Rudiger Bieler

Curator

Negaunee Integrative Research Center
Science Focus
Topic(S)
Administrative Area(s)

My research in my lab focuses on the biology of Mollusca, especially gastropods (snails) and bivalves (clams). I am interested in their species-level diversity, how it evolved over time, and how it is impacted by human activities.

My collections-based approach has been to advance the knowledge of such groups from the most basic scientific infrastructure needs, such as taxon and distributional catalogues, to monographic revisionary work and the training of new generations of specialists, to combined morphological-anatomical-ultrastructural and molecular analyses ultimately allowing our team to use advanced phylogenetic, phylogenomic, and modeling approaches, thus bringing these previously “neglected” taxa and research fields into the mainstream literature. Much of this is approached through series of National Science Foundation (NSF) award projects that build on one another (e.g., PEET, REVSYS, and AToL programs), provide for PhD student and postdoctoral researcher support, and foster the development of associated education and outreach components, including various local and traveling museum exhibitions. Similarly, my engagement in collections development and curation follows long-term trajectories, from large-scale digitization and archival compactorized storage for millions of specimens, to associated laboratory development and to the latest and ongoing efforts (jointly with our Insect collections) to provide online niche-modelling access to the digitized data. Other, strongly field-work-oriented and collections-building, projects deal with regional biodiversity studies, often in the context of detecting invasive or endangered taxa. A special focus is a long-term study of the molluscan diversity of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary that uses a combination of new collecting and study of existing museum collections to develop present (and recreate past) baseline data of regional diversity in an area heavily impacted by human activity. I extended this project recently by joining forces with Florida’s Mote Marine Laboratory in the development, first application, and monitoring of brain & boulder coral restoration

Much of my current focus is on the Bivalve Tree-of-Life(BivAToL) Project. Watch videos filmed during an expedition to Australia.

Another part of my program concentrates on the molluscan diversity of the Florida Keys and how it changed over time:

Our coral restoration efforts, a joint effort with the Field Museum Research Associate Dr. David Vaughan, Director of Mote Marine Lab's Tropical Research Laboratory, were recently featured in the following PBS Newshour video

Education and Work

M.Sc. - Biology, Geography and Biology-Education, University of Hamburg, 1982.

D.Sc. - Zoology, University of Hamburg, 1985.Curator of Invertebrates, FMNH, 2004-present (Associate 1993-2004, Assistant 1990-1993)

Lecturer, Committee on Evolutionary Biology, University of Chicago, 1992-present

Adjunct Scientist, Mote Marine Laboratory/Florida Keys Tropical Research Lab, 2006-present

  • Head, Division of Invertebrates, Field Museum of Natural History, 1990-1997, 1999-2013
  • Lecturer, Biological Sciences Collegiate Division, University of Chicago, 1992-1996, 2006-2014.
  • Academic Affairs Manager, Field Museum (in Acting Vice President role), 1999-2001
  • Chairman, Department of Zoology, Field Museum of Natural History, 1997-2001
  • Acting Executive Director, Delaware Museum of Natural History, August-October 1990
  • Research Associate, Invertebrate Zoology, NMNH, Smithsonian Institution, DC, 1989-1992
  • Research Associate of Malacology, MCZ, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 1988-1995
  • Research Associate, American Museum of Natural History, New York, 1998-2004
  • Assistant Curator of Malacology, Delaware Museum of Natural History, 1988-1990
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Grad. College of Marine Studies, U Delaware, 1988-1991
  • NATO Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Ft. Pierce, FL 1987-1988
  • Smithsonian Institution Postdoctoral Fellow, NMNH, DC 1985-1986
  • Smithsonian Marine Station Postdoctoral Fellow, Ft. Pierce, FL 1986-1987
  • Lecturer, Department of Zoology, University of Hamburg, 1982-1985

Accomplishments

(100) Herrera, N.D., Ter Poorten, J.J., Bieler, R., Mikkelsen, P.M., Strong, E.S., Jablonski, D. & S.J. Steppan, 2015.  Molecular phylogenetics and historical biogeography amid shifting continents in the cockles and giant clams (Bivalvia: Cardiidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 07/2015; DOI:10.1016/j.ympev.2015.07.013

(99) Healy, J.M., Mikkelsen, P.M. & R. Bieler, 2015. Sperm ultrastructure in honeycomb (foam) oysters (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Gryphaeidae, Pycnodontinae): Comparison with other Ostreoidea and taxonomic                     implications. Invertebrate Biology, 134(2): DOI: 10.1111/ivb.12086

(98) Simone, L.R.L., P.M. Mikkelsen & R. Bieler, 2015. Comparative anatomy of selected marine bivalves from the Florida Keys, with notes on Brazilian congeners (Mollusca: Bivalvia). Malacologia, 58(1-2): 1-127.

