robert.feranec | The New York State Museum

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Dr. Robert Feranec

Director of Research and Collections, Curator of Pleistocene Vertebrate Paleontology

robert.feranec@nysed.gov

518-474-5819

Postdoctoral Fellow, 2004-2006, Biological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
Ph.D., 2004, Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley.
M.S., 1999, Geological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
B.S. 1997. Biology and Earth Sciences, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY.

While my interests encompass a broad scope of topics including influences on biogeography, causes of speciation and adaptive radiation, and triggers of extinction, my research has been focused at describing the evolution of ecology in mammals. My research concentrates on examining ecology in mammals from short time scales (seasons) to very long time scales (millions of years).

In order to understand ecology of fossil mammals, the modern quantitative and analytical techniques I employ include stable isotope geochemistry, utilization of bioinformatics databases, and computer-based imaging of fossils which permits quantitative analysis of various morphological features. Fieldwork is also an important aspect of my research program, and I have conducted or participated in excavations in the U.S. and Spain.

Typical questions addressed in my research include:

How does climate change effect ecology?
Does ecology change during development?
Does immigration/dispersal of new species affect ecology?
Does extinction/extirpation of species affect ecology?

I am interested and open to collaboration within and beyond North America. Potential collaborators, including current or potential graduate students, are encouraged to email me.

My Research Projects

Publications

2015

Sutherland, J.W., Acker, F.W., Bloomfield, J.A., Boylen, C.W., Charles, D.F., Daniels, D.A., Eichler, L.W., Farrell, J.L., Feranec, R.S., Hare, M.P., Kanfoush, S.L., Preall, R.J., Quinn, S.O., Rowell, H.C., Schoch, W.F., Shaw, W.H., Siegfried, C.A., Sullivan, T.J., Winkler, D.A., Nierzwicki-Bauer, S.C., 2015. Brooktrout Lake Case Study -- Biotic Recovery from Acid Deposition 20 Years after the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. Environmental Science and Technology 49, 2665-2674. doi:10.1021/es5036865

Garcia, N., Feranec, R.S., Passey, B.H., Cerling, T.E., Arsuaga, J.L., 2015. Exploring the Potential of Laser Ablation Carbon Isotope Analysis for Examining Ecology during the Ontogeny of Middle Pleistocene Hominins from Sima de los Huesos (Northern Spain). PLOS ONE 10, e0142895. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0142895

Wysocki, M.A., Feranec, R.S., Tseng, Z.J., Bjornsson, C.S., 2015. Using a Novel Absolute Ontogenetic Age Determination Technique to Calculate the Timing of Tooth Eruption in the Saber-Toothed Cat, Smilodon fatalis.. PLOS ONE 10, e0129847. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0129847

2014

Feranec, R.S., DeSantis, L.R.G., 2014. Understanding specifics in generalist diets of carnivorans by analyzing stable carbon isotope values in Pleistocene mammals of Florida. Paleobiology 40, 477-493. doi:10.1666/13055

Feranec, R.S., Franzi, D.A., Kozlowski, A.L., 2014. A New Record of Ringed Seal (Pusa hispida) from the Late Pleistocene Champlain Sea and Comments on Its Age and Paleoenvironment. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 34, 230-235. doi:10.1080/02724634.2013.784706

2013

Feranec, R.S., Pagnac, D., 2013. Stable Carbon Isotope Evidence for the Abundance of C4 Plants in the Middle Miocene of Southern California. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 388, 42-47. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2013.07.022

Famoso, N.A., Feranec, R.S., Davis, E.B., 2013. Occlusal Enamel Complexity and Its Implications for Lophodonty, Hypsodony, Body Mass, and Diet in Extinct and Extant Ungulates. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 387, 211-216. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2013.07.006

2012

Feranec, R.S., Kozlowski, A.L., 2012. New AMS Radiocarbon Dates from Late Pleistocene Mastodons and Mammoths in New York State, USA. Radiocarbon 54, 275-279. doi:10.2458/azu_js_rc.v54i2.16009

2011

Hart, J.P., Anderson, L.M., Feranec, R.S., 2011. Additional Evidence for cal. Seventh-Century A.D. Maize Consumption at the Kipp Island Site, New York, in: Rieth, C.B., Hart, J.P. (Eds.), Current Research In New York State Archaeology: A.d. 700-1300. The University of the State of New York, Albany, New York, pp. 27-40.

Feranec, R.S., Miller, N.G., Lothrop, J.C., Graham, R.W., 2011. The Sporormiella proxy and End-Pleistocene Megafaunal Extinction: A Perspective. Quaternary International 245, 333-338. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2011.06.004