Current Research
I am currently a PhD candidate in the Nesbitt Laboratory at Virginia Tech, studying Late Triassic vertebrate communities. My research focuses on the paleoecology of these communities, with particular emphasis on the role of environmental change in driving patterns of functional diversity.
Dissertation Work
Late Triassic- Chinle Fm.
A small venomous reptile from the Late Triassic (Norian) of the southwestern United States.
I have described a new species of diapsid reptile from the Green Site (Revueltian, Sonsela Member) of the Chinle formation near Petrified Forest National Park. This specimen consists of a partial dentary with three teeth which likely could conduct venom for predation or defense.
Reconstructing community dynamics using the fossil record: Estimating body mass from fragmentary fossils
I am conducting an ongoing study of lepidosauromorphs, archosauromorphs, and temnospondyls to look for a predictive relationship between tooth crown height and body mass. The majority of the fossils we find in the field are isolated teeth, so being able to estimate the body mass of an animal based on a single tooth would greatly increase the amount of ecological data we can obtain from the vertebrate fossil record. In prep.
Description of a complex Revueltian microvertebrate assemblage from the Sonsela Member
I am working on a description of the amazing fauna of the Green Site (Revueltian, Sonsela Member) to document small faunal members known only by their teeth.
Modeling community structure for reptile-dominated vertebrate communities
I am tracking the structure of a vertebrate community in the 14 million years preceeding a major extinction event (End Triassic Extinction) to look for stabilization or restructuring.
Fundy Bay Projects
Middle Triassic-Jurassic
Analyzing changes in functional diversity and trophic network structure through the End Triassic Extinction in the Fundy Basin using microvertebrates
I am conducting fieldwork in the Minas Basin + bulk scanning and segmenting blocks of hard sandstone full of microvertebrates to add to our understanding of the faunal assemblages before and after the ETE.
Investigating undescribed taxa from Middle and Late Triassic + Early Jurassic sites
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A new Middle Triassic poposauroid (led by Brynden Perkins, in review)
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A new Early Jurassic sauropodomorph
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Fish and microvertebrates
An investigation of the internal anatomy of Teraterpeton from CT data
Always wanted to know what's going on inside of Terpy's head (and beak)? We will for the first time use digital data to understand this how this animal's unique dentition, beak structure, and braincase contributed to its lifestyle and sensory capabilities.