so targeting hybrids to increase
their representation in the collection was a primary goal of mine during my field season. This hybrid
male was pretty smart (for a hummingbird) and kept evading our nets. So, my team of Jamaican
assistants got creative, and we found a way to rig the nets in a vertical alignment that ultimately led
to his successful capture. We had spent two days managing the nets under difficult weather
conditions, and it was a happy moment when we finally outsmarted him!
Disseminating my Science
I presented my research findings at the Evolution meeting in Raleigh, North Carolina (2014), and
again at the American Ornithologists Union meeting in Estes Park, Colorado (2014). While in
Jamaica, I also presented my research to the National Environment and Planning Agency, the agency
in charge of issuing wildlife permits and protecting Jamaican wildlife and habitats. Discussing the
merits of projects like mine goes a long way in shaping positive attitudes toward museums and paves
the way for good science and conservation both home and abroad. I am also disseminating my work
through peer-reviewed publication.
Looking Ahead
After finishing my Ph.D., I hope to secure a position that will enable me to continue doing research
in the field of evolutionary biology. My husband and I are considering permanent residence in the
D.C. area, and the Smithsonian has been hugely helpful to me both in terms of training and in terms
of networking. This fellowship opportunity has allowed me to meet and get to know many local
evolutionary biologists, which will help me tremendously as I apply to jobs in the area.
Word of Thanks
Thank you so much for giving so generously to our scientific community. I never dreamed I would
receive such ample financial support to pursue my research from the National Museum of Natural
History. Please come visit us here one day.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 42
Ehsan Kayal, Dept. of Invertebrate Zoology
Iowa State University
Postdoctoral Fellow: September 2014 – August 2016
Research Title: Molecular systematics of demosponges in the genomic era: developing new
morphology-like molecular tools for taxonomic studies
Advisor: Allen G. Collins (Research Zoologist, NMNH & NMFS, NOAA)
Ehsan Kayal received his Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology from the Department of Ecology, Evolution,
and Organismal Biology (EEOB) at Iowa State University in December 2011. He is interested in the
evolution of linear mitochondrial genomes and the relationship between first diverging animal
groups. He has published seven papers and presented several talks at international conferences.
During his Buck Fellowship, Kayal will try to develop an easy and inexpensive method for obtaining
the complete sequence of the mitochondrial genome. The goal is to make the mitochondrial DNA
(mtDNA) the new barcoding molecular marker replacing the traditionally used single-gene approach.
To do so, Kayal will focus on the largest group of sponges, Demospongiae, for which traditional
taxonomy is difficult. He also hopes to test newly proposed evolutionary scenarios for the group
using mtDNA data.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 43
Ehsan Kayal The Stakes
Given the relatively high cost of genome sequencing, most phylogenetic and diversity studies still
rely on at most one nuclear (18S) and two mitochondrial (COI and 16S) genes. Recent works in
sponges have shown the limitations of these markers. Obtaining complete mitochondrial DNA
(mtDNA) data will provide additional molecular characters that could be used to infer the
evolutionary history of sponges. If successful for sponges, a group considered difficult, this approach
can easily be applied to other, more “traditional” animal groups as well. In addition, a standard
method to sequence the complete mtDNA can also be adapted to other small genomes, such as the
plast and bacterial DNA. Such a method would be of great help in the study of small genomes by
improving data acquisition.
Research Highlights
So far, we have tested the above-mentioned protocol and learned that while the first part (capturing
the mtDNA through long-range PCR reaction) is problematic, the second part (sequencing many
templates through a high-level multiplexing approach) is successful. The next step consists in
figuring out news ways of capturing the genetic regions of interest (complete mitochondrial DNA)
using a baiting approach.
Favorite Moment
That particular moment when, after running a test, we saw promising results and I realized the
sequencing approach was successful. I really appreciate seeing that at least part of the protocol I was
trying worked.
Disseminating my Science
During the past month, I had the opportunity to mentor an intern through the Museum’s YES! (Youth
Engagement through Science) program. The intern (Max) helped me with the test the sequencing
protocol that was part of my fellowship project. It was a great and challenging experience to try
explaining quite complex concepts to a high-schooler, and I was lucky to be working with a very
bright kid. I was told that his experience at the Museum has shaped his wish for becoming a
molecular biologist.
Looking Ahead
I plan to develop an academic career, preferably at a university, with my time split between teaching
and research. This fellowship has provided me with the opportunity to pursue my work at the
Smithsonian and to collaborate with great researchers. The Smithsonian is a well-respected
institution and my experience there will be a definitive boost in pursuing my career.
Word of Thanks
I am grateful to Dr. Buck, and others like him, for providing the opportunity for young scientists to
pursue their goals, in that way indirectly helping in the acquisition and spread of knowledge.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 44
Neil Kelley, Dept. of Paleobiology
University of California, Davis
Postdoctoral Fellow: January 2014 – December 2015
Research Title: Macroevolutionary convergences in the adaptations of marine tetrapods: evaluating
large-scale morphological parallelisms from Mesozoic to Cenozoic
Advisor: Nicholas D. Pyenson (Curator of Fossil Marine Mammals) and Matthew T. Carrano
(Curator of Dinosauria)
Neil Kelley received his Ph.D. in Geology from the University of California, Davis in 2012. His
primary research focus is the evolution and paleoecology of marine vertebrates descended from land-
dwelling ancestors including whales, seals, and sea turtles as well as extinct Mesozoic marine reptiles
such as ichthyosaurs. During his Buck Fellowship, he is investigating the parallel evolutionary
histories of these groups. He has authored or co-authored nine papers and presented his research at
numerous conferences and invited lectures. He has worked in museum collections in Europe, China,
and North and South America as well as organized fieldwork in the western United States.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 45
Neil Kelley The Stakes
The repeated invasions of the sea by land vertebrates provide a series of evolutionary “experiments”
helping to reveal the macroevolutionary mechanisms that allow different organisms to achieve
dramatic shifts in anatomy and ecology. Because these animals occupy or occupied a wide variety of
ecological roles—from herbivores to apex predators—they provide an important index of changes in
global marine ecosystems over many millions of years.
Research Highlights
This past year I have focused on compiling the history of more than 30 living and extinct groups of
terrestrial vertebrate that have readapted to marine life. The broad pattern of fossil diversity of these
groups resembles patterns observed in the marine invertebrate fossil record, in particular a notable
inflection point in fossil richness following the end-Cretaceous extinction that likely reflects an
increase in ocean productivity and a restructuring in marine ecosystems. These results were
published as part of a paper in Science earlier this year. I am also comparing metrics of evolutionary
“success” between groups (e.g., diversity, lineage duration, geographic range), and find a clear link
to key evolutionary innovations, such as the ability to give birth in the water and specialized
swimming modes. These results are being prepared for submission to a top-tier academic journal.
Finally, I have led the effort to digitize a key fossil site in Nevada that records the mass death of
whale-sized ichthyosaurs roughly 220 million years ago. Comparing this site to similar mass death
events among marine mammals and other marine vertebrates in the fossil record and today will
provide a key indicator of marine ecosystem perturbations through time.
Favorite Moment
Visiting Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park in Nevada last September was a highlight of my experience. I
have heard and read about the site for many years: giant skeletons of extinct “sea monsters” studding
the hillside in a remote corner of the Nevada desert. Finally getting to see the site up close—and not
merely as a tourist but as a research scientist—actively reconnected me to the wonder of using the
fossil record to peer into deep time and understand the dynamic history of our planet.
Disseminating my Science
I had two well-received papers published earlier this year: a comparative study of diet and
morphology in marine tetrapods in Biology Letters and a review of marine tetrapod evolution in
Science. I was also fortunate to have the opportunity to discuss this work with several media outlets
including an interview on the NPR show Splendid Table, talking about the dietary evolution of
marine tetrapods (http://www.splendidtable.org/story/how-land-animals-became-marine-animals-
they-followed-their-stomachs).
Looking Ahead
I am currently applying for tenure-track positions at multiple universities, seeking a position that will
allow me to combine my love of research and engaging students and the public about the history of
life on our planet. My Buck Fellowship has been a tremendous asset in working toward this goal,
both in terms of prestige but more importantly in opportunities to advance my research and
communication skills.
Word of Thanks
I cannot exaggerate my gratitude for this opportunity! I hope the research successes documented
underscore my appreciation.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 46
Fredrick Larabee, Dept. of Entomology
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Postdoctoral Fellow: September 2015 – September 2017
Research Title: Morphometrics and Biomechanics of Ant Mouthparts
Advisor: Ted R. Schultz (Curator of Hymenoptera)
Fredrick Larabee received his Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-
Champaign in August 2015. His research interest centers on the evolution and biomechanics of insect
mouthparts. For his doctoral dissertation, he explored the evolutionary relationships among species
of trap-jaw ants using molecular phylogenetics and described the mechanical mechanism of their
jaws. During his Buck Fellowship, he will compare mandible and muscle anatomy among ant species
and look for correlations between mandible structure and ecological use. This research will provide a
better understanding of how ant mouthparts work and reveal some of the evolutionary processes that
have generated the more than 13,000 ant species on the planet.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 47
Fredrick Larabee The Stakes
Ants are one of the most numerically abundant and ecologically dominant life forms on the planet,
with over 13,000 species currently known. My research will document how much variation exists in
ant mouthpart and muscle anatomy and look for correlations between the shape of ant mouthparts
and how they are used. I will generate digital three-dimensional models of ant heads with X-Ray
imaging that will allow for a non-destructive visualization of internal anatomy. These models will
also allow me to measure the mechanical properties of ant muscles and mouthparts in a digital
environment to reveal how they work. How insect mouthparts operate and how they have evolved is
critical for understanding how evolution has generated the patterns of diversity we observe in nature.
The Story
I like using new tools to answer difficult questions. Next-generation imaging technology, like the X-
Ray scanning I will be using during my fellowship, has allowed biologists to visualize biological
structures in completely new ways and use collections to answer questions that would never have
been possible in the past. Examining nature in this fresh and integrative way is very satisfying to me.
The Smithsonian Difference
The ant collection at the National Museum of Natural History is one of the largest in the world, and
has representatives from the majority of named ant species. Access to this collection will be critical
to completing my work, but even more important to me professionally is access to the curators and
researchers who are also using the collection. I have been amazed at the insight, excitement, and
guidance I have received from Smithsonian scientists during previous interactions at the Museum.
Looking Ahead
Beyond conducting my research, I am excited about the opportunity for outreach at the Museum.
Three-dimensional models are a great way to communicate anatomy, and I am looking forward to
making my ant visualization available to the public to convey insect biology in a new and exciting
way.
Word of Thanks
I am so grateful for the opportunity to begin my career at the Smithsonian Institution. My research
would not have been possible without support from Dr. Buck, and I cannot think of a better place to
investigate and communicate my love for the natural world.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 48
Francesca Leasi, Dept. of Invertebrate Zoology
University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Italy)
Postdoctoral Fellow: September 2015 – August 2017
Research Title: Genome Diversity and Evolution in Microscopic Organisms (Meiofauna)
Advisor: Jon L. Norenburg (Chair and Research Zoologist), Jonathan A. Coddington (Curator of
Arachnids & Myriapods, and Director, GGI), Kelley W. Thomas (Hubbard Center for Genome
Studies, University of New Hampshire)
Francesca Leasi received her Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology with an emphasis on the evolution and
phylogeny of microscopic invertebrates (meiofauna) at University of Modena and Reggio Emilia,
Italy in April 2007. She then worked as a postdoc in Denmark, England, and the United States. She is
interested in investigating the diversity and distribution of meiofauna, phylogenetic relationships and
evolutionary history reconstructions among different taxa. She has published about 30 papers, and a
book on the rotifer fauna in the Mediterranean Sea. During her Buck Fellowship, Leasi will explore
the genome of species across different taxa that have been separated by the geological closure of the
seaway across the Panama Isthmus. Having reference genomes available from these neglected
organisms will provide significant insights with regards to the genomics of speciation, and build
upon previous research that has examined the impact of vicariance on genetic divergence and the
evolution of reproductive isolation.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 49
Francesca Leasi The Stakes
Meiofauna represent an outstanding model to address evolutionary and ecology questions for many
reasons. Genetic information, however, remains rare for meiofauna and data usually represent only
short regions of the genome. This project aims to use Next-Generation sequencing methods to
investigate the whole genome in meiofauna species across different phyla, and will establish the first
comparative genomics for meiofauna and the first extensive molecular clock calibrations for
microscopic soft-body phyla. This will enable us to assess how the sampled genome has changed
over time and among different major groups; it will enhance our understanding of meiofauna
evolution, and set the stage for including meiofauna in fundamental questions about genomic
evolution and ecology. I also aim to develop novel technology to improve characterization of marine
benthic ecosystems. This will be accomplished by the identification and implementation of robust
biomarkers that reflect changes in complex biological communities, and will be largely used in the
perspective of ecological biomonitoring.
