Carrying out experiments in
which animals are reared under different oxygen
levels to examine the impact on growth,
differentiation, chemical composition of various
tissues, etc. Major organisms of study include Alligator
mississippiensis and several groups of beetles (i.e.
Zophobas atratus and Cotinus texana).
Examining changes in the
fossil record during major oxygen events (both
rises and falls) and understanding the role of varying
oxygen through time on animal evolution. Major time
periods of interest are the Permo-Triassic rise
and the subsequent fall across the P/T boundary.
The vertebrate groups of major interest have been
reptiliomorphs and temnospondyls. Currently, I am
interested in examining average body size change
across all insect fossils.
Developing a paleo-proxy
for atmospheric oxygen levels potentially
using the fossil record. As of yet, modeling is
the only way to calculate historic oxygen levels
and a true proxy for oxygen would allow for a more
accurate understanding of the role of oxygen through
the Phanerozoic.
