Publications
Fossil spider from Aix-en-Provence and its fluorescent glow under ultraviolet light from Olcott et al. (2022).
Electron micrograph of pennate diatom mat covering a fossil spider from the Aix-en-Provence Formation.
Cretapalpus vitarri Downen, 2022 (Palpimanidae), a fossil spider from the Crato Formation of Brazil.
A microbial mat in thin section viewed under ultraviolet light from the Aix-en-Provence Formation.
Publications
9. Downen, M. R., Schiffbauer, J., Selden, P. A., Olcott A. N. 2022. Steinkern spiders: A microbial mat-controlled taphonomic pathway in the Oligocene Aix-en-Provence Lagerstätte, France. Palaeoentomology 5(6). https://doi.org/10.11646/palaeoentomology.5.6.4
8. Downen, M. R., Olcott, A. N. 2022. Supporting LGBTQ+ geoscientists, in and out of the classroom. Journal of Geoscience Education. DOI: 10.1080/10899995.2022.2116205
7. Olcott, A. N., Downen, M. R., Schiffbauer, J., Selden, P. A. 2022. The exceptional preservation of Aix-en-Provence spider fossils could have been facilitated by diatoms. Communications Earth and Environment 3, 94. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-022-00424-7
6. Downen, M. R., Selden, P. A. 2021. A palpimanid spider (Araneae: Palpimanidae) from the Crato Fossil-Lagerstätte (Cretaceous, Brazil). Journal of Arachnology 49:91–97. https://doi.org/10.1636/JoA-S-19-059
5. Downen, M. R., Selden, P. A. 2020. Fossil spiders (Araneae) from the Eocene Kishenehn Formation of Montana. Paleontologia Electronica 23(3):a57. https://doi.org/10.26879/113
4. Olcott, A. N., Downen, M. R. 2020. The challenges of fieldwork for LGBTQ+ geoscientists. Eos 101. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020EO148200
3. Downen, M. R., Sketchfab for Online Labs in Engaging Ideas for Flexible Teaching: Preparing for Fall 2020. Summer Teaching Matters E-Newsletter Teaching. KU Center for Teaching Excellence.
2. Selden, P. A., Olcott, A. N., Downen, M. R., Ren, D., Shih, C-K., Cheng, X-D. 2019. The supposed giant spider Mongolarachne chaoyangensis, from the Cretaceous Yixian Formation of China, is a crayfish. Palaeoentomology 2:515–522. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40851-016-0049-0
1. Downen, M. R., Selden, P. A., Hasiotis, S. T. 2016. Spider leg flexure as an indicator of salinity in lacustrine paleoenvironments. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 445:115–123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2015.11.028
Selected Presentations
8. Downen, M. R., Olcott, A. N. 2022. Creating LGBTQ+-inclusive learning environments in the geosciences. Geological Society of America Northcentral/Southeastern joint-section meeting.
7. Downen, M. R., Olcott, A. N. 2020. LGBTQ+ Geoscientists: A Diverse Community United by Common Experiences and Challenges. American Geophysical Union.
6. Downen, M. R., Schiffbauer, J., Selden, P. A., Olcott, A. N. 2020. Microbiota-driven fossilization in the Aix-en-Provence Fossil-Lagerstätte: A Diatom mat model of exceptional preservation. TaphCon 2020 Virtual Conference.
5. Downen, M. R., Olcott, A. 2019. LGBTQ+ diversity, inclusion, and mentorship in paleontology. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs 51.
4. Downen, M. R., Selden, P. A. 2019. Diversity and bias in the fossil record of spiders preserved in lacustrine deposits. 8th International Conference on Fossil Insects, Arthropods, and Amber. Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
3. Downen, M. R.., Selden, P. A. 2016. Ancient spiders and salt lakes. American Arachnological Society. Golden, CO.
2. Downen, M. R., Ebel, D. 2010. The Formation of Layered Chondrules in Acfer-139 (CR)”, GSA Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.
1. Downen, M. R., Wulff, A., Kramer, K., Moyers, A. 2009. “Petrogenetic Evolution of Lavas from the Casitas Shield, Descabezado Grande- Cerro Azul Volcanic Complex, Chilean Andes”, GSA Annual Meeting, Portland, Oregon.