The Story
Since I was an undergraduate, my research interests have been focused on the distribution, diversity,
phylogeny, and evolutionary history reconstructions of meiofaunal organisms. I used to address these
evolutionary ecology questions by using advanced microscopy and molecular methods implemented
by traditional Sanger sequencing. Although faster and cheaper DNA sequencing is of key importance
for many applications, the massively parallel capacity of Next Generation Sequencing technologies is
emerging for genomics and environmental applications. I wished to consider cutting-edge molecular
tools (next generation sequencing) to further address fundamental questions about speciation,
evolution, macroecology, adaptation, and evolutionary histories. This project will have direct
implications for management and restoration of ecological communities, and can help us understand
the consequences of local human activities and global change.
The Smithsonian Difference
My research is conducted under one of the few experts in meiofauna taxonomy in the world, and
molecular work will be performed at the Laboratories of Analytical Biology, a dynamic, cutting-edge
center of excellence for genomic studies, equipped with the newly purchased Illumina Miseq
sequencer, and bioinformatics expertise. I expect to achieve the aims of my project and establish
fruitful and long-term collaborations with other postdocs and researchers of the Smithsonian.
Looking Ahead
My project is challenging from different points of view: meiofauna represent a no-model group of
extremely small animals, which do not possess genome references. Moreover, the bioinformatics
work after achieving genomic information will be exceptionally hard. This challenge is very exciting
and stimulating to me. Moreover, I expect to build good collegial relationships and collaborations
with other postdocs at the museums, who are hopefully my future best colleagues in a near future.
Word of Thanks
For researchers like me, without permanent positions who struggle every year to find support, the
contribution of Dr. Buck has been probably the most important and determinant of my career,
keeping vital the spark in persevering this fascinating job. I am very grateful to Dr. Buck for
improving my personal path. I wish his high consideration about education as a basic priority for
current and future generations could be considered a model for all other citizens.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 50
Stéphanie Leclerc-Caffarel, Dept. of Anthropology
University of East Anglia (Norwich, UK)
Postdoctoral Fellow: January 2016 – January 2018
Research Title: The American presence in Fiji (1800-1875) with reference to Smithsonian
Collections
Advisors: Adrienne Kaeppler (Curator of Oceania) and Joshua Bell (Curator of Globalization)
Stéphanie Leclerc-Caffarel received her Ph.D. in World Art Studies with an emphasis on Pacific Arts
from the University of East Anglia (Norwich, UK) in July 2014. She studies early museum
collections from Fiji in order to understand exchange relations between Fijian islanders and Euro-
Americans travelers. During her Buck Fellowship, Leclerc-Caffarel will study a little known
collection of ethnographic artifacts gathered by Dr. Isaac M. Brower, who was U.S. consul in Fiji in
the 1860s. In comparison with other collections held by the Smithsonian Institution, she hopes to
shed light on the under examined presence of American citizens in Fiji until the establishment of the
British Protectorate (1874). Leclerc-Caffarel has done research on early ethnographic material from
Fiji in a number of museums across the Pacific, Europe, and the United States. As a research
associate to the national museum of Fiji, she encourages exchange of knowledge between institutions
holding important historical collections and their country of origin.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 51
Stéphanie Leclerc-Caffarel The Stakes
My research intends to fill gaps in knowledge in two main ways. First, by using museum collections
as primary sources, I hope to better understand cultural features and cultural exchanges in Fiji in the
19th century from a double-sided perspective. In contrast to other sources (literary and pictorial) that
exclusively originated from Euro-American actors, and even though some seek to encompass
indigenous agencies, collections inherently bear testimonies of both sides of the interactions that
produced them. Secondly, mostly due to the absence of colonial link, the American presence in the
Pacific before WWII is often underestimated and little documented. However, it appears crucial in
Fiji due to the great impact of American traders and planters on the economy and politics of the
archipelago. Historical collections held by the Smithsonian Institution are key evidences to
understanding this.
The Story
I first encountered Brower’s collection during a previous ten-week fellowship at the Museum in
2009. I was surveying the US Exploring Expedition collection as a graduate student. I was amazed
by the quality of Brower’s collection, a quite early one in comparison with others I had studied, and I
was surprised when I realized how little was known about it and its collector—even though he was
U.S. Consul in Fiji for almost ten years and an important planter and entrepreneur before and after
that appointment. I am delighted with the opportunity to study this case in detail and learn more
about those artifacts, including early specimens of culturally significant items. I also look forward to
knowing more about Brower, whose collection indicates he was an important exchange partner for
Fijians and much more than simply an opportunist collector.
The Smithsonian Difference
What makes the difference for me, first, is the quality and historical relevance of Smithsonian
collections, fortunately completed with great archival material. I am also thankful to be given the
opportunity to work again with Adrienne Kaeppler and Joshua Bell as my advisors. I highly value
their work and keep positive memories of the previous fellowship I did with them, along with other
staff at the Museum, including the Smithsonian Libraries and Museum Support Center. I learned a lot
in 2009 and I am sure I will again during these two years. I also find the multidisciplinary
environment of the Museum extremely stimulating.
Looking Ahead
Above all, I look forward to being part of an institution that is on the cutting edge of museum work,
and especially of collaboration with source communities in the Pacific, in a very different way than
what we do in Europe from a post-colonial perspective. I hope this will make a true difference and
bring my work to a new level of collaborative thinking and outcomes. I am also eager to focus on the
American side of these connected histories.
Word of Thanks
I feel deeply indebted to Dr. Buck, as the Buck Fellowship program finances 18 months of my
forthcoming two-year fellowship. This is a wonderful opportunity for me, for my work, for my
résumé and, I hope, for the general knowledge on Fijian material culture and history. Most
researchers, particularly in Human Sciences, spend a lot of their early career worrying about getting a
position, funding, etc. This opportunity to focus exclusively on my research for a full two years feels
like an immense privilege.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 52
Nicole Lunning, Dept. of Mineral Sciences
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Postdoctoral Fellow: September 2015 – 2017
Research Title: Partial Differentiation of the CV Chondrite Parent Body
Advisor: Timothy McCoy (Curator of Meteorites)
Nicole Lunning received her Ph.D. in Geology from University of Tennessee, Knoxville in August
2015. She is interested in understanding formation and evolution of rocky planetesimals using
asteroidal meteorites, which are samples of these early solar system bodies. During her Buck
Fellowship, she will conduct melting experiments on meteorite powders to examine the process of
core formation on rocky bodies under varying environmental conditions that likely occurred in the
Solar System’s protoplanetary nebula.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 53
Nicole Lunning The Stakes
Differentiation is the process by which iron-nickel metal separates from the silicate portion of rocky
planetary bodies. It is one of the fundamental processes relating to the formation of the Earth and the
other terrestrial planets; however, because the Earth’s core is not geochemically accessible and the
Earth has undergone many stages of evolution since it differentiated, we know very little about how
differentiation occurred on Earth. We can better understand this fundamental process by studying
differentiated planetesimals, whose post-core formation history was not as complex as the Earth’s
geologic history.
The Story
The geologic processes at work during the early history of the Solar System fascinate me. Most
meteorites are different in many interesting ways from terrestrial rocks. Meteorites are scientifically
compelling rocks to study because, as relicts of the early Solar System, meteorites contain records of
the processes that formed the first solids in the Solar System as well as clues regarding the formation
of the terrestrial planets.
The Smithsonian Difference
The National Museum of Natural History will be an incredible place to pursue meteorite research
because of the combination of its meteorite collection, the broad range of expertise of its meteorite
researchers, and its experimental and analytical facilities. As regards meteorite studies, the
combination of the meteorite collection, experts, and laboratories at the Smithsonian is unrivalled in
the United States.
Looking Ahead
During my time as a Buck Fellow, I anticipate learning new experimental methods and analytical
skills and conducting experiments that have not been previously undertaken. I am most excited about
exploring scientific questions related to differentiation while expanding my skills as a scientist.
Word of Thanks
Thank you, Dr. Buck, for your support of the National Museum of Natural History and early career
scientists! I greatly appreciate the opportunities you have made for young scientists through your
fellowship program. I am proud to have been selected as a Buck Fellow. I am excited to start my
postdoctoral fellowship in the Division of Meteorites and to embark on a new stage of my scientific
career. Thank you for this opportunity!
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 54
Matthew R. McCurry, Dept. of Paleobiology
Monash University and Museum Victoria (Australia)
Predoctoral Fellow: August 2015 – August 2016
Research Title: The evolution of tooth striations in aquatic mammals and reptiles
Advisor: Nicholas D. Pyenson (Curator of Fossil Marine Mammals)
Matthew McCurry is a Ph.D. student from Monash University and Museum Victoria, Australia. His
dissertation work focuses on the evolution of skull and tooth shape in aquatic mammals and reptiles.
He has published six peer-reviewed papers, mainly focusing on the application of biomechanical
techniques to ecological and evolutionary questions. McCurry’s research involves a combination of
dissections, computer modelling, and fieldwork. During his predoctoral fellowship, McCurry will
examine the evolution of tooth striations (ridges of enamel that run along the long axis of the tooth)
in aquatic mammals and reptiles. The function of these striations, and the question of why they are so
common in aquatic taxa, has long puzzled biologists and paleontologists. Modern force testing and
computer modeling techniques offer a way for him to shed light on the function of these perplexing
structures.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 55
Matthew McCurry The Stakes
Tooth striations have evolved in many different lineages of mammals and reptiles. Exactly how many
times have tooth striations evolved? And why? The answers to these questions have the potential to
greatly expand our knowledge of the evolutionary history of aquatic mammals and reptiles. The vast
majority of evidence of extinct life comes in the form of fossils; because of this, paleobiology relies
on inference of ecology from morphology. This study will provide valuable data with which we can
infer the diet and behavior of extinct marine reptiles based on the occurrence of tooth striations. In
this way, the results will have bearing on our understanding of the paleobiology of some of the most
charismatic fossil species. This work also has the potential to produce valuable information for
biomimicry of puncturing tools.
The Story
I am fascinated by the anatomy of vertebrates and how it is related to their ecology. I am constantly
surprised by how the evolutionary process finds solutions to problems that organisms face. Looking
through collections of marine animals over the last few years, I have often encountered specimens
with tooth striations. I was surprised to find many papers where people were similarly puzzled by the
occurrence of these striations, but no data showing when or why they had evolved. I am excited by
the opportunity to answer this longstanding question with my experience with modern techniques.
The Smithsonian Difference
This research topic relies on access to a broad range of living and fossil specimens. The National
Museum of Natural History is one of the few museums worldwide that houses collections of
sufficient size and containing enough taxonomic and temporal breadth to do this work. For example,
its marine mammal collection is unequaled. Furthermore, current Smithsonian staff, such as Dr.
Nicholas Pyenson, represent invaluable sources of supervision on this topic. I see my time here as an
important step in my development as a scientist, allowing me to gain experience in a large, world-
leading institution that has a strong history of research on marine mammals and reptiles.
Looking Ahead
I am most excited about the opportunity to start engaging with the collections here, as well as the
potential to start collaborating with other Smithsonian scientists. I hope to soon begin 3D digitizing
specimens. In the two weeks that I have been here, I have already undertaken fieldwork in Nevada on
Triassic ichthyosaurs and learned a great deal. I hope to be able to continue learning from the staff
here over the next year while leading a research project that champions the amazing collections of
the Museum.
