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Robert Meredith
Professor, Biology, College of Science and Mathematics
- Office:
- Science Hall 133
- Email:
- meredithr@montclair.edu
- Phone:
- 973-655-7800
- Degrees:
- B.S., Villanova University
- M.S., South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
- Ph.D., University of California, Riverside
- vCard:
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Profile
In the broadest sense, my fundamental research interest is vertebrate evolution at the morphological and molecular levels for both extant and extinct organisms. My undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral training in evolutionary biology has been multidimensional: systematics, biogeography, paleontology, and molecular evolution. My knowledge base is advantageous for an evolutionary biologist because it allows me to formulate unique, testable hypotheses. In order to reconstruct evolutionary history and tackle difficult questions, I synthesize and apply information derived from these diverse fields. Ultimately, this results in a holistic and richer evolutionary reconstruction.
Specialization
Vertebrate evolution, phylogenetics, bristletail evolution, molecular and morphological systematics including the incorporation of extinct organisms, paleontology/paleobiology, biogeography, molecular dating, molecular evolution with particular interest in teeth, olfactory, and eye genes, pseudogene evolution, morphological evolution
Resume/CV
Office Hours
Fall
- Monday
- 9:30 am - 11:00 am
- Thursday
- 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Links
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Documents
- Gatesy et al. 2012 A phylogenetic blueprint for a modern whale
- Murphy et al._2012_Response to Comment on Impacts of the Cretaceous Terrestrial Revolution and KPg Extinction on Mammal Diversification
- Westerman et al._2012_Phylogenetic relationships of living and recently extinct bandicoots based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences
- Meredith et al._2011_A phylogenetic hypothesis for Crocodylus ( Crocodylia ) based on mitochondrial DNA Evidence for a trans-Atlantic voyage from Africa to the New World
- Meredith et al._2011_Impacts of the Cretaceous Terrestrial Revolution and KPg Extinction on Mammal Diversification
- Meredith et al._2011_Molecular phylogenetic relationships and the coevolution of placentotrophy and superfetation in Poecilia ( Poeciliidae Cyprinodontiformes )
- Springer et al._2011_The historical biogeography of Mammalia
- Meredith et al._2011_Pseudogenization of the tooth gene enamelysin (MMP20) in the common ancestor of extant baleen whales
- Meredith et al._2010_A Phylogeny and Timescale for the Evolution of Pseudocheiridae (Marsupialia Diprotodontia) in Australia and New Guinea
- Meredith et al._2010_Molecular phylogenetic relationships and the evolution of the placenta in Poecilia (Micropoecilia) (Poeciliidae Cyprinodontiformes)
- Westerman et al._2010_Cytogenetics Meets Phylogenetics A Review of Karyotype Evolution in Diprotodontian Marsupials
- Meredith et al._2009_A phylogeny of Diprotodontia (Marsupialia) based on sequences for five nuclear genes
- Meredith et al._2009_Molecular Decay of the Tooth Gene Enamelin ( ENAM ) Mirrors the Loss of Enamel in the Fossil Record of Placental Mammals
- Meredith et al._2009_Relationships and divergence times among the orders and families of Marsupialia
- Springer et al._2009_Marsupials (Metatheria)
- Case et al._2008_A pre-Neogene phalangerid possum from South Australia
- Meredith et al._2008_A phylogeny and timescale for marsupial evolution based on sequences for five nuclear genes
- Meredith et al._2008_A phylogeny and timescale for the living genera of kangaroos and kin (Macropodiformes Marsupialia) based on nuclear DNA sequences
- Meredith et al._2008_A timescale and phylogeny for bandicoots (Peramelemorphia Marsupialia) based on sequences for five nuclear genes
- Springer et al._2008_Morphology and placental mammal phylogeny
- Meredith, Martin_2007_The largest mosasaur (Squamata Mosasauridae) from the Missouri River area (Late Cretaceous Pierre Shale Group) of South Dakota and its relationship to Lewis
- O'Neill et al._2007_Ancient and continuing Darwinian selection on insulin-like growth factor II in placental fishes
- Reznick et al._2007_Independent evolution of complex life history adaptations in two families of fishes, live-bearing halfbeaks (Zenarchopteridae, Beloniformes) and Poeciliidae (Cyprinodontiformes)
- Springer et al._2007_The adequacy of morphology for reconstructing the early history of placental mammals
- Raterman et al._2006_Phylogenetic relationships of the cuscuses and brushtail possums (Marsupialia Phalangeridae) using the nuclear gene BRCA1(2)
- Martin et al._2004 The Oldest Genus of Scincid Lizard (Squamata) from the Tertiary Etadunna Formation of South Australia
- Russell, Meredith_2000 Natural growth lines in echinoid ossicles are not reliable indicators of age a test using Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis
Research Projects
Phylogenetic methods that synthesize paleontological and neontological data
Much of my research focuses on inferring evolutionary relationship among various groups of organisms. I am particularly interested in phylogenetic methods that synthesize paleontological and neontological data. Recently, new phylogenetic inference methods have been developed that allow for the simultaneous estimation of divergence times and phylogenetic relationships of both fossil and extant taxa. These approaches have the potential to make full use of the biological data (e.g. stratigraphy, sampling, biogeography). Dr. Tracy Heath (Iowa State University), Dr. Daniel Ksepka (Bruce Museum), and myself are currently funded by the National Science Foundation to develop new statistical models (extensions of the stochastic birth-death processes) that will integrate morphological/paleontological information, biogeography, and molecular data. We are utilizing simulated and empirical data sets to test the performance and adequacy of our new and previously described models. We are focusing on Sphenisciformes (penguins) and Crocodyliformes macroevolutionary patterns (phylogenetic relationships, lineage diversification, and biogeography) given their excellent fossil records.
Molecular and morphological evolution of teeth
Lower vertebrate teeth exhibit extensive morphological and developmental variation but virtually nothing is known about the molecular basis for this variation. I am particularly interested in studying the molecular evolution of tooth genes that show tissue specific expression (e.g. ENAM, MMP20). I use Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology to sequence transcriptomes of various lower vertebrate groups. I then use statistical techniques to compare and contrast gene evolution.
I am also interested in the molecular decay of tooth-specific genes in edentulous species to both document macroevolutionary transitions and characterize their functional range in tooth development. I use both PCR, genome sequencing, and bioinformatics to ascertain the DNA sequences of the degraded tooth-specific genes. Statistical techniques are then used to analyze the sequence data to infer their molecular evolutionary history.