Mark W. Westneat -- mwestneat@fieldmuseum.org
Curator of Zoology
Robert A. Pritzker Director, Biodiversity Synthesis Center
Field Museum of Natural History
1400 S Lakeshore Dr Chicago, IL 60605-2496
(312) 665-7734

Phylogenetic Systematics, Biomechanics and Biodiversity

Biodiversity Synthesis Center of the Encyclopedia of Life Project
- BioSynC Home Page
- EOL Home Page

Research Interests:
1. Phylogenetics of Coral Reef Fishes
2. Feeding Biomechanics and Evolution
3. Fish Locomotion and Pectoral Fin Function
4. X-ray Imaging of Small Animal Function

Positions: Curator of Zoology (Fishes), Field Museum of Natural History and Director, Biodiversity Synthesis Center of the Encyclopedia of Life
Lecturer, Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy and Committee on Evolutionary Biology, University of Chicago

SEARCH The Database for the FMNH Fish Collection

Research on Phylogenetics, Biomechanics, and Coral Reef Biodiversity

Phylogeny of Coral Reef Fishes. We are resolving phylogenetic relationships of many groups of coral reef fishes including the family Labridae (the wrasses, parrotfishes and relatives), Pomacentridae (damselfishes), Chaetodontidae (butterflyfishes), Pomacanthidae (angelfishes), Balistidae (triggerfishes), many eel groups, and other families. We primarily use analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA, including some interesting regulatory genes that play roles in building the embryonic head.

Biomechanics. The functional morphology of feeding and locomotion in fishes and other animals is being studied by high speed film and video analysis of behavior. Using comparative anatomy, theory from mechanical engineering, and new image and motion analysis techniques, the musculoskeletal mechanisms of feeding and swimming are being described in animals ranging from fishes to turtles, insects, lizards and birds.

Evolution of Function. Current studies address the integration of phylogenetic systematics with comparative biomechanics and functional morphology. Using a phylogenetic hypothesis and current comparative methods for analysis of evolution in key characters, this research program tries to clarify the patterns of evolution of functional systems in animals.

Check out the pages on Research to see more detail on the projects going on in the Westneat Lab!