Word of Thanks
I am greatly appreciative of this opportunity. As someone who was born and raised in Australia, I
have encountered difficulty accessing museum collections and attending conferences here in the
United States. This opportunity has allowed for me to access the best collection in the world, and
engage with extremely talented and knowledgeable scientists. I cannot thank you enough for your
support.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 56
Molly McDonough, Dept. of Vertebrate Zoology
Texas Tech University
Postdoctoral Fellow: February 2014 – February 2016
Research Title: Understanding the evolutionary origins of pygmy gerbils
Advisor: Kristofer Helgen (Curator-in-Charge, Division of Mammals) and Jesus E. Maldonado
(Research Geneticist)
Molly McDonough received her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences with an emphasis on molecular
systematics of small mammals from Texas Tech University in December 2013. She is interested in
understanding the evolutionary relationships and biodiversity of mammals, particularly African
rodents. She has published 13 papers, including a description of a new bat species from western
Ecuador. During her Buck Fellowship, Molly will estimate the number of species of pygmy gerbils
that occur throughout North Africa and the Middle East. Pygmy gerbils exhibit a remarkable amount
of species diversity (~60 spp.) and occur in small geographic ranges, making them particularly
susceptible to regional extinction. Her research will provide the first insight into the number of
species in this group, and where to focus future conservation efforts.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 57
Molly McDonough The Stakes
My research seeks to understand the historical processes that have shaped the mammalian diversity
that we find today. This work primarily involves the use of genetics techniques to reconstruct the
evolutionary history and estimate divergence times for when different rodent lineages appear. I
mainly work on African rodents in arid and semi-arid geographic regions that have robust fossil
records. Ultimately, my research aids in understanding how past environmental conditions shaped
rodent communities so we can make predictions about effects of future events.
Research Highlights
The Peter Buck Fellowship has allowed me the freedom to develop and nurture my own scientific
research program. This includes developing collaborations, learning new techniques, and developing
skills that have prepared me for my next step as a scientist. One of the highlights for me was
attending a 3-week bioinformatics course in Leipzig, Germany to learn computer programming for
evolutionary biology. Another highlight for me is that recently I have accepted to co-advise a Kenyan
Master’s student at the University of Nairobi in a project using genetic techniques to identify prey
items of carnivores on Mt. Kenya.
Favorite Moment
My favorite moment from my time as a Buck Fellow was sequencing the mitochondrial genome from
a museum specimen from the Natural History Museum in Germany that dated back to 1852. This
result will be included in an upcoming publication regarding the remarkable diversity of southern
African gerbils.
Disseminating my Science
I have had the opportunity to present my research at international scientific meetings in Lisbon,
Portugal and Antananarivo, Madagascar. Also, I have been part of four peer-reviewed publications
during my time as a Buck Fellow at the Smithsonian.
Looking Ahead
Currently I am in Kenya getting ready to spend five weeks on Mt. Kenya resurveying a historical
mammal trapping transect that Theodore Roosevelt surveyed in 1909-1911. During this survey we
will collect small mammals and document large mammals with camera traps along an elevational
gradient. We will use TR’s field notes to examine how the communities have changed over 100
years. For this project, I am co-advising a female Kenyan Master’s student who will assist in the
carnivore camera-trapping project and will examine how carnivore diets change across elevational
gradients using genetic techniques.
After my Buck Fellowship, I will transition to pursuing biomedical research through another
fellowship opportunity. During this year-long project, I will screen museum specimens for DNA
poxviruses in order to better understand the evolutionary origins of human small pox. I hope to begin
applying for faculty or curatorial positions where I can continue my research and train the next
generation of scientists.
Word of Thanks
Words cannot express the deep thanks I have to be one of the Peter Buck Postdoctoral Fellows. This
fellowship has created many opportunities for me to advance both professionally and personally.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 58
Bryan McLean, Dept. of Vertebrate Zoology
University of New Mexico
Predoctoral Fellow: January 2015 – December 2015
Research Title: New Constraints on Fossil Constraints: Clarifying Tempo and Mode in the
Radiation of Holarctic Ground-dwelling Sciurids
Advisor: Kristofer Helgen (Curator-in-Charge, Division of Mammals)
Bryan McLean received bachelors and master’s degrees in Biology, and is currently working towards
a Ph.D in Biology (anticipated completion – Summer 2016). He is interested in the evolutionary
relationships, morphology, and fossil record of ground-dwelling squirrels of North America and
Asia. During his Buck Fellowship, McLean is completing a species-level phylogeny of this group as
well as an extensive fossil dataset that will allow this phylogeny (based on genome-scale data) to be
robustly dated.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 59
Bryan McLean The Stakes
Ground-dwelling squirrels of the tribe Marmotini (chipmunks, ground squirrels, marmots, prairie
dogs) are a diverse group of rodents that have undergone an impressive radiation in North America
and Asia over the past 20 million years. The group is now widespread in a variety of open habitats
across these continents, and in North America alone comprises nearly one-quarter of rodent diversity
at the genus level. However, despite being the focus of much attention in the fields of ecology and
evolution over the past century, the exact evolutionary relationships among these species, as well as
the timing of their diversification, remains incompletely understood.
Research Highlights
While a Buck Fellow at the Smithsonian, I have made major progress on reconstructing these
relationships using genome-scale data. This work is revealing interesting and unexpected
relationships, as well as the complexities that rapid radiation has imprinted in the genome. My work
also involves compiling a dataset of known ground squirrel fossil material that can be used to time-
calibrate this phylogeny. In doing this latter work, I have gotten hands-on views of these fossils,
which span many geologic ages across North America, as well as the opportunity to review much
classic paleontological literature on the group.
Favorite Moment
Yet another accomplishment has been the completion of a dataset of 3D cranial shape in ground
squirrels. This is the first such dataset that I am aware of and allows the evolution of cranial shape in
the group to be understood in a much richer context. This research was only possible through my
residence at the Smithsonian, where extensive collections of this group of mammals are housed as
well as the machinery to collect these data. I have also recently attended a training workshop in
Sabadell, Spain, that was partly funded by the Institution and will help me to analyze these 3D data
in an evolutionary context.
Disseminating my Science
Within a year, I hope to defend my Ph.D. dissertation at University of New Mexico, and will publish
results of my research in peer-reviewed scientific journals as well as at upcoming scientific meetings
of the Society of Systematic Biologists and American Society of Mammalogists. After I return to
New Mexico for matriculation, I will continue to work on further questions in mammalian evolution
and ecology, hopefully extending the approach I have developed during my Ph.D. to other species
and regions of the world.
Looking Ahead
My time at the Smithsonian as a Buck Fellow has been formative, and greatly enriched my graduate
experience by providing access to important research collections and facilitating scientific and
professional interaction with Smithsonian curators as well as researchers associated with the
Museum. After matriculation, I will continue to work on mammalian evolution and ecology, and I
am certain that museum-based inquiry will always remain a part of my research program.
Word of Thanks
I would like to personally thank Dr. Buck for financial resources that allow these important
fellowships to continue every year.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 60
Theresa L. Miller, Dept. of Anthropology
University of Oxford
Postdoctoral Fellow: June 2015 – June 2017
Research Title: Biodiversity Management in the Canela Indigenous Community of Brazil:
Linking People, Plants, and Landscapes
Advisor: Joshua Bell (Curator of Globalization) and William Crocker (Curator Emeritus, South
America)
Theresa L. Miller received her DPhil (Ph.D.) in Anthropology from the University of Oxford in April
2015. Her research focuses on human interactions with the environment, especially plants, in
indigenous lowland South America. From April 2012 through March 2013, she conducted her
doctoral fieldwork with the Ramkokamekra-Canela indigenous community in the Brazilian Cerrado
(savannah), documenting gardening practices, interactions with cultivated plants, and valuations of
varietal and biological diversity. During her Buck Fellowship, Miller will utilize collections in the
Anthropology and Botany departments to further her research on past and present engagements
between indigenous peoples and cultivated plants in the Brazilian Cerrado.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 61
Theresa Miller The Stakes
Across the globe, biological, cultural, and linguistic diversity are increasingly under threat from
habitat loss and encroachment onto local and indigenous communities’ traditional lands. This is
especially evident in Brazil, where numerous studies show that the loss or maintenance of biological
diversity in the Amazon basin is closely correlated to the “extinction” or survival of indigenous
languages and cultures. Less is known about these links in the Cerrado (savannah) biome of central
and northeast Brazil, however, despite the fact that it is experiencing higher deforestation rates than
that of the Amazon and is known as a ‘hotspot’ of biological diversity. My postdoctoral research
attempts to fill this gap by focusing on how the indigenous Ramkokamekra-Canela community of
northeast Brazil interact with their Cerrado environment and maintain its biological diversity despite
ongoing threats to their lands from illegal logging, cattle ranching, industrialized agriculture, and
timber production. The research will contribute to our understanding of how an indigenous
community interacts with and maintains the biological diversity of their local environment, a topic of
study that is increasingly important in the wake of rapid environmental destruction throughout the
globe.
The Story
I have always been interested in gardening and plants, and through my master’s degree at the
University of Oxford I became interested in indigenous communities living in northeast and central
Brazil. In early 2011, I arranged a meeting with Dr. William Crocker, who generously invited me to
accompany him on his final fieldwork trip to the indigenous Canela community that summer. His last
visit of over 50 years of fieldwork with the Canela became my first one, and he introduced me to the
community and the family into which I was “adopted.” I learned about the community’s deep interest
in gardening and biodiversity maintenance and was therefore eager to conduct my own fieldwork the
following year (2012-2013).
The Smithsonian Difference
The Smithsonian is enabling me to conduct interdisciplinary research on human-plant engagements
within the Anthropology and Botany departments. This is a unique opportunity for me to be able to
study both anthropological and botanical collections, and to learn more about the Museum’s
collecting techniques, the origin of such materials, and how they relate to my fieldwork experience.
This fellowship is an invaluable opportunity to learn from these materials and expand my
understanding of people and plants in a multifaceted and innovative way.
Looking Ahead
It is exciting to work with researchers in different departments within the Museum, and to be able to
visit and study various collections, including botanical specimens, ethnographic objects, and film and
photographic archives. I am looking forward to engaging with these materials and seeing what they
have to teach me!
Word of Thanks
I am thankful for this opportunity to further my study and have the time to expand my research
portfolio during the fellowship. It is truly a unique opportunity to be able to conduct research in the
Museum for two whole years and devote myself to my own field of study during this time. I am
certain that this fellowship will benefit my professional career and for that I am truly grateful.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 62
C. Miguel Pinto, Dept. of Vertebrate Zoology
City University of New York
Postdoctoral Fellow: February 2015 – January 2017
Research Title: Evolutionary history of mammal-trypanosome associations using museum
collections
Advisors: Kristofer M. Helgen (Curator-in-Charge, Division of Mammals), Jesus E. Maldonado
(Research Geneticist), and Robert C. Fleischer (Scientist, National Zoo Park)
C. Miguel Pinto, an Ecuadorian citizen, received his Ph.D. in February 2015 from City University of
New York in association with the American Museum of Natural History. His research interests are
directed to understand: (1) the evolutionary associations of mammals with their parasites and
infectious agents, and (2) the biogeography, diversity, and evolution of Neotropical mammals. For
this research, Pinto relies on diverse information sources ranging from molecular markers to
literature, field data, and museum specimens. Currently, as a Buck Fellow, Pinto is investigating
aspects of evolutionary interactions between mammals and trypanosome parasites to better
understand the origins of human trypanosomiasis, particularly Chagas disease—an important
infection affecting around 18 million people in the Americas. Miguel’s research has resulted in over
20 peer-reviewed publications.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 63
Miguel Pinto The Stakes
Traditionally, medical scientists have worked independently from biologists to pursue questions
regarding the origins of infectious diseases. With my research I plan to contribute to changing this
paradigm by demonstrating the usefulness of museum collections and the knowledge of evolutionary
biologists to truly understand infectious diseases. My research focuses on trypanosome parasites of
mammals, and I use museum collections to detect these parasites in mammalian tissues. I am able to
obtain genetic information from these parasites to reconstruct their evolutionary history, together
with the evolutionary history of human pathogens also present in other mammals.