(97) González, V.L., S. Andrade, R. Bieler, T.M. Collins, C.W Dunn, P.M.M. Mikkelsen, J.D. Taylor, & G. Giribet. 2015. A phylogenetic backbone for Bivalvia: an RNA-seq approach. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 282: 20142332. [open access]

(96) Sartori, A.F. & R. Bieler, 2014. Three new species of Ammonicera from the Eastern Pacific coast of North America, with redescriptions and comments on other species of Omalogyridae (Gastropoda, Heterobranchia). Zootaxa, 3872: 1-21.

(95) Healy, J.M., P.M. Mikkelsen, & R. Bieler, 2014. Spermatogenic ultrastructure in the anomalodesmatan bivalve Myochama anomioides (Mollusca: Myochamidae) – does the nucleus help position the ‘temporary’ acrosome? Acta Zoologica. DOI: 10.1111/azo.12093  [first published online, 13 August 2014]

(94) Golding, R.E., R. Bieler, T.A. Rawlings & T.M. Collins, 2014. Deconstructing Dendropoma: a systematic revision of a world-wide worm-snail group with description of new genera (Caenogastropoda: Vermetidae). Malacologia, 57(1): 1-98.

(93) Bieler, R., P.M. Mikkelsen, T.M. Collins, E.A. Glover, V.L. González, D.L. Graf, E. M. Harper, J. Healy, G.Y. Kawauchi, P.P. Sharma, S. Staubach, E.E. Strong, J.D. Taylor, I. Tëmkin, J.D. Zardus, S. Clark, A. Guzmán, E. McIntyre, P. Sharp & G. Giribet, 2014. Investigating the Bivalve Tree of Life -- an exemplar-based approach combining molecular and novel morphological characters. Invertebrate Systematics, 28(1): 32-115.  [open access with associated MorphoBank project 790]

(92) Bieler, R., P.M. Mikkelsen & G. Giribet, 2013. Bivalvia - a discussion of known unknowns. American Malacological Bulletin, 31(1): 123-133.

(91)** Bieler, R**. & R.E. Petit, 2012. Molluscan taxa in the publications of the Museum Godeffroy of Hamburg, with a discussion of the Godeffroy Sales Catalogs (1864–1884), the Journal des Museum Godeffroy (1873–1910), and a history of the museum. *Zootaxa*, 3511: 1-80. [open access]

(90) Carter, J., P. Harries, N. Malchus, A. Sartori, L. Anderson, R. Bieler, A. Bogan, E. Coan, J. Cope, S. Cragg, J. Garcia-March, J. Hylleberg, P. Kelly, K. Kleeman, J. Kříž, C. McRoberts, P. Mikkelsen, J. Pojeta, I. Tëmkin, T. Yancey & A. Zierits, 2012. Illustrated Glossary of the Bivalvia. Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology, Treatise Online, Part N, Revised, Mollusca 6, Bivalvia, Volume 1, Chapter 31: 1-209 [July].

(89) Sharma, P.P., V.L. Gonzalez, G.Y. Kawauchi, S.C. Andrade, A. Guzman, T.M. Collins, E.A. Glover,  E.M. Harper, J.M. Healy, P.M. Mikkelsen, J.D. Taylor, R. Bieler & G. Giribet, 2012. Phylogenetic analysis of four nuclear protein-encoding genes largely corroborates the traditional classification of Bivalvia (Mollusca). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 65(1): 64-74. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1055790312002035 ["October" issue; corrected proofs online since 31 May].

(88) Bieler, R. & R.E. Petit, 2012.  Comment on the proposed resolution of homonymy between Chilodontinae Eigenmann, 1910 (Pisces, Characiformes) and Chilodontinae Wenz, 1938 (Mollusca, Gastropoda). Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature, 69(1): 59 [March].

(87) Bieler, R. & R.E. Petit, 2011. Catalogue of Recent and fossil “worm-snail” taxa of the families Vermetidae, Siliquariidae, and Turritellidae (Mollusca: Caenogastropoda). Zootaxa,2948: 1-103 [8 July]. [open access]

(86) Rawlings, T.A., MacInnis, M.J., Bieler, R., Boore, J.L. & T.M. Collins, 2010. Sessile snails, dynamic genomes: gene rearrangements within the mitochondrial genome of a family of caenogastropod mollusks. BMC Genomics, 11: 440 ff. [19 July]. [open access]

(85) Bieler, R., J. G. Carter & E. V. Coan, 2010. Classification of bivalve families. Pp. 113-133 in Bouchet, P. & Rocroi, J.-P., Nomenclator of bivalve families. Malacologia, 52(2): 1-184.

(84) Bieler, R. & Alf, A. 2010. Architectonicidae. Pp. 50-71, pls., 716-726 in Poppe, G. T. (ed.), Philippine Marine Mollusks. Volume 3 (Gastropoda - Part 3 & Bivalvia Part1). Conchbooks. Hackenheim, Germany.

(83) Bieler, R., 2010. What is a Mollusk? Grzimek's Animal Life [on-line version; http://animals.galegroup.com]. Gale.

