Dr. Nicholas R. Geist Assistant Professor, Dept. of Biology

Research Interests:
My current research focuses on the evolutionary origin of birds and the development of flight in avian ancestors. My colleagues and I recently published evidence for the presence of the oldest known true feathers in the fossil record. These feathers were positioned along the dorsal body surface of Longisquama insignis, a small, lizard-like Late Triassic archosaur. This data is challenging conventional wisdom that supports the evolution of birds from small, derived theropod dinosaurs. Other research interests include the role of nasal respiratory turbinates in the water and heat economy of a variety of birds, lung ventilation adaptations in a variety of extinct archosaurian taxa, and the evolution of endothermy in birds and mammals.

Background

Publications

Courses:
Courses I teach include Biology 224, Human Physiology; Biology220, Human Anatomy; Biology 370, Vertebrate Evolutionary Morphology; Biology 463, Herpetology.

Course WWW Pages:

• Bio 224: Human Physiology
• Geo 105: Age of Dinosaurs
• Bio 370: Vert Evol Morph