Brian Lee Beatty

Division of Vertebrate Paleontology
University of Kansas
Natural History Museum & Biodiversity Research Center
318E Dyche Hall
1345 Jayhawk Blvd.
Lawrence, KS 66045-7561 USA
E-mail: blbeatty@ku.edu

and

Managing Editor, Vertebrate Palaeontology Series, www.PalArch.nl

Research Statement

My central interest is in the myriad times vertebrates have made the transition from terrestrial to aquatic forms. I have focused most of my work on the mammalian orders Sirenia and Desmostylia, particularly their anatomy, especially how their masticatory anatomy has been modified to act in an aqueous environment. I am currently working on applying microwear methods and studies of enamel microstructure to identify diet, ecology and mastication patterns among these and other marine mammal taxa. Ideally, I would like to sample all possible marine vertebrates and/or study specimens from in vivo biomechanical studies of mastication to see how wear patterns are affected by differing mastication forces and motions. Along those lines, projects are underway investigating dental wear and microstructure among pharyngognathic teleosts, dipnoi, cetceans, pinnipeds, and mosasaurs (Carinodens with Anne Schulp of Maastrich Museum).

Additionally, the study of osteological correlates of soft tissues is of key interest to me. To accompany my work with teeth, I have begun preliminary investigations into the osteological correlates of palatal rugae morphology in sheep using traditional histological techniques. Likewise, work on the mechanical interactions of keratinized epidermis and bone is generally of interest, and has recently led to work on the nasal bosses and horns of fossil and extant head-lift-digging fossorial mammals with Katrina Gobetz (James Madison University).
Aside from the focus on marine vertebrates I am also interested in the use and testing of the Extant Phylogenetic Bracket in making paleobiological inferences. In addition, I have some interests in classical Tertiary mammal paleontology, particularly members of primitive artiodactyl groups and their origins. Last but not least, I would like to continue to work on applications of computerized tomography (CT) in studying cranial anatomy and have some papers underway investigating the morphology of the ear region and brain of the Desmostylia.

Skills of note

Gross anatomy/dissection (from small animals, to humans, to Loxodonta with particular emphasis on head and neck)
Histological slide preparation (decalcifying, embedding, microtome use, mounting, staining)
Natural history collection management (loans, cataloging, personnel mgmt., archival and specimen care, databasing)
Spanish literacy
French literacy
CT operation (limited, medical scanner only thus far)
Scientific Illustration (stippling, pencil, computerized [Adobe products])
Fossil collection/preparation/molding and casting
Scientific Journal Editing (currently Managing Editor, Vertebrate Palaeontology Series, www.PalArch.nl)

Appointments & Positions Held

2005 Summer – Instructor for BIOL 240 Fundamentals of Human Anatomy @ University of Kansas Undergraduate Biology (~60 students, mostly pre-allied health or pre-med).

2005 Spring – Instructor for BIOL 240 Fundamentals of Human Anatomy @ University of Kansas Undergraduate Biology (~400 students, mostly pre-allied health or pre-med).

2004 Fall & Spring 2005 – Curatorial Assistant, Division of Vertebrate Paleontology, University of Kansas Natural History Museum & Biodiversity Research Center

2004 Summer – Instructor for BIOL 240 Fundamentals of Human Anatomy @ University of Kansas Undergraduate Biology (~60 students, mostly pre-allied health or pre-med).

2004 Spring – GTA for BIOL 302 Human Anatomy Dissection Lab @ University of Kansas Undergraduate Biology (2 labs of ~20 students each, mostly pre-allied health or pre-med).

2003 Fall – GTA for BIOL 302 Human Anatomy Dissection Lab @ University of Kansas Undergraduate Biology (2 labs of ~20 students each, mostly pre-allied health or pre-med)..

2002 Fall – GTA Gross Human Anatomy @ Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine

2001 - spring 2002 Lab instructor, lab coordinator for undergraduate human anatomy course, as well as guest lecturer on arthrology and the urogential system.

September 2001 – December 2001 Research Assistant to Carl Terranova involving CT operation and analysis of limb bones of human archaeological specimens from the Cobb Collection of Howard University.

2000 - 2001, spring 2002 Teaching assistant in Allied Health Basic Human Anatomy course at Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC (~120 students shared by all 6 instructors each semester).