(82) **Bieler, R. **& R.E. Petit, 2010. *Thylacodes --Thylacodus --Tulaxodus*: worm-snail name confusion and the status of Serpulorbis (Gastropoda: Vermetidae). *Malacologia*, 52(1): 183-187.

(81) Bieler, R., 2010. On the names of some western Atlantic Lithophaga species (Bivalvia: Mytilidae). Malacologia, 52(1): 181-182.

(80) Wilk, J. & R. Bieler, 2009. Ecophenotypic variation in the Flat Tree Oyster, Isognomon alatus (Bivalvia: Isognomonidae), across a tidal microhabitat gradient. Marine Biology Research, 5: 155-163. [first published online 13 February 2009; printed version 20 March 2009]

(79) Sartori, A., C. Printrakoon, P.M. Mikkelsen & R. Bieler, 2008. Siphonal structure in the Veneridae (Bivalvia: Heterodonta) with an assessment of its phylogenetic application and a review of venerids of the Gulf of Thailand. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology,2008, Supplement no. 18 (Molluscs of Eastern Thailand): 103-125. [open access]

(78) Bieler, R., K. Chalermwat, P.M. Mikkelsen & F.E. Wells, 2008. International Marine Bivalve Workshop 2005: Introduction and Summary. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology,2008, Supplement no. 18 (Molluscs of Eastern Thailand): 1-6. [open access]

(77) Bieler, R., K. Chalermwat, P.M. Mikkelsen, Tan Koh Siang & F,E. Wells, eds., 2008. Molluscs of Eastern Thailand(Proceedings of the International Marine Bivalve Workshop, Chantaburi, Thailand, August-September 2005, with contributions on other molluscan groups). The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology,2008, Supplement no. 18: ii + 264 pp. [15 August]. [open access]

(76) Healy, J.M., P.M. Mikkelsen & R. Bieler, 2008. Sperm ultrastructure in Hemidonax pictus (Hemidonacidae, Bivalvia, Mollusca): comparison with other heterodonts, especially Cardiidae, Donacidae and Crassatelloidea. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 153: 325-347.

(75) Healy, J.M., R. Bieler, R. & P.M. Mikkelsen, 2008. Spermatozoa of the Anomalodesmata (Bivalvia, Mollusca) with special reference to relationships within the group. Acta Zoologica, 89: 339-350. [first published online: 18 March; printed version: September]. pdf

(74) Mikkelsen, P.M. & R. Bieler, 2007. Seashells of Southern Florida - Living Marine Mollusks of the Florida Keys and Adjacent Regions: Bivalves. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey; x + 503 pp. http://press.princeton.edu/titles/8484.html

(73) Bieler, R. & D.T. Dockery III, 2007. Recognition of the Paleocene gastropod "Solariella" alabamensis (Aldrich, 1886) as a member of lower heterobranchs (Mathildidae), with description of Toulminella n. gen.  Paläontologische Zeitschrift, 81(3): 283-290.

(72) Mikkelsen, P.M., R. Bieler, I. Kappner & T. A. Rawlings, 2006. Phylogeny of Veneroidea (Mollusca: Bivalvia) based on morphology and molecules. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 148(3): 439-521. [23 November]

(71) Bieler, R. and P.M. Mikkelsen, 2006. Bivalvia - A look at the branches. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 148(3): 223-235. [23 November]

(70) Bieler, R. (ed.), 2006. Bivalvia [edited volume on bivalve systematics]. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 148(3): 331 pp. [23 November]

(69)** Bieler, R.** & R.E. Petit, 2006. Heliacus d'Orbigny, 1842 (Mollusca, Gastropoda): proposed conservation [Case 3340]. The Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature, 63(3): 163-166 [30 September].

(68) Healy, J.M., P.M. Mikkelsen & R. Bieler, 2006. Sperm ultrastructure in Glauconome plankta and its relevance to the affinities of the Glauconomidae (Bivalvia: Heterodonta). Invertebrate Reproduction and Development, 49(1-2): 29-39 [July].

(67) Kappner, I. & R. Bieler, 2006. Phylogeny of venus clams (Bivalvia: Venerinae) as inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 40(2): 317-331 [available online 18 April 2006; printed version July 2006].

(66) Bieler, R. & L.R.L. Simone, 2005. Anatomy and morphology of Stephopoma nucleogranosum Verco, 1904 (Caenogastropoda: Siliquariidae) from Esperance Bay, Western Australia. Pages 159-175. In: F. E. Wells, D. I. Walker & G. A. Kendrick, eds., The Marine Flora and Fauna of Esperance, Western Australia.Western Australian Museum, Perth.

(65) Bieler, R., P.M. Mikkelsen & R.S. Prezant, 2005. Byssus-attachment by infaunal clams: Seagrass-nestling Venerupis in Esperance Bay, Western Australia (Bivalvia: Veneridae). Pages 177-197. In: F.E. Wells, D.I. Walker & G.A. Kendrick, eds., The Marine Flora and Fauna of Esperance, Western Australia.Western Australian Museum, Perth.