Research Highlights
In nearly eight months since beginning my fellowship, I have contributed to the understanding of the
genetic variation of Trypanosoma cruzi, the pathogen that causes Chagas disease in humans and also
infects hundreds of other mammals. My collaborators and I have analyzed the genetic distinctiveness
of a lineage of T. cruzi that mostly infects bats. Because this lineage is well differentiated from the
other lineages, we are recognizing it as a “diagnostic typing unit.” Previously only six of these units
were recognized. The manuscript showing these results has been accepted by the journal Acta
Tropica.
Favorite Moment
I was asked to show a group of interns a few mammalian specimens in the Hall of Mammals. It was a
nice experience to interact with dozens of interns; however, the best moment happened when the
program ended and regular visitors showed up, including several young kids who were fascinated by
the bats and skulls I was showing. They had lots of questions, and I did my best to answer as many as
I could. As I was leaving the hall, one of these kids yelled: “this is cool science!” For me, this
personal anecdote exemplifies why museums and outreach programs are important, and how
rewarding it is to be a scientist and educator.
Disseminating my Science
In June, during the 95th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists in Jacksonville,
Florida, I helped coordinate the symposium, Advanced Tools for Collection-Based Mammalogy, and
presented the talk “Bats, bedbugs, and Chagas disease: an Olinguito connection” in the symposium,
Methods in Disease Ecology. I have also coauthored the paper, “Genetic diversity of Trypanosoma
cruzi in bats, and multilocus phylogenetic and phylogeographical analyses supporting Tcbat as an
independent DTU (discrete typing unit),” currently in press at the journal Acta Tropica.
Looking Ahead
Having a postdoctoral fellowship at the Smithsonian to conduct my own research is a great privilege.
Academic positions are very competitive, but surely the Buck Fellowship is helping me greatly in my
goal of obtaining a faculty/researcher position. Since I started my fellowship, I have been
interviewed by two Ecuadorian universities to join their academic staff.
Word of Thanks
Dr. Buck, thank you so much for having the vision to contribute to the advancement of the National
Museum of Natural Sciences and its science. On a personal note, thank you so much for extending
my interaction with the Museum. Eleven years ago, I came for the first time to the United States to be
an undergraduate intern at the Museum; that experience changed my career. Your fellowship allowed
me to come back to this special place that has taught me so much.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 64
Eduardo Rivail Ribeiro, Dept. of Anthropology
University of Chicago
Postdoctoral Fellow: July 2014 – June 2016
Research Title: Language and prehistory in South America: A reconstruction of Proto-Jê and an in-
depth investigation of the Macro-Jê hypothesis
Advisor: William Merrill (Curator, North America)
Eduardo Rivail Ribeiro received his Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Chicago in 2012. He
is dedicated to documenting and analyzing the indigenous languages of South America, especially
those belonging to the Macro-Jê stock, an ancient stock that includes Jê and a number of small
language families. He is particularly interested in the historical linguistics of lowland South America,
including the study of language contact. His current project aims at completing a reconstruction of
Proto-Jê, the common ancestor of around a dozen indigenous languages spoken from the Amazon to
southern Brazil. This reconstruction, requiring a comprehensive review of all the currently-available
data on the languages in question, will provide the basis for the first systematic evaluation of the
historical relationships among these languages and their speakers.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 65
Eduardo Rivail Ribeiro The Stakes
Macro-Jê, one of the largest language groups in South America, remains largely unknown, especially
when compared with better-known language families such as Arawák, Carib, and Tupí. Very little is
known about the migratory and cultural past of the Macro-Jê peoples, and even the inclusion of some
of its members into the stock is still open to discussion. Macro-Jê studies are particularly urgent,
considering that most of the languages belonging to the stock are either extinct or severely
endangered.
Research Highlights
Over the past year, I have made substantial progress toward reconstructing Proto-Jê, both
qualitatively and quantitatively. I have now reconstructed around 400 proto-words, four times the
number that had been reconstructed by other linguists when I began my research. I also have
determined more precisely the sound (phonological) correspondences among the Jê languages and
can now describe in detail the morphology of the proto-language. This comparative linguistic study is
providing the basis for a much better understanding of the internal relationships within the stock as
well as of the cultural history of Proto-Jê speakers, revealing additional evidence for the existence of
agriculture and weaving among them.
Favorite Moment
My favorite moments include in-depth conversations with my colleagues at the Smithsonian,
particularly my advisor, Dr. William Merrill, and Dr. Ives Goddard, a leading authority in historical
linguistics. Such interactions have contributed to refining my research methodology and expanding
my view of the mutually reinforcing relationship of research in historical linguistics, ethnography,
archaeology, and paleobotany. I have also been able to obtain valuable insights into the long history
of Jê studies at the Smithsonian, thanks to conversations with curator emeritus, William Crocker, and
access to his vast collection of original data and bibliographic resources on Jê and Macro-Jê peoples,
organized by Barbara Watanabe, Museum Specialist.
Disseminating my Science
I presented preliminary results of my research at a Recovering Voices Seminar in May. I currently
am preparing several articles for publication, including a comprehensive study of Tupí loanwords
into Macro-Jê. I will present the results of another study, focused on auditorily-based cognitive
metaphors as a recurrent feature of Macro-Jê languages (and a likely retention from the proto-
language), at a major international linguistics conference in January 2016. In addition, I am preparing
a 125-page chapter on Macro-Jê to be included in a state-of-the-knowledge book on South American
languages, to be published in 2017 by Mouton.
Looking Ahead
I intend to combine the results of my various comparative studies into a comprehensive book-length
account of Macro-Jê historical linguistics. That study will pave the way for an in-depth
interdisciplinary exploration of the territorial dispersion of Macro-Jê speaking tribes, their contacts
with speakers of both related and unrelated languages, and their long-term cultural history.
Word of Thanks
The Buck Fellowship has allowed me to pursue an ambitious research project that would have been
difficult if not impossible to undertake elsewhere, and has allowed me to become part of the
Museum’s stimulating, intellectual community. For these opportunities, I will be forever grateful.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 66
Erin M. Sigel, Dept. of Botany
Duke University
Postdoctoral Fellow: September 2014 – September 2016
Research Title: Phenotypic, Genetic, and Genomic Consequences of Allopolyploidy in Ferns:
Establishing Polypodium hesperium as a Model System
Advisor: Eric Schuettpelz (Assistant Curator of Ferns)
Erin Sigel received her Ph.D. in Biology from Duke University in August 2014, where her doctoral
dissertation focused on the systematics and evolution of ferns. During her Peter Buck Postdoctoral
Fellowship at the Smithsonian, she is combining her knowledge of systematics, high throughput
sequencing technologies, and bioinformatics to study the phenotypic, genetic, and genomic
consequences of polyploidy (i.e. having more than two sets of chromosomes) and hybridization in
ferns. Specifically, she has adopted the Polypodium vulgare species complex as a focal fern group for
investigating how allopolyploid plants (those resulting of interspecific hybridization) preferentially
express and retain duplicate gene copies inherited from their parent species. Erin has authored eleven
papers, and is currently preparing a manuscript on the gene expression during different phases of the
fern life cycle.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 67
Erin Sigel The Stakes
Extant plant biodiversity is a testament to the evolutionary importance of polyploidy, or whole
genome duplication. All lineages of seed plants and ferns have experienced at least one
polyploidization event, and approximately 15% to 30% of flowering plant and fern speciation events
have been accompanied by an increase in ploidy. Despite the prevalence of polyploid plant species,
our current understanding of the fate of duplicated genes is shaped by a handful of plants—all of
which are flowering plants, and most of which are crops, model systems, or synthesized polyploids.
My fellowship research contributes to my scholarly goal of investigating the genetic phenomena that
shape fern diversity, and plant diversity in general.
Research Highlights
So far, I have discovered that certain “rules” dictate the expression of duplicate gene copies in
allopolyploid ferns. My focal research plant, Polypodium hesperium, is an allopolyploid fern that has
formed multiple times by genome duplication and hybridization between two other fern species,
Polypodium amorphum and Polypodium glycyrrhiza. By analyzing gene expression patterns in
individual plants belonging to independently formed populations of P. hesperium, I have found that
gene copies derived from the P. amorphum parent are preferentially expressed. Similar gene
expression patterns have been found in allopolyploid flowering plants, suggesting that the genomic,
and ultimately evolutionary, consequences of genome duplication and hybridization may be universal
across plants.
Favorite Moment
In July 2015, I accompanied my advisor, Dr. Eric Schuettpelz, on a collecting expedition to Puebla,
Mexico. In addition to collecting a significant portion of Mexican fern diversity for the
Museum’s Biorepository, I was able to see many polyploid and hybrid ferns related to my study
group in the field.
Disseminating my Science
In June 2015, the Museum hosted an international conference on fern and lycophyte biology entitled
“Next Generation Pteridology.” This conference brought ferns biologists from all over the world to
the Smithsonian, and I was able to present my research on gene expression in allopolyploid ferns.
Since the meeting I have received significant positive feedback on my work and interest in
collaboration. I also co-organized a conference field trip to see ferns of the Washington, D.C. area—
an exotic outing for biologists from other continents!
Looking Ahead
My Peter Buck Postdoctoral Fellowship has given me the time, resources, and funding to focus on
developing my own research program on genomic and evolutionary consequences of polyploidy in
plants. Most postdoctoral positions at universities drive research according to the interests or agenda
of the advisor. Developing my own research program gives me a significant advantage when
applying for tenure track evolutionary biology and genomic teaching and research positions.
Word of Thanks
Having a Peter Buck Postdoctoral Fellowship is a career- and life-changing opportunity. I sincerely
thank you for your tremendous generosity.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 68
Emily Smith, Dept. of Paleobiology
Harvard University
Postdoctoral Fellow: September 2015 – September 2017
Research Title: Constraining the tempo of environmental and biological change across the
Ediacaran-Cambrian Transition
Advisor: Doug Erwin (Curator of Paleozoic Invertebrates)
Emily (Emmy) Smith received her Ph.D. in September 2015 from Harvard University in Earth in
Planetary Sciences. Her research addresses the co-evolution of life, climate, the ocean, and tectonics
during the Neoproterozoic to early Cambrian, a time interval when changes in oxygen and carbon
cycles coincided with rapid diversification of complex life on Earth. The majority of her research
focuses on the Cambrian radiation, a biological radiation in which all the major body plans first
appeared. By using an interdisciplinary, field-based approach in sites that include western Mongolia,
South China, and the southwest United States, she tests hypotheses about mechanistic links between
environmental and evolutionary change.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 69
Emily Smith The Stakes
During the Neoproterozoic to early Cambrian (1,000–525 million years ago), the Earth transitioned
from an uninhabitable place to a habitable one with as much diversity and complexity in life as we
have today. This radiation in life was accompanied by major swings in geochemical cycles and two
total global glaciations. My research aims to understand why macroscopic, complex life “exploded”
during the early Cambrian. More generally, my work aims to understand the patterns and tempo of
evolutionary change. When and how did life first appear on Earth? How did the evolution of life
affect the planet, and vice versa? Did the diversification of life initiate climate catastrophe? How
might we use records of ancient organisms on Earth as analogue to look for evidence for
extraterrestrial life? My research aims to address these questions by building accurate records of
what happened.
The Story
In college, I realized that I could combine two of my main interests, science and the outdoors, by
studying Earth sciences. I was quickly drawn to one of the most provocative stories in Earth history:
Snowball Earth. The Snowball Earth hypothesis posits that from ~720–635 million years ago,
massive glaciers increased the Earth’s albedo, reflecting more sunlight, cooling the Earth, and
eventually resulting in a complete global glaciation. Later, I learned that the eukaryotic crown groups
and animals first appeared at around the same time as these total glaciations. “Why is this?” I asked
my professors, to which they responded, “Good question!” I was hooked on this time interval of
major climatic, environmental, and biological change as soon as I realized that the feedbacks in the
Earth system were still very poorly understood.
The Smithsonian Difference
There are three primary ways in which the Smithsonian will benefit my development as a scientist.
At the Museum, there are three leading experts in late Neoproterozoic and early Cambrian
paleontology. I look forward to learning from and working alongside them. Secondly, the
paleontological collections at the Museum are some of the best in the world. I plan to compare my
own early Cambrian samples from Mongolia to the ones already at the Museum, and eventually to
archive my samples at the Smithsonian. Finally, the Institution offers an opportunity to become
engaged in a wide range of outreach and educational initiatives; I look forward to spreading my
passion for geology during my tenure at the Smithsonian.
