The Paleoecology laboratory is equipped to prepare a range of fossil, animal, and plant materials for isotopic analyses.  We collaborate with the Center for Stable Isotopes at the University of New Mexico, directed by Prof. Zachary Sharp, in use of mass spectrometers.  With respect to plant materials, the laboratory’s abilities include extracting cellulose for isotopic analyses and conducting phytolith load analyses through dry ashing techniques.  We also have a stereomicroscope with a dedicated camera for a range of projects, including dental microwear analyses as well as fine scale geometric morphometrics.  

 

 

The laboratory hosts a diverse group of undergraduates and graduate students conducting thesis research or simply volunteering to gain hands-on experience.  Undergraduate honors' theses have included dental microwear analyses of South African hominins and Kibale Forest faunas, taxonomy of early primates from New Mexico, and assessing cranial developmental patterns of wild chimpanzees using photogammetry.  Graduates students have tackled a range of projects involving microscopy, phytolith analyses, and isotopic analyses of fossils, archaeological remains, plants, and even mummies!

 

 

Current graduate student