(64) Bieler, R. & R.E. Petit, 2005. Catalogue of Recent and fossil taxa of the family Architectonicidae Gray, 1850 (Mollusca: Gastropoda). Zootaxa, 1101: 119 pp. [19 December]. Open access to on-line edition at http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2005f/zt01101p119.pdf

(63) Bravo, F., G. Duarte, R. Bieler & M. Schrödl, 2005. 'Euplocamus' maculatus Bergh, 1898. In: Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney; 2 pp. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/showall/euplmacu

(62) Mikkelsen, P.M. & R. Bieler, 2004. Critical catalog and annotated bibliography of marine bivalve records for the Florida Keys. In: R. Bieler & P. M. Mikkelsen, eds., Bivalve Studies in the Florida Keys, Proceedings of the International Marine Bivalve Workshop, Long Key, Florida, July 2002. Malacologia, 46(2): 545-623.

(61) Bieler, R. & P.M. Mikkelsen, 2004. Marine bivalves of the Florida Keys: a qualitative faunal analysis based on original collections, museum holdings and literature data. In: R. Bieler & P.M. Mikkelsen, eds., Bivalve Studies in the Florida Keys, Proceedings of the International Marine Bivalve Workshop, Long Key, Florida, July 2002. Malacologia, 46(2): 503-544.

(60) Mikkelsen, P.M., I. Tëmkin, R. Bieler & W.G. Lyons, 2004. Pinctada longisquamosa (Dunker, 1852) (Bivalvia: Pteriidae), an unrecognized pearl oyster in the western Atlantic. In: R. Bieler & P.M. Mikkelsen, eds., Bivalve Studies in the Florida Keys, Proceedings of the International Marine Bivalve Workshop, Long Key, Florida, July 2002. Malacologia, 46(2): 473-501.

(59) Bieler, R., I. Kappner & P.M. Mikkelsen, 2004. Periglypta listeri (Gray, 1838) (Bivalvia: Veneridae) in the western Atlantic: taxonomy, anatomy, life habits, and distribution. In: R. Bieler & P.M. Mikkelsen, eds., Bivalve Studies in the Florida Keys, Proceedings of the International Marine Bivalve Workshop, Long Key, Florida, July 2002. Malacologia, 46(2): 427-458.

(58) Mikkelsen, P.M. & R. Bieler, 2004. International Marine Bivalve Workshop 2002: introduction and summary. In: R. Bieler & P. M. Mikkelsen, eds., Bivalve Studies in the Florida Keys, Proceedings of the International Marine Bivalve Workshop, Long Key, Florida, July 2002. Malacologia, 46(2): 241-248.

(57) Bieler, R. & P.M. Mikkelsen (eds.), 2004. Bivalve Studies in the Florida Keys, Proceedings of the International Marine Bivalve Workshop, Long Key, Florida, July 2002. Malacologia, 46. [book-length edited volume, 386 pp.]

(56) Bieler, R., P.M. Mikkelsen, T. Lee & D. Ó Foighil, 2004. Discovery of the Indo-Pacific oyster Hyotissa hyotis (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Florida Keys (Bivalvia: Gryphaeidae). Molluscan Research, 24(3): 149-159.

(55) Bieler, R. 2004.  Sanitation with sponge and plunger: western Atlantic slit-wormsnails (Mollusca: Caenogastropoda: Siliquariidae).  Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society,140: 307-333.

(54) Rawlings, T.A., T.M. Collins & R. Bieler, 2003.  Changing identities: tRNA duplication and remolding within animal mitochondrial genomes.  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, U. S. A., 100(26): 15700-15705. [Electronic version published 12 December 2003; print version 23 December 2003].  Also see Supporting Information, electronically published at: http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/full/2535036100/DC1

(53) Mikkelsen, P.M. & R. Bieler, 2003.  Systematic revision of the western Atlantic file clams, Lima and Ctenoides (Bivalvia: Limoida: Limidae).  Invertebrate Systematics,17: 667-710.  Also see Accessory Material, electronically published at: http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/120/issue/632.htm

(52b)** Bieler R.** & P.M. Mikkelsen, 2003.  The Cruises of the Eolis: John B. Henderson’s mollusc collections off the Florida Keys, 1910-1916.  American Malacological Bulletin, 17(1/2): 125-140 [“2002”; February 2003].  Also see electronically published supplement.

(52a) Bieler, R. & P. M. Mikkelsen, 2002. Supplement to The Cruises of the Eolis  – John B. Henderson’s mollusk collections off the Florida Keys, 1910-1916.  Electronically published

(51) Bieler, R. & A. R. Kabat, 2002. Malacological Journals and Newsletters Online Database (1773-2002). Electronically published

(50) Landman, N.H., P.M. Mikkelsen, R. Bieler & B. Bronson. 2001. Columbus’s Pearls – The discovery of vast oyster beds in the New World generated a pearl rush that flooded European markets.  Natural History,10/01: 12-14.