2000 – 2003 Research Associate of the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC

March 1998 – June 2000 Collections Assistant and Preparator, Dept. of Vertebrate Paleontology, Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, FL

January 1997 to March 1998 - Volunteer Preparator and Collections Assistant, Dept. of Vertebrate Paleontology, Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, FL

Education

August 2003 – present PhD program, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Universiity of Kansas, Lawrence, KS (advisor: L. D. Martin)

August 2002 – December 2002 PhD program, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Ohio University, Athens, OH (advisor: L. Witmer) (this was self-terminated due to a spousal move)

August 2000 - August 2002 Master’s program, Anatomy, Howard University, Washington, DC (advisor: D. P. Domning)

August 1995 - August 1999 B.S. Zoology with a minor in Geology (originally dual major, Zoology & Geology), University of Florida (advisor: S. D. Webb)

Memberships

Professional

Society of Vertebrate Paleontology since 1998

Society for Marine Mammalogy since 2000 (Mid-Atlantic Student Chapter)

Paleontological Society since early 2001

International Society of Vertebrate Morphologists since 2001

Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology since December 2001

Society for the Study of Mammalian Evolution since January 2002

History of Science Society since 2003

American Association of Anatomists since 2003

Society of Systematic Biologists 2003-2004

Sigma Xi University of Kansa Chapter (#004) since 2004

Non-Professional

KU Natural History Museum Graduate Student Organization (president 2004/2005) 2003, 2004

Environmental Action Group (UF) 1995-1998 (Vice president 1997/98)

Graduate Student Council, Howard University 2000

Florida Paleontological Society since 1989

Awards & Grants

2005 June – KUNHM&BRC Additional funds request, “Investigations of Enamel Microstructure in Desmostylus hesperus” Total $600 -status received

2005 January – NSF Grant Title:“Collaborative Research: Paleofaunal Evolution and Guild Structure of Herbivorous Marine Mammals” PIs: Domning, D. P., Barnes, L. G. Clementz, M. (I am included for $1125 as a pilot study for microwear applications to dietary analyses of marine mammal herbivores)– status declined

2004 Spring - Panorama Society Grant (Spring 2004) “Investigating the Use of Microwear Analysis for Dietary Assessment Among Durophagous Aquatic Vertebrates in the KU Natural History Museum & Biodiversity Research Center Collections” PI: Brian Lee Beatty. Amount = $500.00 Status - received

2004 June - Welles Fund Proposal “Investigation Into the Use of Microwear Analysis for Assessment of Diet among marine vertebrates in the collections of the UCMP” PI: Brian Lee Beatty Amount = $750 Status - received

March 9, 2004 Membership in Sigma Xi awarded (with one year’s dues) for participation in Student Research Paper Competition. Status - received

NSF proposal #0417921 “Collaborative research: Paleofaunal Evolution and Guild Structure of Herbivorous Marine Mammals” PI’s Daryl Domning, Larry Barnes, Mark Clementz (I am included for $1125 as a pilot study for microwear applications to dietary analyses of the taxa involved) – total funds $630,998.00 Status-declined

Travel reimbursement grant from dean’s office, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Howard University for travel to SVP meeting in Bozeman, MT ($500).

Undergraduate Scholars Program 1999-2000. A grant to support undergraduate student research ($3000) Gainesville Creek Faunas Project. Status - received

Mitchell Hope Award 1999. An award to support excellence in undergraduate student research in Florida paleontology ($500). Status - received

Field Work & Dissections (excluding human anatomy labs)

2005 May 20 – dissection of Trichechus manatus (head & neck) at the dissection workshop during the meeting, “Evolution of Aquatic Tetrapods” at NEOUCOM, Rootstown, OH.

2004 April, July - day trips to Tuttle Creek, Manhattan, KS site of Permian age to collect fossils of Pelycosauria.

2003 October - day trip to “Spillway” site of Paleozoic Black Shales outside of Lawrence, KS, collecting regurgitates.

2002 January - Participant in the continued dissection of Panthera onca at the Smithsonian Institution Osteology Lab, Museum Support Center, Washington, DC.

2001 May - Participant in the dissection of a Panthera onca, Phocoena phocoena, Kogia breviceps (head only), and Petrogale pencillata (rock wallaby) at the Smithsonian Institution Osteology Lab, Museum Support Center, Washington, DC

2001 April and 2002 March - Punta San Telmos (Punta Prieta), Baja California Sur, Mexico with Los Angeles County Museum curator, Lawrence Barnes (see Kearin et al., 2001, Beatty et al., 2001) – collection of fossil marine mammals and study of modern cetacean while on board natural history cruise vessel, including lectures to accompanying tourists.

2000 & 2001 - various trips to the Calvert Cliffs, MD – collection of fossil marine mammals.