Looking Ahead
I am excited to contribute to and learn from the world-class researchers at the Smithsonian. I also
look forward to sharing my research with visitors to the Museum through Smithsonian outreach
initiatives.
Word of Thanks
Thank you very much, Dr. Buck, for giving me an opportunity to independently design and pursue
my own research goals. I am very grateful!
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 70
Laura Soul, Dept. of Paleobiology
University of Oxford (United Kingdom)
Postdoctoral Fellow: July 2015 – July 2017
Research Title: Macroevolutionary responses to invasion in the Miocene mammalian fossil record
of North America
Advisor: Gene Hunt (Curator of Ostracoda)
Laura Soul completed her DPhil in Evolutionary Palaeobiology in the Department of Earth Science
at the University of Oxford, UK, in July 2015. Her research focuses on phylogenetic approaches to
understanding macroevolutionary patterns in the vertebrate deep-time fossil record. During her Buck
Fellowship, Soul will implement a variety of phylogenetic methods to detect evolutionary responses
to biological invasion in the mammalian fossil record. Specifically during periodic invasions of many
mammalian genera at a time, over the Beringia land bridge from Eurasia during the early Miocene.
Her research will demonstrate methods of detecting a signal of invasion in the evolutionary trajectory
of clades. As a Deep Time fellow she will also work on initiating citizen science projects in the
Paleobiology department, to set up a framework so that such outreach activities can be continued in
the future.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 71
Laura Soul
The Stakes
Invasive species and interactions between them and native species are a huge issue in modern
ecosystems. Through my research, I hope to shed light on how we can expect species to respond in
the long term to these invasions, and establish whether modern human mediated invasions are
fundamentally different to those that occurred in the geological past. These conclusions will
contribute to the discussion on strategies of managing invasive species, biodiversity, and extinction.
The Story
My research has always focused on what it is possible to learn about evolution from the fossil record.
Fossil data is very different than data we have about living species, and so the methods we can use to
understand patterns in evolution have to be carefully adjusted to account for this; the answers to
some questions can be difficult to get at using fossil data. However, the fossil record contains a
wealth of information unavailable from the study of living species alone and I am personally very
excited about the opportunities to understand how evolution works on the broadest scales that fossils
provide. The past is a kind of “natural laboratory” for the effects of events which are happening now.
One of these events is invasion, and because invasion has happened many times before, this is a great
example of a current problem that we can lean about from studying analogous events in the past.
The Smithsonian Difference
Getting the opportunity to work in the United States will be of huge benefit as I will be able to
interact with a different group of researchers, gaining a new and broader perspective. The quality of
research output from the Museum is very high and I will benefit from exposure to the expertise and
enthusiasm of the many people working here. In addition, working in a museum rather than a
university department will provide me with an opportunity to expand particular areas of my skill set;
for example, I have been learning specimen preparation and conservation by volunteering for the
preparators here. My hope is to use my time here to become a better-rounded researcher.
Looking Ahead
I am most excited about the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with the many outstanding
researchers working at the Museum. In addition, I am excited by the opportunity to work in a
museum environment where public engagement plays such a large part in the day-to-day of
researchers, and the opportunities to work with the public and spread the word about all the
interesting science that goes on here are so frequent.
Word of Thanks
This is an amazing opportunity for me to live and work in a new country with academics of an
extremely high standard, during which I can hopefully both provide and gain new perspectives. I
would like to thank Dr. Buck for providing funding that facilitates this international exchange of
ideas and provides an opportunity unavailable elsewhere. The time to pursue individual research
interests with the support of outstanding colleagues and develop as a researcher in this very early
stage in my career is invaluable.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 72
Lauren A. Spearman, Dept. of Entomology
Rutgers University
Postdoctoral Fellow: January 2015 – January 2016
Research Title: South African grasshopper communities examined across biomes and seasons
through the lens of community phylogenetics and mathematical biodiversity assessment
Advisors: Lee-Ann Hayek (Chief Mathematical Statistician and Senior Research Scientist), Ted
Schultz (Curator of Hymenoptera), and Seán Brady (Curator of Hymenoptera)
Lauren Spearman completed her Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolution at Rutgers University in October
2008. She was a full lecturer and later a visiting assistant professor at Towson University for several
years while starting a family and has now returned to examining the threatened and highly diverse
grasshopper communities in South Africa. With graduate training in community ecology at Rutgers
University and taxonomic skills acquired from years at the Academy of Natural Sciences in
Philadelphia, as a Buck Fellow, she is acquiring new skills in molecular systematics and
mathematics. Spearman will have the ability to examine the rare grasshopper data gathered during
her Fulbright IIE fellowship in South Africa in novel ways showing dramatic community
membership change per unit space and time across seasons and locations. She will be the first to
examine phylogenetic community structure involving the effects of seasonal turnover for an animal
community.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 73
Lauren Spearman
The Stakes
A major challenge in using insects for conservation assessment and management is understanding
how insect populations change over time. Unlike most vertebrates, many insect species may only be
active for a brief period of time each year. Grasshoppers are ecologically important members of
grassland and savanna insect communities and because you can quantitatively and relatively easily
sample them, they are also ideal candidates for studying how communities change over time. I am
studying changes that occur in grasshopper communities seasonally for the first time in two South
African national parks using both molecular phylogenetic and mathematical techniques. This work is
providing unique insight into community phylogenetics by addressing fundamental concepts having
to do with insect community assembly (both short- and long-term), and it will also shed light on
conservation and management measures utilized for biodiverse, threatened habitats.
Research Highlights
These first six months of my fellowship, I updated and resolved the taxonomic status for the
grasshopper collections and updated the database to contain relevant habitat information for each
collection event. I now have a clearer picture of how many new species I will describe, and my
database is ready for diversity calculations. I have also completed training in the molecular lab. One
of my biggest challenges has been that grasshoppers have one of the largest known animal genomes
and this means amending techniques that work in other insects to accommodate the unique genomic
structure of grasshoppers. Working in the Smithsonian’s L.A.B. facility has been very exciting and I
will soon be able to construct my first phylogeny!
Favorite Moment
Looking at this picture was my favorite moment!
To finally actually see the DNA results for these
little grasshoppers that I have spent so much time
and effort to collect, identify, database, and prepare
was quite a wonderful moment.
Disseminating my Science
I am working on two taxonomic revisions resulting
from my collecting efforts in South Africa; one is concerning the description of 15 new species, and
the other is the description of a new endemic genus from the threatened Cape fynbos biome.
Looking Ahead
Receiving training in molecular techniques is especially critical. The genomics revolution is
influencing every aspect of biology and my training at the Smithsonian is providing me the necessary
skills for bringing these techniques to my research, thus enhancing the prospect of my someday
becoming a university professor.
Word of Thanks
As a female biologist, with two young children at home, I began to fear all my years of work and
sacrifice would be lost to financial and childcare needs. I found myself amidst the “leaky pipeline,” a
term coined to describe the disappearance of female Ph.D.s from science upon graduation. Getting
the Buck Fellowship will help to plug at least one hole in the leaky pipeline. I see this postdoctoral
fellowship as a life-changing experience. My family and I cannot thank you enough for your support
of those of us that have worked hard to follow our passion and learn more about life on Earth.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 74
Nawa Sugiyama, Dept. of Anthropology
Harvard University
Postdoctoral Fellow: September 2014 – December 2015
Research Title: Icons of Power: Ritualization of Animals in Ancient Mesoamerica
Advisors: Torben Rick (Director and Curator, North American Archaeology) and Christine France
(Physical Scientist, Museum Conservation Institute)
Nawa Sugiyama received her Ph.D. in Anthropology at Harvard University in May 2014 applying
zooarchaeological and isotopic analysis of animal remains from two major monuments at
Teotihuacan, Mexico. She has published in several peer-reviewed journals and book chapters in
English and Spanish including Latin American Antiquity and American Antiquity. She has obtained
external and internal grants from various sources, including the National Science Foundation (NSF),
Fulbright foundation, Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, and David Rockefeller
Center for Latin American Studies. Her research focuses on reconstructing ancient human-animal
interactions through zooarchaeological and isotopic research. Since beginning her Buck Fellowship
last September, she has successfully collected and analyzed animal bones from Maya offerings from
Copán Honduras, and is now working on a collection from the Tropical Research Institute from ruins
in Panama in collaboration with Richard Cooke. In addition, she has begun a new excavation project
at Teotihuacan, Mexico at a principal palace structure to identify ancient foodways of this urban
center.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 75
Nawa Sugiyama The Stakes
The Pre-Columbian exchange revolutionized global foodways with the introduction of highly
productive agricultural plants like potatoes, corn, tomatoes, and chili to the Old World. The
Spaniards arriving to Mesoamerica were fascinated by the highly advanced agricultural system, yet
little attention was paid to the ancient animal economy because of the lack of large domestic
livestock (with the exception of camelids in Peru). My present research highlights the impact of
many previously undetected small-scale animal management strategies. In certain instances, some of
the most ferocious carnivores (pumas and jaguars) across Mesoamerica were kept in captivity for
ritual purposes.
Research Highlights
Human-animal encounters in Mesoamerica were much more active than previously theorized and we
need to develop increasingly nuanced methods that capture the true extent to which humans
manipulated, tamed, and maybe even bred various species. Isotopes extracted from bones and teeth
of pumas and jaguars offered during the reign of the last ruler of Copán demonstrate that even during
a period of deforestation and political imbalance, some of these animals were kept in captivity prior
to sacrifice.
Favorite Moment
During my trip to Copán, I found a previously unanalyzed box from an offering cache of a shaman
buried with a puma, a deer, and crocodile scoots. The box contained the remains of animal bones
from the vessels that accompanied this individual, including a turkey, a couple of perching birds, and
a couple of turtles, possibly offered as food for the afterlife.
Disseminating My Science
At the Smithsonian, I presented my work at the Migratory Bird Center (National Zoo), the Museum
Conservation Institute, and at the National Museum of the American Indian. I also presented at the
International Congress of Archaeozoology (Argentina, Sept. 2014), American Anthropological
Association (Washington D.C., Dec. 2014), Central American Workshop (Organized by Dumbarton
Oaks Research Library and Collection, held at the Tropical Research Institute, Panama, Jan. 2015),
and Society of American Archaeology (San Francisco, April 2015). Currently I have a publication
coming out this fall in PlosOne.
Looking Ahead
I have accepted a tenure-track position at George Mason University. At GMU, I will be able to
continue active collaborations formed during my time as a Buck Fellow, and look forward to
integrating students from GMU into these collaborative projects. I have just received a NSF grant for
a collaborative field excavation project at the site of Teotihuacan, Mexico, and will be able to apply
many of the research methods and goals formed during my fellowship into this multi-year project.
Word of Thanks
My time as a Buck Fellow has formed a foundation for many new collaborative projects and has been
fundamental to my subsequent tenure-track position at George Mason University. I learned valuable
lab methods and initiated many new projects that crosscut various sectors of the Smithsonian
Institution (National Museum of Natural History, Museum Conservation Institute, Smithsonian
Tropical Research Institute) and greatly value the opportunity given by the Buck Fellowship. Thank
you very much.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 76
Luke Tornabene, Dept. of Vertebrate Zoology
Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi
Postdoctoral Fellow: August 2015 – August 2017
Research Title: Adaptive evolution of deep-reef fishes: looking to the past for evidence of
morphological and genomic responses to a changing ocean
Advisors: Carole Baldwin (Research Zoologist) and D. Ross Robertson (Staff Scientist, Smithsonian
Tropical Research Institute)
Luke Tornabene received his Ph.D. in Marine Biology from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi
in 2014. His research focuses on the systematics and evolution of bony fishes, with specific emphasis
on how changes in morphology, ecology, and life history impact the tempo and pattern of fish
diversification. Tornabene also has a strong interest in taxonomy and classification of gobioid fishes
(gobies and sleepers), one of the most species-rich lineages of vertebrates in the world. His
fellowship project investigates the evolutionary origins of a diverse and poorly known community of
fishes from deep-reefs (50-300 m) in the Caribbean. The project utilizes the manned submersible,
Curasub, to collect specimens of reef fishes from depths far below the limits of traditional SCUBA
diving. Morphological and phylogenomic data from these fishes will then be used to assess: (1) when
and how deep-reef fishes evolved from their shallow water relatives; (2) what were the ecological
drivers behind this habitat transition, and (3) what were the morphological and genomic adaptions
that facilitated the exploitation of these novel niches.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 77
Luke Tornabene The Stakes
Shallow coral reefs are in a state of global decline. Some researchers have suggested that in periods
of stress, deep reefs may be more resilient to environmental stress than shallow reefs and thus may
serve as refuge for impacted shallow marine species. However, it is unclear how shallow reef fishes
adapt to exploit deep-reef habitats, where conditions differ dramatically from shallow reefs, or how
frequently these ecological transitions happened in the past. My project attempts to answer these
questions by examining the evolutionary history of Caribbean reef fishes to understand the frequency
of habitat transitions in the past and determine the types of adaptations that facilitated life on deep-
reefs, ultimately leading to a better understanding of what modern shallow water species may be
facing with today’s changing ocean environment.
