Dr. Robert Feranec

Director of Research and Collections, Curator of Pleistocene Vertebrate Paleontology
robert.feranec@nysed.gov
518-474-5819

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.

Publications

2012

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

2011

Hart, J., Anderson, L., Feranec, R., 2011. Additional Evidence for cal. Seventh-Century A.D. Maize Consumption at the Kipp Island Site, New York, in: Rieth, C., Hart, J. (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.
N. Miller, R. Feranec, J. Lothrop, R. Graham 2011, The Sporormiella proxy and End-Pleistocene Megafaunal Extinction: A Perspective, Quaternary International 245, 333-338. 10.1016/j.quaint.2011.06.004
R. Feranec 2011, Global Problems., Global Research. Legacy: The Magazine of the New York State Museum 6, 14-15
R. Kays, R. Feranec 2011, Using Stable Carbon Isotopes to Distinguish Wild from Captive Wolves, Northeast Naturalist 18, 253-264. 10.1656/045.018.0301

2010

A. Kozlowski, R. Feranec 2010, AMS Radiocarbon Dates from Pleistocene and Holocene Mammals Housed in the New York State Museum, Albany, New York, USA, Radiocarbon 52, 205-208.
R. Feranec, E. Hadly, A. Paytan 2010, Isotopes Reveal Limited Effects of Middle Pleistocene Climate Change on the Ecology of Mid-sized Mammals, Quaternary International 217, 43-52. 10.1016/j.quaint.2009.07.018
R. Feranec, N. Garcia, J. Arsuaga, J. Diez 2010, Understanding the Ecology of Mammalian Carnivorans and Herbivores from Valdegoba Cave (Burgos, Northern Spain) Through Stable Isotope Analysis, Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 297, 263-272. 10.1016/j.palaeo.2010.08.006

2009

R. Feranec, L. DeSantis, B. MacFadden 2009, Effects of Global Warming on Ancient Mammalian Communities and Their Environments, Plos One 4, e5750. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.. 10.1371/journal.pone.0005750
R. Feranec 2009, Implications of Radiocarbon Dates from Potter Creek Cave, Shasta County, California, USA, Radiocarbon 51, 931-936.