(49) Landman, N.H., P.M. Mikkelsen, R. Bieler & B. Bronson, 2001.  Pearls–a Natural History.  Harry N. Abrams, Inc.. New York, 232 pp. [book].

(48) Rawlings, T.A., Collins, T.M. & R. Bieler, 2001.  A major mitochondrial gene rearrangement among closely related species. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 18(8): 1604-1609 [August].

(47) Cipriani, R. & R. Bieler, 2001.  Eyeballs and pitfalls: estimating the degree of heterostrophy in the heterobranch shell (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia).  Malacologia, 43(1-2): 327-336.

(46) Mikkelsen, P.M. & R. Bieler, 2001.  Varicorbula (Bivalvia: Corbulidae) of the western Atlantic: taxonomy, anatomy, life habits, and distribution.  The Veliger, 44(3): 271-293.

(45) Bieler, R. & J. Slapcinsky, 2000.  Recent terrestrial mollusks of Bermuda.  Nemouria, Occasional Papers of the Delaware Museum of Natural History, 44:  100 pp.

(44) Mikkelsen, P.M. & R. Bieler, 2000.  Marine bivalves of the Florida Keys: discovered biodiversity.  Harper, E.M., Taylor, J.D. & J.A. Crame (eds.): Evolutionary Biology of the Bivalvia.  Geological Society [London], Special Publications, 177: 367-387.

(43) Bieler, R. & P.M. Mikkelsen (eds.), 1998.  Handbook of Systematic Malacology, Part 4 (Comparative Morphology / Phylogeny / Zoogeography).  Smithsonian Institution Libraries (Annotated English-language edition of: Thiele, J., Handbuch der systematischen Weichtierkunde, Teil 4). pp. 1529-1690, text-figs. 894-897. [book]

(42) Bieler, R. & P.M. Mikkelsen (eds.), 1998.  Handbook of Systematic Malacology, Part 3 (Scaphopoda / Bivalvia / Cephalopoda).  Smithsonian Institution Libraries (Annotated English-language edition of: Thiele, J., Handbuch der systematischen Weichtierkunde, Teil 3). pp. i-xviii, 1193-1528, text-figs. 784-893. [book]

(41) Bieler, R., A.D. Ball & P.M. Mikkelsen, 1998.  Marine Valvatoidea – comments on anatomy and systematics with description of a new species from Florida (Heterobranchia: Cornirostridae).  Malacologia, 40(1-2): 305-320.

(40) Bieler, R. & Mikkelsen, P.M., 1998 (eds.).  Abstracts of the World Congress of Malacology, Washington, DC, 25-30 July 1998.  Chicago, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago; i + 376 pp. [edited volume]

(39)** Bieler, R**. & P.M. Mikkelsen, 1998.  *Ammonicera* in Florida – Notes on the smallest living gastropod in the United States and comments on other species of Omalogyridae (Heterobranchia).  The Nautilus, 111(1): 1-12.

(38) Bieler, R., 1997.  Stephopoma (Caenogastropoda: Siliquariidae) from the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia.  Pp. 255-280 in: Wells, F.E. (ed.), Proceedings of the Seventh International Marine Biological Workshop: The Marine Flora and Fauna of the Houtman Abrolhos, Western Australia. Western Australian Museum, Perth (May).

(37) Bieler, R., 1996.  Mörch's worm-snail taxa (Caenogastropoda: Vermetidae, Siliquariidae, Turritellidae).  American Malacological Bulletin, 13 (1/2): 23-35 (December).

(36) Petit, R.E. & R. Bieler, 1996.  On the new names introduced in the various printings of "Shells of the World in Colour" [Vol. I by Tadashige Habe and Kiyoshi Ito; Vol. II by Tadashige Habe and Sadao Kosuge]. Malacologia, 38(1-2): 35-46 (December).

(35) Bieler, R. & R.E. Petit, 1996.  Additional notes on nomina first introduced by Tetsuaki Kira in "Coloured Illustrations of the Shells of Japan.  Malacologia, 38(1-2): 33-34 (December).

(34) Bieler, R., 1995.  Mathildidae from New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia). Résultats des Campagnes MUSORSTOM, 14.  Mémoires du Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, 167: 595-641 (29 December).

(33) Bieler, R., 1995.  Vermetid gastropods from Sao Miguel, Azores: Comparative anatomy, systematic position and biogeographic affiliation.  Açoreana Supplement 1995: 173-192 (May).

(32)** Bieler, R.,** 1994.  Architectonicidae of the Indo-Pacific (Mollusca: Gastropoda). Abhandlungen des Naturwissenschaftlichen Vereins in Hamburg (G. Fischer Verlag; Stuttgart/Jena/New York), 30: 1-376. [15 December]. [book-length monograph]

(31) Mikkelsen, P. M., R. Bieler, & R. E. Petit, 1993.  A bibliography of Caribbean malacology 1826-1993.  American Malacological Bulletin, 10(2): 267-290.