The Story
There are several unique aspects of this project that attracted me. The study is truly a
multidisciplinary study that bridges several fields including systematics, genomics, marine ecology,
and paleoceanography, to address relevant questions regarding how marine species can respond to a
dramatically changing ocean environment. This study also has an element of mystique associated
with exploring uncharted territory. There is an underlying excitement anytime you are delving into
the unknown, whether it be diving in a submersible in unexplored parts of the ocean, or teasing apart
the genome of a reef fish for the first time looking for signs of adaptation. Each new discovery is a
new source of motivation and inspiration.
The Smithsonian Difference
The Smithsonian’s Deep Reef Observation Project (DROP) has pioneered the reconnaissance of
Caribbean deep-reefs and has made the Museum a worldwide leader in deep-reef exploration. The
rate at which new species are being discovered by DROP is remarkable, and my contribution will be
to help us understand the evolutionary origins of this new wave of biodiversity. DROP’s world-class
team of scientists and the Smithsonian’s research facilities provide the ideal research setting for me
to achieve my goals, and I couldn’t be happier to join this amazing team.
Looking Ahead
The next two years will undoubtedly be filled with amazing opportunities and unforgettable
experiences. The most exciting aspect of my upcoming fellowship will be diving to 1,000 feet in the
Curasub submersible. The idea of exploring the oceans from a submersible has fascinated me since
childhood. Being able to do this alongside the some of the world’s leading ichthyologists is an
opportunity of a lifetime.
Word of Thanks
I am exceedingly grateful for the generous contributions that make the Peter Buck Fellowship
possible. I look forward to using every moment of the next two years to help the Smithsonian meet
its Grand Challenge of understanding and sustaining a biodiverse planet.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 78
Mauren Turcatel, Dept. of Entomology
North Carolina State University
Postdoctoral Fellow: September 2014 – September 2016
Research Title: The evolutionary history of robber flies (Diptera: Asilidae)
Advisor: Torsten Dikow (Curator of Diptera)
Mauren Turcatel received her Ph.D. in Entomology from North Carolina State University in
September 2014. She is interested in understanding the evolutionary relationships and biodiversity of
flies, particularly Brachycera. During her Buck Fellowship, Turcatel will employ Transcriptome and
Targeted-Sequencing techniques to investigate the evolutionary history of robber flies (Asilidae).
Phylogenetic analyses will be performed, enabling a better understanding of the relationships within
Asilidae, testing character evolution and the monophyly of several newly established taxa with many
more loci in addition to available morphological data, and a divergence time analysis will be used to
estimate ages of major lineages within the radiation of robber flies.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 79
Mauren Turcatel The Stakes
Insects account for most of the known life on Earth, yet their evolutionary relationships remain
unclear. Within insects, flies are an ideal group to advance as a model-system for phylogenomics
because their phylogeny and biology are well-studied and they have a great amount of genomic data
publicly available. However, these genomes mostly belong to lineages of flies positioned in the two
extremities of the Diptera Tree of Life, for instance, to early diverged and medically important
mosquitoes, Anopheles, and to higher flies such as the model organism Drosophila, the vinegar flies.
These organisms diverged about 250 Ma and their average sequence identity is comparable to that of
humans and puffer fish (Tetraodontidae), which diverged about 450 Ma. The generation of
phylogenomic data representing other major fly lineages is needed to fill this evolutionary gap and
the target taxa of this project are positioned evolutionarily between mosquitoes and vinegar flies, in
the center of the Diptera Tree of Life.
Research Highlights
Up to date, we have generated de novo transcriptome assemblies for eight species of robber flies, as
well as one whole genome sequence, which is the first for this group of flies.
Favorite Moment
I cannot think of one favorite moment of my Buck Fellowship, but I always enjoy the time I spend
doing lab work at the Natural History Building. The Laboratories of Analytical Biology (L.A.B.) is a
fantastic facility and there is always something new to learn.
Disseminating my Science
Last June, I attended the Evolution Meeting in Guaruja, Brazil, where I had the chance to present and
discuss my findings with researchers from several different countries.
Looking Ahead
The Peter Buck Postdoctoral Fellowship granted me a perfect opportunity to continue and expand my
own professional development, especially in providing an exciting position that allows me to perform
research and public outreach. A position that includes research and teaching is a major career goal for
me. My time at the Smithsonian Institution will allow me to pursue my research interests, which are
broadly applied across diverse areas of systematics and biodiversity, but specifically include using
natural history and phylogenetic information to test evolutionary hypotheses, expand public
understanding of science, build appreciation of the importance of organisms in natural and human
environments, and preserve critically important biological interactions.
Word of Thanks
Thank you, Dr. Peter Buck, for supporting early career scientists! Your generosity is greatly
appreciated.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 80
Rachel CM Warnock, Dept. of Paleobiology
University of Bristol (UK)
Postdoctoral Fellow: March 2014 – March 2016
Research Title: A phylogenetic and stratigraphic model for estimating evolutionary rates and times
Advisor: Peter Wagner (Curator of Paleozoic Molluscs) and Christopher Meyer (Curator of
Mollusca)
Rachel Warnock is a paleobiologist interested in computational approaches to estimating
evolutionary rates and times, and is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of
Paleobiology and Invertebrate Zoology at the National Museum of Natural History. She completed
her Ph.D. at the University of Bristol, where her research focused on how to characterize
paleontological and geological uncertainty in the calibration of the molecular clock. Her current
research aims to develop approaches to incorporate stratigraphic information in Bayesian models of
divergence time and evolutionary rate estimation. Her project focuses on the diversification of the
coral-reef-associated gastropods Cypraeidae, or cowries, and will assess the impact of environmental
changes on the radiation of this important tropical fauna during the Cenozoic.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 81
Rachel Warnock The Stakes
There are two independent records of evolutionary history: the genomes of living species and the
fossil species sampled from the rock record. The history of life cannot be inferred on the basis of
genetic data alone, because the living world represents only a molecular snapshot of all life, and the
geological record reveals that the co-evolution of life and the environment has been vast and
complex. Unfortunately, only a tiny and non-random proportion of life has been preserved in the
geological record. Understanding the past, present, and future of biodiversity is therefore contingent
on our ability to utilize two independent and incomplete records of time. My research aims to find
the best strategies for combining molecular and paleontological data, so we can test hypotheses in
evolutionary biology with higher accuracy and precision.
Research Highlights
An important project goal was to create an exemplar dataset of fossil occurrences. The Museum’s
fossil Cypraeidae specimens are housed in the Cenozoic Stratigraphic Mollusc collections, which
contains over 600 cabinets of uncatalogued material. With the assistance of four interns, who made a
huge contribution to my project (and to the fun I had), I surveyed this entire collection; the resulting
database contains >2,000 specimens. In combination with available genetic data, this forms a useful
resource not only for the study of the evolution in Cypraeidae, but also for assessing the performance
of different methods. Data will be made publically available through the Museum’s online database.
Favorite Moment
The Museum hosts an evening seminar series on behalf of the Washington Area Phylogenetics
Consortium (Phylopizza). A previous speaker has been developing some exciting models for
combing molecular and fossil evidence, and invited me to join her for four weeks at her institute in
Iowa. We are now working together on developing methods for estimating speciation and extinction
rates.
Disseminating my Science
I have presented my research to a broad range of international audiences, including the annual
Evolution meeting in North Carolina and the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology in Berlin. I will
present at the Geological Society of America meeting in Maryland and I am especially excited to be
attending a special meeting, Dating species divergence using rocks and clocks, at the Royal Society
in London later this year.
Looking Ahead
It is my ambition to become a research leader in computational and molecular paleobiology. I plan to
develop methods that combine realistic geological, paleontological, and phylogenetic models for
estimating evolutionary parameters, essential for testing hypotheses in evolutionary biology. I have
applied for a fellowship in Switzerland to work with a world leader in the development of
phylogenetic models for understanding evolutionary history. She is enthusiastic about learning about
the fossil record and I am excited to share my experiences of working with empirical collections.
Word of Thanks
Thank you for the tremendous opportunity to become a researcher at the Museum. This opportunity
has played an important role in enriching my understanding of the fossil record and of museum
collections, given me the opportunity to interact with amazing scientists at all levels, and I believe
this experience has been absolutely invaluable to me at this stage in my career.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 82
Laura E. Waters, Dept. of Mineral Sciences
University of Michigan
Postdoctoral Fellow: January 2015 – December 2016
Research Title: Ascent Rates of Obsidians: Experiments and New Model Speedometer
Advisor: Benjamin J. Andrews (Geologist)
Laura Waters received her Ph.D. in Igneous Geochemistry and Volcanology from the University of
Michigan in December 2013. She completed a year of post-doctoral research at the University of
Michigan on the effect of H2O on orthopyroxene-liquid equilibrium. She is interested in combining
observations from the volcanic record with petrological experiments that target specific magmatic
processes over a wide range of physical conditions and time scales to draw conclusions about the
origins of continental crust. She has published three papers, including an experimental study of the
kinetics of plagioclase crystallization during rapid decompression. During her Buck Fellowship,
Waters will experimentally simulate magmatic ascent paths at a variety of rates and document the
effect ascent rate on the crystallization behavior of the melts. Her research will provide some of the
first insights into the kinetics of crystallization during continuous ascent. Additionally, the entire
experimental series conducted during her fellowship will be used to create a model geo-speedometer
that will be used to calculate ascent rates of natural lavas.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 83
Laura Waters The Stakes
Obsidians, or lavas consisting of mostly glass with sparse crystals, are often found in regions of
extension, where tectonic plates are ripping apart. The mechanisms that form obsidian are unknown,
however, it can be inferred from experiments that the crystal poor nature of obsidians must be due to
kinetic processes, and lava textures (e.g., glassy) are strongly influenced by decompression rate.
There are no experimentally derived models that quantify decompression and crystallization rates of
natural samples. A model speedometer that would determine decompression rates (thus ascent rates)
of natural rhyolite-obsidians would provide valuable details about the time scales and mechanisms by
which magmas are transported through crust.
Research Highlights
The Buck Fellowship has provided me with time and material to conduct a specific experimental
series to capture a kinetic process known as nucleation delay, which is the time it takes for the
crystalline nuclei to form. From my work with natural samples, I have suspected that nucleation
delays due to cooling (at a constant pressure) were shorter in duration than nucleation delays due to
decompression (at a constant temperature); our experiments confirm this suspicion. This result will
potentially allow geologists to determine whether or not crystallization in natural lavas was induced
due to degassing or cooling.
Favorite Moment
In addition to the discovery about the timing of nucleation delays for
cooled v. degassed liquids, I was also able to experimentally grow a
texture described as granophyre, by limiting the number of
nucleation sites in the melt. This texture has never been
experimentally replicated prior to my experimental series.
Disseminating my Science
This year, I published an article in Journal of Petrology that faced a
great amount of criticism during review, as it challenged a paradigm
many geologists have concerning the formation of large crystals. We show that large crystals may
grow in a short amount of time (less than a week), provided nucleation is strongly inhibited, which
contrasts with the commonly held view that large crystals must form during a long incubation period
in a magma chamber.
