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Mark Westneat's research is primarily focused on understanding the history of fish biology on coral reefs. The central goal is to provide an evolutionary framework for study of behavior and function in coral reef fishes. In collaboration with many students and several other laboratories, we are asking questions about phylogeny, structure and function in a wide diversity of fish groups. Phylogenetic studies include using molecular and morphological data to resolve the evolutionary tree of major reef fish families such as the Labridae, Scaridae, Pomacentridae, Chaetodontidae, and Balistidae, as well as other reef groups such as eels. Field work is a key component of this research, with recent expeditions to the Philippines, Solomon Islands, Palau, and other sites contributing fish specimens for this work. The integration of systematics with biomechanics and bioengineering can often reveal important historical patterns in coral reef fish history. Biomechanics asks questions such as - how are animals built to bite so hard and swim so fast? A major focus of the laboratory is the use of physics and engineering to explore questions of animal function such as feeding, swimming and breathing. Current research goals also include studies of the internal workings of insects using the high-intensity x-ray beam at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory. Please see a more detailed description of these research projects. Mary Anne Rogers’ research interests focus on mammals, a dramatic departure from managing the Fish Collection. Most recently, she has collaborated with Bill Stanley (Collection Manager, Mammals) in his studies of the small mammals of the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania. Philip Willink's research is focused on the fishes of South America and Midwest United States. Topics of interest include new species, distribution, biogeography, diversification, speciation, invasive species, conservation, and changes in species assemblage in response to human modifications of aquatic habitats. Much of his experience involves rapid inventories of little-known watersheds in South and Central America, as well as collecting fishes in the well-known Midwest. Comparing and contrasting pristine rivers, such as the Coppename River in Suriname, with highly modified rivers, such as the Chicago River in downtown Chicago, is highly enlightening in regards to understanding the structuring of fish assemblages and the effects of humans on aquatic environments. Collaborative projects include developing rapid color identification field guides to the fishes of the Chicago Region and northern Bolivia. Phil is involved in monitoring for the invasive northern snakehead, asian carps, round goby, and oriental weatherfish. He has worked on the feeding ecology and morphology of the family Catostomidae (North American suckers, redhorses, and buffaloes) and the evolution of gill rakers - specialized feeding structures within the mouth of fishes. Recent interests include the arbitrariness of species concepts and the psychology behind why people desperately want to believe in species as biologically distinct entities. Leo Smith’s research focuses on the comparative evolutionary biology of fishes. In particular, he is interested in the large-scale phenomena that have shaped the history and diversification of teleosts in both space and time. His research program falls into several broad and overlapping categories: systematics, venomology, biogeography, and evolutionary morphology. His research includes both higher-level and alpha-level systematic work aimed at reconstructing the evolutionary history of freshwater and marine fish groups. Current projects focus on the evolution of venomous fishes, the limits and relationships of the Scorpaeniformes (e.g., lionfishes, sculpins, sea robins, flatheads), and the origin, evolution, and biogeography of Gondwanan fish groups (e.g., cichlids, rainbowfishes, killifishes). Other Zoology Research: |
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