(30)** Bieler, R**., 1994.  Ampullariid phylogeny – book review and cladistic re-analysis.  *The Veliger*, 36(3): 291-299.

(29)** Bieler, R.** & P.M. Mikkelsen (eds.), 1992. Handbook of Systematic Malacology, Part 2 (Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia, Pulmonata).  Smithsonian Institution and National Science Foundation, i-xiv, 627-1189, text-figs. 471-782 (Annotated English-language edition of: Thiele, J., Handbuch der systematischen Weichtierkunde, Teil 2). Also published, in 1993, by Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart/Jena/New York.  [book]

(28) Bieler, R. & P.M. Mikkelsen (eds.), 1992.  Handbook of Systematic Malacology, Part 1 (Loricata [Polyplacophora]; Gastropoda: Prosobranchia).  Smithsonian Institution and National Science Foundation, xviii + 625 pp., 470+1 text-fig. (Annotated English-language edition of: Thiele, J., Handbuch der systematischen Weichtierkunde, Teil 1).  Also published, in 1993, by Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart/Jena/New York. [book]

(27) Bieler, R., 1992. Gastropod phylogeny and systematics. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 23: 311-338.

(26) Mikkelsen, P.M. & R. Bieler, 1992.  Biology and comparative anatomy of three new species of commensal Galeommatidae, with a possible case of mating behavior in bivalves.  Malacologia, 34(1-2): 1-24, 33 text-figs., 3 tables.

(25) Bieler, R.  & P.M. Mikkelsen, 1992.  Preliminary phylogenetic analysis of the bivalve family Galeommatidae, with a discussion of taxonomic characters. American Malacological Bulletin, 9(2): 157-164, 1 text-fig., 3 appendices.

(24) Bieler, R., 1992. Tenagodus or Siliquaria?  Unraveling taxonomic confusion in marine "worm-snails" (Cerithioidea: Siliquariidae). The Nautilus, 106(1):15-20.

(23) Boss, K.J. & R. Bieler, 1991.  Johannes Thiele and his contributions to zoology.  Part 2.  Genus-group names (Mollusca).  Nemouria, Occasional Papers of the Delaware Museum of Natural History, 39: 1-77.

(22) Bieler, R. & A. Bradford, 1991. Annotated catalogue of type specimens in the malacological collection of the Delaware Museum of Natural History.  Gastropoda (Prosobranchia and Opisthobranchia). Nemouria, Occasional Papers of the Delaware Museum of Natural History, 36: 1-48.

(21) Bieler, R. & A.R. Kabat, 1991. Malacological journals and newsletters, 1773-1990.  The Nautilus, 105(2): 39-61.

(20) Eckelbarger, K.J., R. Bieler & P.M. Mikkelsen, 1990.  Ultrastructure of sperm development and mature sperm morphology in three species of commensal bivalves (Mollusca: Galeommatoidea).  Journal of Morphology, 205: 63-75.

(19) Bieler, R. & R. Petit, 1990.  On the various editions of Tetsuaki Kira's "Coloured Illustrations of the Shells of Japan" and "Shells of the Western Pacific in Color vol. I," with an annotated list of new names introduced.  Malacologia, 32(1): 131-145.

(18)** Bieler, R**. & M.G. Hadfield, 1990. Reproductive biology of the sessile gastropod *Vermicularia* spirata(Cerithiodea: Turritellidae).  Journal of Molluscan Studies, 56(2): 205-219.

(17) Bieler, R., 1990.  Haszprunar's "clado-evolutionary" classification of the Gastropoda -- a critique.  Malacologia, 31(2): 371-380, 2 tabs. [G. Haszprunar's response published in Malacologia, 1990, 32(1): 195-202.]

(16) Robertson, R. & Bieler, R., 1989.   Another "sinistral" architectonicid.  The Chiribotan, 20(3): 59-60.

(15) Mikkelsen, P.M. & R. Bieler, 1989.  Biology and comparative anatomy of Divariscintilla yoyo and D. troglodytes, two new species of Galeommatidae (Bivalvia) from stomatopod burrows in eastern Florida.  Malacologia, 31(1): 175-195.

(14) Bieler, R. & K. J. Boss, 1989.  Johannes Thiele and his contributions to zoology.  Part 1.  Biography and bibliography.  Nemouria, Occasional Papers of the Delaware Museum of Natural History, 34: 1-30.

(13)** Bieler, R.**, 1989.  Architectonicidae – why some sundials are "shady".  *American Conchologist*, 17(1): 21-22, 6 figs.

(12)** Bieler, R**., 1988.  Phylogenetic relationships in the gastropod family Architectonicidae, with notes on the family Mathildidae (Allogastropoda).  *Malacological Review*, Supplement 4: 205-240.

(11) Bieler, R., 1988.  A note on unjustified emendations.  The Veliger, 30(4): 423-424.