Looking Ahead
I am planning to apply for tenure track faculty positions, so that I can build a facility dedicated to
experimental petrology, which I will use to continue my experimental series and resolve outstanding
questions about nucleation and growth of crystals during degassing and cooling. My position at the
Smithsonian will add to my credentials as a scientist and has provided me with much needed time to
establish the foundations of the research questions that form my career.
Word of Thanks
I would like to thank Dr. Buck and the Smithsonian Institution for the financial, institutional, and
temporal support that I have received through the fellowship. I find myself experiencing a great sense
of relief that I have received funding from the Peter Buck Fellowship, as it has provided me with
stability, time, and access to samples, laboratories and analytical equipment, so that I may improve
and embellish upon my existing results.
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 84
Peter Buck Fellows Bibliography September 2014 – September 2015
Over 80% of the publications from the past year are accompanied by an Altmetric score, which
is a high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention received. Those with a
particularly high number of online mentions (from a variety of sources, such as news outlets,
blogs, tweets, and Facebook and Wikipedia pages) are indicated among the entries below.
Cheryl Ames
Marques, Antonio C., García, Jimena and Lewis Ames, Cheryl. 2015. Internal fertilization and
sperm storage in cnidarians: a response to Orr and Brennan. Trends in Ecology & Evolution,
doi:10.1016/j.tree.2015.06.002
Pawson, David L., Nizinski, Martha S., Ames, Cheryl Lewis and Pawson, Doris J. 2015. Deep-
sea echinoids and holothurians (Echinodermata) near cold seeps and coral communities in the
northern Gulf of Mexico. Bulletin of Marine Science, 91(2): 167-204.
doi:10.5343/bms.2014.1064
Jamie Baldwin-Fergus
Baldwin Fergus, Jamie L, Johnsen, Sö and Osborn, Karen J. 2015. A Unique Apposition
Compound Eye in the Mesopelagic Hyperiid Amphipod Paraphronima gracilis. Current Biology,
25(4): 473-478. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2014.12.010
Richard Barclay
Barclay, Richard S., Rioux, Matthew, Meyer, Laura B., Bowring, Samuel A., Johnson, Kirk R.
and Miller, Ian M. 2015. High precision U–Pb zircon geochronology for Cenomanian Dakota
Formation floras in Utah. Cretaceous Research, 52A: 213-237.
doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2014.08.006
Ricardo Betancur
Arcila, Dahiana, Alexander Pyron, R., Tyler, James C., Ortí, Guillermo and Betancur-R,
Ricardo. 2015. An evaluation of fossil tip-dating versus node-age calibrations in tetraodontiform
fishes (Teleostei: Percomorphaceae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 82 Pt A: 131-145.
doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2014.10.011
Arcila, Dahiana, Alexander Pyron, R., Tyler, James C., Ortí, Guillermo and Betancur-R.,
Ricardo. 2015. An evaluation of fossil tip-dating versus node-age calibrations in tetraodontiform
fishes (Teleostei: Percomorphaceae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 82(A): 131-145.
doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2014.10.011
Betancur-R, Ricardo, Ortí, Guillermo and Pyron, Robert Alexander. 2015. Fossil-based
comparative analyses reveal ancient marine ancestry erased by extinction in ray-finned fishes.
Ecology Letters, 18(5): 441-450. doi:10.1111/ele.12423
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 85
Thompson, Andrew W., Betancur-R., Ricardo, Lopez-Fernandez, Hernan and Orti, Guillermo.
2014. A time-calibrated, multi-locus phylogeny of piranhas and pacus (Characiformes:
Serrasalmidae) and a comparison of species tree methods. Molecular Phylogenetics and
Evolution, 81: 242-257. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2014.06.018
Bonnie Blaimer
Blaimer, Bonnie B., Brady, Seán G., Schultz, Ted R. and Fisher, Brian L. 2015. Functional and
phylogenetic approaches reveal the evolution of diversity in a hyper diverse biota. Ecography,
doi:10.1111/ecog.01370
Monica Carlsen
Costion, Craig M., Simpson, Lalita, Pert, Petina L., Carlsen, Monica M., John Kress, W. and
Crayn, Darren. 2015. Will tropical mountaintop plant species survive climate change?
Identifying key knowledge gaps using species distribution modelling in Australia. Biological
Conservation, 191: 322-330. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2015.07.022
Nazareno, Alison G., Carlsen, Monica and Lohmann, Lúcia G. 2015. Complete Chloroplast
Genome of Tanaecium tetragonolobum: The First Bignoniaceae Plastome. Plos One, 10(6): 1-
18. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0129930
Habiba Chirchir
Chirchir, Habiba. 2015. A Comparative Study of Trabecular Bone Mass Distribution in Cursorial
and Non-Cursorial Limb Joints. The Anatomical Record, 298(5): 797-809. doi:10.1002/ar.23090/
Chirchir, Habiba, Kivell, Tracy L., Ruff, Christopher B., Hublin, Jean-Jacques, Carlson, Kristian
J., Zipfel, Bernhard and Richmond, Brian G. 2014. Recent origin of low trabecular bone density
in modern humans. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of
America, 112(2): 366-371. doi:10.1073/pnas.1411696112
Nathaniel Evans
Evans, Nathaniel, Gilbert, Antoine, Andréfouët, Serge and Paulay, Gustav. 2015. A massive
subtidal aggregation of hermit crabs in Surprise Atoll lagoon, New Caledonia. Coral Reefs, : 1
doi:10.1007/s00338-015-1298-7
Eliécer Gutiérrez
Gutiérrez, Eliécer E. and Pine, Ronald H. 2015. No need to replace an "anomalous" primate
(Primates) with an "anomalous" bear (Carnivora, Ursidae). Zookeys, 487: 141-154.
doi:10.3897/zookeys.487.9176
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 86
Gutiérrez, Eliécer E., Maldonado, Jesús E., Radosavljevic, Aleksandar, Molinari, Jesús,
Patterson, Bruce D., Martínez-C, Juan M., Rutter, Amy R., Hawkins, Melissa T. R., Garcia,
Franger J. and Helgen, Kristofer M. 2015. The Taxonomic Status of Mazama bricenii and the
Significance of the Táchira Depression for Mammalian Endemism in the Cordillera de Mérida,
Venezuela. PloS One, 10(6): 1-24. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0129113
Hawkins, Melissa T. R., Hofman, Courtney A., Callicrate, Taylor, McDonough, Molly M.,
Tsuchiya, Mirian T. N., Gutiérrez, Eliécer E., Helgen, Kristofer M. and Maldonado, Jesús E.
2015. In-Solution Hybridization for Mammalian Mitogenome enrichment: Pros, Cons, and
Challenges Associated with Multiplexing Degraded DNA. Molecular Ecology Resources,
doi:10.1111/1755-0998.12448
Gutiérrez, Eliécer E., Anderson, Robert P., Voss, Robert S., Ochoa-G., José, Aguilera, Marisol
and Jansa, Sharon A. 2014. Phylogeography of Marmosa robinsoni: insights into the
biogeography of dry forests in northern South America. Journal of Mammalogy, 95(6): 1175-
1188. doi:10.1644/14-MAMM-A-069
Gutiérrez, Eliécer E., Boria, Robert A. and Anderson, Robert P. 2014. Can biotic interactions
cause allopatry? Niche models, competition, and distributions of South American mouse
opossums. Ecography, 37(8): 741-753. doi:10.1111/ecog.00620
AJ Harris
Harris, A. J., Lutz, Sue, Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro and Wen, Jun. 2015. The utility of the
morphological variation of pollen for resolving the evolutionary history of Billia (subfam.
Hippocastanoideae, Sapindaceae). Journal of Systematics and Evolution, 53(3): 228-238.
doi:10.1111/jse.12130
Caroline Judy
Harvey, Michael G., Judy, Caroline Duffie, Seeholzer, Glenn F., Maley, James M., Graves, Gary
R. and Brumfield, Robb T. 2015. Similarity thresholds used in DNA sequence assembly from
short reads can reduce the comparability of population histories across species. PeerJ, 3: 895
doi:10.7717/peerj.895
Neil Kelley
Kelley, Neil P. and Motani, Ryosuke. 2015. Trophic convergence drives morphological
convergence in marine tetrapods. Biology Letters, 11(1) doi:10.1098/rsbl.2014.0709
Kelley, Neil P. and Pyenson, Nicholas D. 2015. Evolutionary innovation and ecology in marine
tetrapods from the Triassic to the Anthropocene. Science, 348(6232)
doi:10.1126/science.aaa3716
Myers, Christopher G., Oster, Jessica L., Sharp, Warren D., Bennartz, Ralf, Kelley, Neil P.,
Covey, Aaron K. and Breitenbach, Sebastian F. M. 2015. Northeast Indian stalagmite records
Pacific decadal climate change: Implications for moisture transport and drought in India.
Geophysical Research Letters, 42(10): 4124-4132. doi:10.1002/2015GL063826
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 87
Druckenmiller, Patrick, Kelley, Neil, Whalen, Michael, McRoberts, Christopher and Carter,
Joseph. 2014. An Upper Triassic (Norian) ichthyosaur (Reptilia, Ichthyopterygia) from northern
Alaska and dietary insight based on gut contents. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 34(6):
1460-1465. doi:10.1080/02724634.2014.866573
Kelley, Neil, Motani, Ryosuke, Rieppel, Olivier, Jiang, Da-yong and Schmitz, Lars. 2014.
Selective extinction of Triassic marine reptiles during long-term sea level changes illuminated by
seawater strontium isotopes. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology, 400: 9-16.
doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2012.07.026
Liu, Jun, Hu, Shi-xue, Rieppel, Olivier, Jiang, Da-yong, Benton, Michael, Kelley, Neil,
Aitchison, Jonathan, Zhou, Chang-yong, Wen, Wen, Huang, Jin-yuan, Xie, Tao and Lv, Tao.
2014. A gigantic nothosaur (Reptilia: Sauropterygia) from the Middle Triassic of SW China and
its implication for the Triassic biotic recovery. Scientific Reports, 4(7142)
doi:10.1038/srep07142
Pyenson, Nicholas D., Kelley, Neil P. and Parham, James F. 2014. Marine tetrapod
macroevolution: Physical and biological drivers on 250 Ma of invasions and evolution in ocean
ecosystems. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 400: 1-8.
doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2014.02.018
Fredrick Larabee
Larabee, Fredrick J. and Suarez, Andrew V. 2015. Mandible-Powered Escape Jumps in Trap-Jaw
Ants Increase Survival Rates during Predator-Prey Encounters. PloS One, 10(5): 1-10.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0124871
Larabee, Fredrick J. and Suarez, Andrew V. 2014. The evolution and functional morphology of
trap-jaw ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecological News, 20: 25-36.
Tyler Lyson
Warnock, Rachel C. M., Parham, James F., Joyce, Walter G., Lyson, Tyler R. and Donoghue,
Philip C. J. 2015. Calibration uncertainty in molecular dating analyses: there is no substitute for
the prior evaluation of time priors. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological
Sciences, 282(1798) doi:10.1098/rspb.2014.1013
Bourke, Jason M., Ruger Porter, Wm, Ridgely, Ryan C., Lyson, Tyler R., Schachner, Emma R.,
Bell, Phil R. and Witmer, Lawrence M. 2014. Breathing Life Into Dinosaurs: Tackling
Challenges of Soft-Tissue Restoration and Nasal Airflow in Extinct Species. The Anatomical
Record, 297(11): 2148-2186. doi:10.1002/ar.23046
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 88
Lamanna, Matthew C., Sues, Hans-Dieter, Schachner, Emma R. and Lyson, Tyler R. 2014. A
New Large-Bodied Oviraptorosaurian Theropod Dinosaur from the Latest Cretaceous of Western
North America. Plos One, 9(3): 1-16. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0092022
Lyson, Tyler R., Schachner, Emma R., Botha-Brink, Jennifer, Scheyer, Torsten M., Lambertz,
Markus, Bever, G. S., Rubidge, Bruce S. and de Queiroz, Kevin. 2014. Origin of the unique
ventilatory apparatus of turtles. Nature Communications, 5 doi:10.1038/ncomms6211
Molly McDonough
Hawkins, Melissa T. R., Hofman, Courtney A., Callicrate, Taylor, McDonough, Molly M.,
Tsuchiya, Mirian T. N., Gutiérrez, Eliécer E., Helgen, Kristofer M. and Maldonado, Jesús E.
