Our Research
The Mammalian Evolution and Paleobiology Lab at ASU studies the origins, diversification, biology, and biogeography of placental mammal clades during the early Paleogene Period (~66–34 million years ago). We have a special interest in small, insectivorous mammals—many of uncertain phylogenetic affinity—and seek to uncover cryptic diversity and understand the origins of various lineages of living mammals.
Origin & Evolution of Placental Mammals​
Placental mammals (all living mammals except monotremes and marsupials) experienced a dramatic radiation after the end-Cretaceous extinction. This explosion of diversity obscures our understanding of the evolutionary relationships of many modern groups, as well as the relationship of fossil mammals to those alive today.
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Mammalian Biogeography in the Paleogene
The northern continents (Asia, Europe, and North America) were connected during much of the early Cenozoic by high-latitude land bridges, whereas the southern continents (Africa, Australia, South America, and Antarctica) were largely isolated. We study how this geography combined with climate and other factors to shape the distribution of mammals across the world.
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