(10) Bieler, R. & P.M. Mikkelsen, 1988.  Anatomy and reproductive biology of two western Atlantic species of Vitrinellidae, with a case of protandrous hermaphroditism in the Rissoacea.  The Nautilus, 102(1): 1-29.

(9) Bieler, R., 1987.  Die Gattungen der Architectonicidae (Gastropoda: Allogastropoda). Teil 4: Heliacus (Pyrgoheliacus) n. subgen. und Architectonica (Adelphotectonica) n. subgen.  Archiv für Molluskenkunde, 117(1986)(4/6): 203-215, pls. 1-2.

(8) Bieler, R. in Trew, A. [comp.], 1986.  Architectonicacea. - Handlists of the Molluscan Collections in the Department of Zoology, National Museum of Wales, The Melvill-Tomlin Collection, (1)35: 5 + v pp.

(7) Bieler, R., Merrill, A.S. & K.J. Boss, 1985.  Pseudotorinia bullisi, new species (Gastropoda: Architectonicidae) from subtropical Western Atlantic.  The Nautilus, 99(4): 139-141.

(6) Bieler, R., 1985.  Die Gattungen der Architectonicidae (Gastropoda: Allogastropoda). Teil 3: Pseudotorinia, Nipteraxis, Heliacus, Eosolarium.  Archiv für Molluskenkunde, 116(1/3): 89-117, pls. 1-4.

(5)** Bieler, R**., 1985.  Die Gattungen der Architectonicidae (Gastropoda: "Heterogastropoda"). Teil 2: *Architectonica, Philippia*, *Stellaxis*, *Discotectonica*, *Solatisonax*, *Climacopoma*, *Granosolarium*. *Archiv für Molluskenkunde*, 115(1984)(4/6): 231-265, pls. 1-5.

(4) Bieler, R., 1984.  Morphometrische Analyse der Architectonica maxima-Gruppe im Indo-Pazifik (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Architectonicidae).  Verhandlungen des naturwissenschaftlichen Vereins in Hamburg, (NF)27: 453-492, pls. 1-4.

(3) Bieler, R., 1984.  Heliacus verdensisn. sp. von den Kapverdischen Inseln (Gastropoda: Architectonicidae).  Archiv für Molluskenkunde, 115(1/3): 105-111, pl. 1.

(2) Bieler, R., 1984.  Die Gattungen der Architectonicidae (Gastropoda: "Heterogastropoda"). Allgemeines und Teil 1: Pseudomalaxis.  Archiv für Molluskenkunde, 115(1/3): 53-103, pls. 1-5.

(1) Bieler, R., 1984.  Zum amphi-atlantischen Auftreten von Pseudomalaxis lamellifera Rehder (Gastropoda: Architectonicidae).  Archiv fürMolluskenkunde, 114(1983)(4/6): 117-123, pl. 5.

            Foreign language issues:

            Bieler, R. & R. Petit, 2004.  Japanese translation of Bieler, R. & R. Petit, 1990.  On the various editions of Tetsuaki Kira's "Coloured Illustrations of the Shells of Japan" and "Shells of the Western Pacific in Color vol. I," with an annotated list of new names introduced.  Malacologia, 32(1): 131-145]. Venus, Journal of the Malacological Society of Japan, Supplement 3: 75-81.

            Bieler, R. & R. E. Petit, 2004.  Japanese translation of Bieler, R. & R. E. Petit, 1996.  Additional notes on nomina first introduced by Tetsuaki Kira in "Coloured Illustrations of the Shells of Japan.  Malacologia, 38(1-2): 33-34. Venus, Journal of the Malacological Society of Japan, Supplement 3: 82-83.

Comment Letters, Technical Reports:

Ponder, W., Mikkelsen, P. M., Cowie, R. H., & R. Bieler, 2001. Conservation of marine organisms [invited letter].  Reports of the Chugoko-Shikoku Branch of the Ecological Society of Japan, 59.

Sierwald, P., R. Bieler, J. Hanken and R. Magill, 2002.  Collections, Research, Inventories, and People for Taxonomic Opportunities in NEON. FINAL REPORT; NEON V: National Science Foundation CRIPTON Workshop.  Electronically published

Biology Education:

Hoebel-Mävers, M. & Bieler, R., 1978.  Die biologische Standortkartei - eine didaktische Forderung.  Praxis der Naturwissenschaften, 27(12): 309-315.

              Book reviews:

             Bieler, R., 2012.  Bivalve Seashells of Tropical West America Marine Bivalve Mollusks from Baja California to Northern, Perú, E. V. Coan & P. Valentich-Scott. The Festivus.

             Bieler, R., 2009. Phylogeny and Evolution of the Mollusca [book review]. The Quarterly Review of Biology, 84(1): 113.

Bieler, R., 2001.  Bivalve Seashells of Western North America/Marine Bivalve Mollusks from Arctic Alaska to Baja California.  E. V. Coan, P. Valentich Scott & F.R. Bernard.  The Veliger, 44(2): 235-236.