2000 August and 2001 March - Participant in the dissection of the hind and fore leg of an African elephant, Loxodonta africana, at the Smithsonian Institution Osteology Lab, Museum Support Center, Washington, DC

1999 & 2000 – Seacow Origins Project, Seven Rivers, Jamaica with Daryl P. Domning, R. D. E. MacPhee to collect Eocene Sirenia (MacPhee et al., 1999; Domning et al., 2001) funded by National Geographic.

2000 - Aucilla River (one trip, underwater archaeology requiring snorkeling), FL

2000 - Fuller’s Earth Mines, FL – various terrestrial and aquatic fossil vertebrates

2000 - Florida State University Marine Lab, FL - Eocene aquatic vertebrates and invertebrates

2000 - Bone Valley, FL – Miocen/Pliocene aquatic vertebrates and invertebrates, including most complete skull of Pomatodelphis inaequalis.

1999 & 2000 - Various excursions to Oreodont Island, FL (oreodonts, sirenia, rhinocerotidae)

1998, 1999, 2000 latter half of April - Pony Express dig with FLMNH at Thomas Farm, FL (huge Miocene fauna)

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Beatty, B. L. and L. D. Martin. (in preparation) Visual Fields in Elasmosaurid plesiosaurs and its paleoecological implications.

Beatty, B. L. & A. B. Clifford (in preparation) Testing the Reliability of the Extant Phylogenetic Bracket in Making Paleobiological Inferences. Paleobiology

Beatty, B. L. (in preparation) An enigmatic Vanderhoofius-like Desmostylid of the Yaquina Formation. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology

Beatty, B. L. (in preparation) The Gainesville Creeks Faunas of Gainesville, Florida. Bulletin of the Florida Museum of Natural History.

Beatty, B. L., Bader, K., Hemmy, A. (in preparation). Remains of Pelycosauria from Tuttle Creek Spillway Fauna, Kansas. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science.

Beatty, B. L. & Rothschild, B. (in preparation). Paleopathological Evidence of the Origins of Repetitive Deep Diving in the Cetacea. Nature.

Beatty, B. L. (submitted) Paleopathology Case Report: Dental Senescence in a Miocene Rhino from Kansas. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science.

Beatty, B. L. (submitted) Paleopathology Case Report: Periodontal Disease in a Miocene Rhino from Kansas. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science.

Beatty, B. L. (submitted) Evidence of Benthic Suction Feeding in the Desmostylidae (Mammalia: Desmostylia). Journal of Morphology

Beatty, B. L. (in review) Rediscovered specimens of Cornwallius (Mammalia, Desmostylia) from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. www.PalArch.nl

Beatty, B. L. (in review) New Material of Cornwallius sookensis (Mammalia: Desmostylia) of the Yaquina Formation or Oregon. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology

Gobetz, Katrina E. & Beatty, Brian L. (in review) A Proposed model for the emergence of keratinized cranial appendages in fossorial rodents. Journal of Morphology

Beatty, B. L. (in review) The Status and Location of Cornwallius (Desmostylia, Mammalia) specimens from Unalaska Island. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology

Webb, S. D., Beatty, B. L., Poinar Jr., G. 2003. New Evidence of Miocene Protoceratidae Including a New Species from Chiapas, Mexico. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. No.279:348-367.

Book Reviews, Newsletters and Magazine Articles (not peer-reviewed)

Williams, D. R. & Beatty, B. L. 2005. Book review of: Barnosky, A. D. Ed. 2004. Biodiversity response to climate change in the middle Pleistocene. The Porcupine Cave Fauna from Colorado. Berkeley, University of California Press. PalArch, book reviews. www.PalArch.nl

Beatty, Brian L. 2005. Book review of Lucas, P. W. Dental Functional Mosrphology. How teeth work. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. PalArch, book reviews. www.PalArch.nl

Beatty, Brian L. 2005. International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) In: Veldmeijer, A. J., B. L. Beatty and H. M. Kriek Eds. 2005. The PalArch Foundation’s Newsletter Volume 2, Number 3 – Amsterdam, PalArch. 2 http://www.palarch.nl/Non_scientific/articles.htm

Beatty, Brian L. 2005. Making Practical Use of Morphology: Teaching human anatomy as a dwindling educational resource and the call for more anatomically oriented anthropologists and vertebrate paleontologists. In: Veldmeijer, A. J., B. L. Beatty and H. M. Kriek Eds. 2005. The PalArch Foundation’s Newsletter Volume 2, Number 1 – Amsterdam, PalArch. 4-5 http://www.palarch.nl/Non_scientific/articles.htm

Beatty, B. L. 2003. REVIEW: Secondary Adaptation of Tetrapods to Life in Water: Proceedings of the International Meeting Poitiers. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 23(3): 474-475.

