Collections Manager of Invertebrate Zoology
Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Geology
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Collections Manager of Invertebrate Zoology
Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Geology
My specialty is the systematics and evolution of solitary wasps family Sphecidae since 1955. In addition to minor papers, I have published essential monographs of Palearctic Tachytes (1962), Palearctic Tachysphex (1971), Palearctic Ammatomus (1973), Neotropical Tachysphex (1974), Australian Tachysphex (1977), Old World Parapiagetia (1977), World Prosopigastra (1979), North American Tachysphex (1988), World Kohliella (1991), World Holotachysphex (1992), World Gastrosericus (1995), African Tachysphex (2007), a book of 698 pages, world Palarini (2008, coauthored with Michael A.
My research interests focus on the taxonomy, systematics and biogeography of the Malagasy flora. I am conducting ongoing research on the St. John’s wort family, Hypericaceae, and the princess flower family, Melastomataceae, and am also investigating the relationships between Malagasy species and closely related groups from mainland Africa and the New World.
My research has focused on the behavioral ecology of vertebrates, conservation, and mammalian taxonomy. At the Academy, African small mammal ecology and taxonomy has been my research focus, especially sengis or elephant-shrews. To read more about my active research, please visit www.rathbunX2.com. My early career focused on the conservation of Florida manatees, California sea otters, and several aquatic vertebrates, including California red-legged frogs and Pacific pond turtles.
I am the Curator of Geology, and I've been at the Academy since 1999. I hold degrees in Biology (B.Sc.), Oceanography (M.S.) and Geology (Ph.D.). My research is transdisciplinary, with a focus on understanding the evolution of ecological systems, emphasizing paleontology, deep time, and perspectives on complexity dynamics. Most of my research these days centers around global change biology, and how we can further develop our understanding of Earth's past ecosystems to better forecast our future.
I work in the Institute for Biodiversity Science & Sustainability, Center for Comparative Genomics. I provide computing support for our research projects.
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