2015. In-Solution Hybridization for Mammalian Mitogenome enrichment: Pros, Cons, and
Challenges Associated with Multiplexing Degraded DNA. Molecular Ecology Resources,
doi:10.1111/1755-0998.12448
Schlitter, Duane A., Ferguson, Adam W. and McDonough, Molly M. 2014. [Review]: Mammals
of Africa (Vol. I-VI.). Journal of Mammalogy, 95(6): 1299-1303. doi:10.1644/14-MAMM-R-
122
Miguel Pinto
Lima, Luciana, Espinosa-Álvarez, Oneida, Ortiz, Paola A., Trejo-Varón, Javier A., Carranza,
Julio C., Pinto, C. M., Buck, Gregory A., Camargo, Erney P. and Teixeira, Marta M. G. 2015.
Genetic diversity of Trypanosoma cruzi in bats, and multilocus phylogenetic and
phylogeographical analyses supporting Tcbat as an independent DTU (discrete typing unit). Acta
Tropica, doi:10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.07.015
Cottontail, Veronika M., Kalko, Elisabeth K. V., Cottontail, Iain, Wellinghausen, Nele,
Tschapka, Marco, Perkins, Susan L. and Pinto, C. M. 2014. High Local Diversity of
Trypanosoma in a Common Bat Species, and Implications for the Biogeography and Taxonomy
of the T. cruzi Clade. PloS One, 9(9): 1-6. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0108603
Leslie Reeder-Myers
Reeder-Myers, Leslie, Erlandson, Jon M., Muhs, Daniel R. and Rick, Torben C. 2015. Sea level,
paleogeography, and archeology on California's Northern Channel Islands. Quaternary
Research, 83(2): 263-272. doi:10.1016/j.yqres.2015.01.002
Rick, Torben C., Ogburn, Matthew B., Kramer, Margaret, McCanty, Sean T., Reeder-Myers,
Leslie, Miller, Henry M. and Hines, Anson H. 2015. Archaeology, taphonomy, and historical
ecology of Chesapeake Bay blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus). Journal of Archaeological Science,
55: 42-54. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2014.12.016
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 89
Braje, Todd J., Rick, Torben C., Reeder-Myers, Leslie, Campbell, Breana and Minas, Kelly.
2014. Defining the Historic Landscape on Eastern Santa Rosa Island: Archaeological
Investigations at Qshiwqshiw. Monographs of the Western North American Naturalist, 7: 135-
145.
Jew, Nicholas P., Erlandson, Jon M., Rick, Torben C. and Reeder-Myers, Leslie. 2014. Oxygen
isotope analysis of California mussel shells: seasonality and human sedentism at an 8,200-year-
old shell midden on Santa Rosa Island, California. Archaeological and Anthropological
Sciences, 6(3): 293-303. doi:10.1007/s12520-013-0156-1
Reeder-Myers, Leslie. 2014. 9,000 Years of Settlement in the Carrington Point Area of Santa
Rosa Island, Alta California. California Archaeology, 6(2): 247-271.
doi:10.1179/1947461X14Z.00000000042
Rick, Torben C., Reeder-Myers, Leslie, Cox, C. Jane, Sperling, Stephanie T., Jansen, Alex and
Hines, Anson H. 2014. Shell Middens, Cultural Chronologies, and Coastal Settlement on the
Rhode River Sub-Estuary of Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, USA. Geoarchaeology-an
International Journal, 29(5): 371-388. doi:10.1002/gea.21484
Rick, Torben C., Sillett, T. S., Ghalambor, Cameron K., Hofman, Courtney A., Ralls, Katherine,
Anderson, R. S., Boser, Christina L., Braje, Todd J., Cayan, Daniel R., Chesser, R. Terry,
Collins, Paul W., Erlandson, Jon M., Faulkner, Kate R., Fleischer, Robert C., Funk, W. C.,
Galipeau, Russell, Huston, Ann, King, Julie, Laughrin, Lyndal, Maldonado, Jesús E.,
McEachern, Kathryn, Muhs, Daniel R., Newsome, Seth D., Reeder-Myers, Leslie, Still,
Christopher, et al. 2014. Ecological Change on California's Channel Islands from the Pleistocene
to the Anthropocene. Bioscience, 64(8): 680-692. doi:10.1093/biosci/biu094
Erin Sigel
Rothfels, Carl J., Li, Fay-Wei, Sigel, Erin M., Huiet, Layne, Larsson, Anders, Burge, Dylan O.,
Ruhsam, Markus, Deyholos, Michael, Soltis, Douglas E., Stewart, C. N., Shaw, Shane W.,
Pokorny, Lisa, Chen, Tao, dePamphilis, Claude, DeGironimo, Lisa, Chen, Li, Wei, Xiaofeng,
Sun, Xiao, Korall, Petra, Stevenson, Dennis W., Graham, Sean W., Wong, Gane K. -S and Pryer,
Kathleen M. 2015. The evolutionary history of ferns inferred from 25 low-copy nuclear genes.
American Journal of Botany, doi:10.3732/ajb.1500089
Wolf, Paul G., Sessa, Emily B., Marchant, D. B., Li, Fay-Wei, Rothfels, Carl J., Sigel, Erin M.,
Gitzendanner, Mathew A., Visger, Clayton J., Banks, Jo Ann, Soltis, Douglas E., Soltis, Pamela
S., Pryer, Kathleen M. and Der, Joshua P. 2015. An exploration into fern genome space. Genome
Biology and Evolution, doi:10.1093/gbe/evv163
Sigel, Erin M., Windham, Michael D. and Pryer, Kathleen M. 2014. Evidence for Reciprocal
Origins in Polypodium Hesperium (Polypodiaceae): a Fern Model System for Investigating how
Multiple Origins Shape Allopolyploid Genomes. American Journal of Botany, 101(9): 1476-
1485. doi:10.3732/ajb.1400190
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 90
Graham Slater
Revell, Liam J., Mahler, D. L., Reynolds, R. G. and Slater, Graham J. 2015. Placing cryptic,
recently extinct, or hypothesized taxa into an ultrametric phylogeny using continuous character
data: A case study with the lizard Anolis roosevelti. Evolution, 69(4): 1027-1035.
doi:10.1111/evo.12628
Slater, Graham J. 2015. Iterative adaptive radiations of fossil canids show no evidence for
diversity-dependent trait evolution. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the
United States of America, 112(16): 4897-4902. doi:10.1073/pnas.1403666111
Scheel, Dirk-Martin, Slater, Graham, Kolokotronis, Sergios-Orestis, Potter, Charles W.,
Rotstein, David, Tsangaras, Kyriakos, Greenwood, Alex and Helgen, Kristofer M. 2014.
Biogeography and taxonomy of extinct and endangered monk seals illuminated by ancient DNA
and skull morphology. ZooKeys, 409: 1-33. doi:10.3897/zookeys.409.6244
Jae-Cheon Sohn
Doorenweerd, Camiel, Nieukerken, Erik J. Van, Sohn, Jae-Cheon and Labandeira, Conrad C.
2015. A revised checklist of Nepticulidae fossils (Lepidoptera) indicates an Early Cretaceous
origin. Zootaxa, 3963(3): 295-334. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3963.3.2
Regier, Jerome C., Mitter, Charles, Davis, Donald R., Harrison, Terry L., Sohn, Jae-Cheon,
Cummings, Michael P., Zwick, Andreas and Mitter, Kim T. 2015. A molecular phylogeny and
revised classification for the oldest ditrysian moth lineages (Lepidoptera: Tineoidea), with
implications for ancestral feeding habits of the mega-diverse Ditrysia. Systematic Entomology,
40(2): 409-432. doi:10.1111/syen.12110
Sohn, Jae-Cheon. 2015. A Catalogue of the Type Specimens of Yponomeutoidea (Lepidoptera)
in the Museum of Comparative Zoology with Revised Status of Pluteloptera ochrella. Breviora,
542(1): 1-19. doi:10.3099/MCZ13R1.1
Sohn, Jae-Cheon, Davis, Donald R. and Lopez-Vaamonde, Carlos. 2015. Revision of the genus
Philonome Chambers and its proposed reassignment to the family Tineidae (Lepidoptera,
Tineoidea). Zookeys, 494: 69-106. doi:10.3897/zookeys.494.8748
Sohn, Jae-Cheon, Labandeira, Conrad C. and Davis, Donald R. 2015. The fossil record and
taphonomy of butterflies and moths (Insecta, Lepidoptera): implications for evolutionary
diversity and divergence-time estimates. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 15 doi:10.1186/s12862-
015-0290-8
Sohn, Jae-Cheon, Park, Kyu-Tek and Cho, Soowon. 2015. A taxonomic review of Schoenobiinae
(Lepidoptera: Crambidae) from Korea. Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology, 18(2): 131-137.
doi:10.1016/j.aspen.2014.12.007
Sohn, Jae-Cheon, Park, Kyu-Tek and Cho, Soowon. 2015. Seven species of Olethreutinae
(Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) new to Korea. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity, 8(2): 133-138.
doi:10.1016/j.japb.2015.04.004
2014 - 2015 Progress Report 91
Sohn, Jae-Cheon. 2014. A Taxonomic Review of Stachyotis (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutoidea:
Plutellidae) with Description of a New Species from China. Florida Entomologist, 97(4): 1588-
1593. doi:10.1653/024.097.0431
Sohn, Jae-Cheon. 2014. A taxonomic review of the Neotropical genus Anchimacheta
(Lepidoptera: Urodidae) with descriptions of a new congener and an allied, new genus and
species from Sri Lanka. Journal of Natural History, 48(43-44): 2617-2631.
doi:10.1080/00222933.2014.939730
Sohn, Jae-Cheon. 2014. Three new species of Spiladarcha Meyrick, 1913 (Lepidoptera:
Urodidae) from Costa Rica. Zootaxa, 3884(1): 73-80. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3884.1.6
Rachel Warnock
Eberle, J., Walbaum, W., Warnock, R. C. M., Fabrizi, S. and Ahrens, D. 2015. Asymmetry in
genitalia does not increase the rate of their evolution. Molecular phylogenetics and evolution, 93:
180-187. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2015.08.005
Ksepka, Daniel T., Parham, James F., Allman, James F., Benton, Michael J., Carrano, Matthew
T., Cranston, Karen A., Donoghue, Philip C. J., Head, Jason J., Hermsen, Elizabeth J., Irmis,
Randall B., Joyce, Walter G., Kohli, Manpreet, Lamm, Kristin S., Leehr, Dan, Patané, José S. L.,
Polly, P. D., Phillips, Matthew J., Smith, N. A., Smith, Nathan D., Tuinen, Marcel van, Ware,
Jessica L. and Warnock, Rachel C. M. 2015. The Fossil Calibration Database, A New Resource
for Divergence Dating. Systematic Biology, 64(5): 853-859. doi:10.1093/sysbio/syv025
Warnock, Rachel C. M., Parham, James F., Joyce, Walter G., Lyson, Tyler R. and Donoghue,
Philip C. J. 2015. Calibration uncertainty in molecular dating analyses: there is no substitute for
the prior evaluation of time priors. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological
Sciences, 282(1798) doi:10.1098/rspb.2014.1013
Laura Waters
Waters, Laura E., Andrews, Benjamin J. and Lange, Rebecca A. 2015. Rapid Crystallization of
Plagioclase Phenocrysts in Silicic Melts during Fluid-saturated Ascent: Phase Equilibrium and
Decompression Experiments. Journal of Petrology, 56(5): 981-1006.
doi:10.1093/petrology/egv025
Maya Yamato
Yamato, Maya and Pyenson, Nicholas D. 2015. Early development and orientation of the
acoustic funnel provides insight into the evolution of sound reception pathways in cetaceans.
PloS One, 10(3): 1-15. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0118582
Ning Zhang
Zhang, Ning, Wen, Jun and Zimmer, Elizabeth A. 2015. Expression patterns of AP1, FUL, FT
and LEAFY orthologs in Vitaceae support the homology of tendrils and inflorescences
throughout the grape family. Journal of Systematics and Evolution, doi:10.1111/jse.12138