Bieler, R., 1999.  Taxonomic Atlas of the Benthic Fauna of the Santa Maria Basin and Western Santa Barbara Channel, Volume 8, The Mollusca Part 1 – The Aplacophora, Polyplacophora, Scaphopoda, Bivalvia and Cephalopoda.  Paul Valentich Scott and James A. Blake (eds.).  The Festivus, 31(1): 17-18.

Bieler, R., 1998.  Non-marine Cerithioidea – recent work on Thiaridae and Melanopsidae – a review of “Evolutionsökologie und Systematik am Beispiel von Süß- und Brackwasserschnecken  (Mollusca: Caenogastropoda: Cerithioidea): Ontogenese-Strategien, paläontologische Befunde und Historische Zoogeographie.” [Evolutionary ecology and systematics, based on the example of fresh- and brackish-water snails (Mollusca: Caenogastropoda: Cerithioidea): ontogenetic strategies, paleontological data, and historical zoogeography; by Matthias Glaubrecht, 1996. The Veliger, 41(4): 371-372.

Bieler, R., 1996.  Taxonomic Atlas of the Benthic Fauna of the Santa Maria Basin and Western Santa Barbara Channel, Volume 9, The Mollusca Part 2 – The Gastropoda [by James H. McLean & Terrence M. Gosliner].  The Festivus, 28(11): 126-127 (November).

Bieler, R., 1995.  Life History and Biogeography: Patterns in Conus [by Alan J. Kohn & Frank E. Perron, 1994].  The Quarterly Review of Biology, 70(4): 523 (December).

Bieler, R., 1991.  Weichtiere. Europäische Meeres- und Binnenmollusken [by Rosina Fechter & Gerhard Falkner, 1990].  The Veliger, 34(3): 315-316.

Bieler, R., 1986.  D. Richards: South African Shells; a Collectors Guide.  Mitteilungen der Deutschen Malakozoologischen Gesellschaft, 38: 58-59.

Bieler, R., 1986.  R.N. Kilburn & E. Rippey: Sea Shells of Southern Africa.   Mitteilungen der Deutschen Malakozoologischen Gesellschaft, 38: 60-62.Examples of major grant support:

  • NSF EF-14-02667: Collaborative Research: Digitization TCN: InvertEBase: Reaching back to see the future: Species-rich invertebrate faunas document causes and consequences of biodiversity shifts’ (as Co-PI with PI Sierwald) 2014-2018. www.invertebase.org
  • NSF OIA-0963481: Infrastructure improvements to support invertebrate research at The Field Museum (as PI, with Co-PI Thayer) 2010-2014. [creation of Collaborative Invertebrate Laboratories (CIL), compactorization of entire pinned insect collection, expansion of invertebrate collections]
  • NSF DEB-0918982: Collaborative Research: Bivalves in Time and Space (BiTS): Testing the accuracy of methods to reconstruct ancestral morphology, dates, geography, and diversification patterns. (as PI, morphology group) 2009-2014. www.bivatol.org/bits/
  • NSF DEB-0841760: Collaborative Research: REVSYS: Worm-snails revised (Mollusca: Gastropoda), (as lead PI) 2009-2015. vermetus.org
  • NSF EF-0732854: Collaborative Research: AToL: Phylogeny of the half-shell – Assembling the Bivalve Tree of Life (as lead PI) 2008-2015 www.bivatol.org
  • NSF DEB-9978119: PEET Bivalves – Research, training, electronic dissemination of data” (as PI, with Co-PI Mikkelsen) 1999-2004.- President, Unitas Malacologica, International Society of Malacology, 1995-1998
  • President, American Malacological Union (now American Malacological Society), 1995-1996
  • President, Institute of Malacology (publishers of Malacologia), 1998-2001, 2009-2011
  • Associate Editor: Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 1995-
  • Associate Editor (Mollusca: Bivalvia): Zootaxa, 2006-2011, and others
  • Editor (Mollusca): World Registry of Marine Species (www.marinespecies.org), MolluscaBase
  • Trustee, Board of Directors, Delaware Museum of Natural History, 1991-1999

Research Sketch

Research concentrates on the evolution, comparative anatomy, zoogeography and reproductive biology of gastropods (snails) and bivalves (clams and relatives). Emphasis is placed on the currently unresolved "higher-level" phylogenetic relationships between various bivalve orders and subclasses, as well on the internal relationships of the largest marine bivalve family, Veneridae. Data are collected by employing a combination of field and laboratory techniques (ranging from collecting by SCUBA diving to serial-section histology and DNA sequencing), and are derived in part from The Field Museum's extensive holdings of Recent and fossil mollusks. More narrowly defined subprojects deal with several groups of marine snail families, including the lower heterobranchs (e.g., Architectonicidae). Also continuing is monographic work on worm-snails (an enigmatic group that includes important reef builders in the world's oceans), forming the basis for future phylogenetic and zoogeographic studies. Another ongoing project is the first in-depth survey of marine molluscan biodiversity in the Florida Keys.

Bivalves in Time and Space