Beatty, Brian 2000. Thomas Farm’s Slingshot Beast Revealed. Pony Express vol 9, no 1

Beatty, Brian 1998. News from the Prep Lab. Pony Express vol 7, no 1

Abstracts presented at meetings

Beatty, B. L. 2005. MIOCENE-PLIOCENE PALEOECOLOGICAL SHIFTS IN THE AQUATIC HERBIVORE ADAPTIVE ZONE USING DENTAL WEAR. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology vol. 25 (supplement to no. 3)

Beatty, B. L. 2005 Dental Wear in Aquatic Vertebrates: Constraints, Opportunities and Preliminary Data for Selected Marine Mammals. 4^th Tri-annual Evolution of Aquatic Tetrapods Meeting, Akron, OH May 16-20, 2005.

Beatty, B. L. 2005. “Aquatic Vertebrate Dental Wear: Constraints and Opportunities” 6^th Annual Paleontology Symposium at 137^th Kansas Academy of Science Annual Meeting, Kansas City, KS March 19, 2005.

Clementz, M., Barnes, L. G., Domning, D. P., Beatty, B. L. 2004 Eocene and Oligocene Evolution and Structure of the Aquatic Herbivore Adaptive Zone in the West Atlantic and Caribbean. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology vol. 24 (supplement to no. 3):47A

Beatty, Brian L. 2004 Evidence for Suction Feeding in the Desmostylidae (Desmostylia, Mammalia). (abstract for ICVM-7 meeting) Journal of Morphology 260:276-277.

Beatty, Brian L. 2004. Testing the use of the Extant Phylogenetic Bracket for making Paleobiological Inferences. Kansas City, MO. Student Research Competition. 136^th Kansas Academy of Science Annual Meeting (Fifth annual paleontology symposium). Transactions of the Missouri Academy of Sciences.

Beatty, Brian L. 2002. Cornwallius sookensis (Desmostylia, Mammalia): A Re-evaluation of a Late Oligocene Desmostylian from the Eastern North Pacific Coast. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology vol. 22(supplement to no. 3): 35A.

Beatty, Brian L., Kearin, M. L., Gascon, G. A., Barnes, L. G., Espinosa, L. A., Applegate, S.P., Aranda, F. J. 2001. Late Oligocene Desmostylia in Mexico; the Southern-Most Desmostylia in the North Pacific. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology vol 21 supplement to no.3: 32A.

Domning, D. P., Beatty B., Portell, R.W., Donovan, S. K., Mitchell, S., MacPhee, R. D. E., Flemming, C. 2001. Skeletal Morphology of Basal Sirenia: A Condylarth-Like Quadrapedal Seacow from the Eocene of Jamaica. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology vol 21 supplement to no. 3, 45A.

Kearin, M. L., Barnes, L. G., Espinosa Arrubarrena, L. A., Applegate, S. P., Gascon, G. A., Aranda Manteca, F. J., Beatty, B. L. 2001. Nueva informacion acerca de la localidad de Desmostylia del Oligoceno Tardio de Baja California Sur, Mexico: los desmostilianos mas antiguos en Mexico y la ocurrencia mas surena en la region del Pacifico Norte.

MacPhee, R. D. E., Flemming, C., Domning, D. P., Portell, R. W., Beatty, B. 1999. Eocene? Primate Petrosal From Jamaica: Morphology and Biogeographical Implications in Abstracts of Papers of the 59^thAnnual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Adams mark Hotel Denver, Colorado October 20-23, 1999. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology vol 19(supplement to 3): 61A

Invited Presentations and Lectures

2005 April 27 – “Dental Wear in Aquatic Vertebrates: Preliminary Results.” Museum Lunch to present the results of my Panorama Grant funded work.

2005 April Kansas City, MO. Public lecture for The Association of Earth Science Clubs of Greater Kansas City 44^rd Annual Gem & Mineral Show.

2005 March 8 – “Dental Wear in Aquatic Vertebrates: Constraints & Opportunities” Sigma Xi Student Research Paper Competition.

2004 November 4 – “Behavior, Sociality, and mating Systems of the Sirenia”. Guest lecture for Evolutionary Biology of Marine Mammals. Instructor: Ray Pierotti.

2004 September 16 – “Fossil History of the Sirenia and Desmostylia” Guest lecture for Evolutionary Biology of Marine Mammals. Instructor: Ray Pierotti.

2004 March 13 – Jumping Back In: How Whales and Other Marine Vertebrates Went Back to the Sea. Kansas City, MO. Public lecture for The Association of Earth Science Clubs of Greater Kansas City 43^rd Annual Gem & Mineral Show.

2004 March 9 - Testing the use of the Extant Phylogenetic Bracket for Making Paleobiological Inferences. Lawrence, KS. Sigma Xi Student Research Paper Competition.

2003 October & November Fossil History of Sirenia & Desmostylia (one lecture), The Natural History of Extant Sirenia (two lectures). Invited Guest Lectures at the University of Kansas for Dr. Ray Pierotti’s Evolutionary Biology of Marine Mammals course.

2003 October 29 Beatty, B. L. Problems with Paleobiological Inferences: Testing the Extant Phylogenetic Bracket? Museum Lunch, KUNHM.

2003 October 11 Beatty, B. L. Predictability of Paleobiological Inferences: A Test of the Extant Phylogenetic Bracket and Beyond. Eighth Annual Graduate Student Retreat Fall 2003, Lawrence, University of Kansas Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

2002 February Beatty, B. L. The fossil history of marine mammals. Invited guest lecture at American University for Dr. Steve Macavoy’s Marine Mammal course.

2000 May 11. Beatty, B. L., Webb, S. D. Phylogeny and Paleobiology of Protoceratidae (Mammalia: Artiodactyla). Invited Presentation, Florida Museum of Natural History.

Service

2005 Spring to present – Planning Committee for 2006 4^th annual Midwest Student Symposium of Paleontological Research (MSPR) www.msspr.org

2005 March 18 - Coordinator and Moderator for 6^th Annual Paleontology Symposium at 137^th Kansas Academy of Science Annual Meeting, Kansas City, KS.

Spring 2005 - KU LEAD Leadership Coach for KU Undergraduate Matthew Thompson (Contact Reuben Perez rperez@ku.edu

2005 March 10 – Volunteer Judge in Douglas County Science Fair.

2005: Letters of recommendation written for undergraduates (mostly applications to Nursing or Medical Schools, fellowships, etc): 14

2004: Letters of Recommendation written for Undergraduates (mostly applications to Nursing or Medical School):18

2004 September – Development of an Index of Impact Factors for Journals of Interest to Vertebrate Paleontologists (distributed to members of the KUNHM&BRC Division of Vertebrate Paleontology)

Fall 2004 & Spring 2005 – EEB Faculty Meeting student representative

Fall 2004 & Spring 2005 – EEB New Directions Committee student representative (for EEB GSO)

Fall 2004 & Spring 2005 – EEB GSO Student Speaker Committee Chair

2004 Summer – EEB New Student Orientation Committee (orientation held August 13, 2004)

2004 June 11– Reviewed 1 manuscript for Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science.

Since Summer 2004 – Managing Editor of the American Branch of the PalArch Foundation Vertebrate Paleontology Division (www.PalArch.nl an online, peer-reviewed journal)

2004 June to 2005 June – President of Museum Graduate Student Organization.

2004 April 15-16 - Co-Moderator for 5^th Annual Paleontology Symposium at 136^th Kansas Academy of Science Annual Meeting, Kansas City, KS.

2004 April to present - Editorial Board member of PalArch online journal dedicated to Paleontology and Archaeology (www.PalArch.nl)

2004 April to present – Coordinator & Secretary of KU Vertebrate Paleontology Group regular meetings

2004 March 10 –Volunteer judge for Douglas County Science Fair

2003 May - Volunteer judge for Douglas County Science Fair

2001 May - Co-coordinator of the 1^st Meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Student Chapter of the Society for Marine Mammalogy, held at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution (other coordinator – Dee Allen).

2000 - Invited to the South Florida Museum (Bradenton, FL) to curate the long-neglected vertebrate fossil collection and exhibits with Suzanne White (museum’s collection manager).

1997 Co-coordinator of the Southeastern Student Environmental Action Conference, University of Florida

Popular Press Appearances

December 2004 – “The Next Generation of Graduate Students” in BioHawk (Alumni Newsletter of the Division of Biological Sciences, University of Kansas)

April 19, 2000 – “Graduate student relishes ‘Indiana Jones’ life; Collecting fossils since childhood, Beatty enjoys unearthing Gainesville’s rich, diverse history” the Independent Florida Alligator (Student newspaper, University of Florida)

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