I am an ecologist that studies the past. In particular, I'm interested in what past ecosystems can tell us about our future.  

I link largescale ecological patterns and processes to human evolution from the Pliocene to the Anthropocene. I seek to understand the place of hominins in past ecosystems and to elucidate when humans became large-scale ecosystem engineers; I explore the implications of these changes in human ecology for the anthropogenically altered future.

Josh's current research uses the fossil record and stable isotope ecology to identify the cascading ecological changes associated with megafaunal extinctions and anthropogenic ecosystem engineering through time and across space. Additionally, he is interested in identifying functional and practical limitations of paleoecological proxies, particularly those associated with dental wear and stable isotopes from tooth enamel.

Josh's master's research about this isotopes of bison and mammoths in Texas as well as his PhD research has been funded by the University of Arkansas Graduate School, the National Science Foundation.

Personal page: https://www.joshuajporter.com/

Taylor Hubbard is a master's student focused on Biological Anthropology. She explores different aspects of anthropogenic change and its connection to ecosystems through time. Taylor is motivated to understand how recent human impacts affect mammals and human systems alike. She uses stable isotopes to explore these topics.

Her master's research about large mammals in Zambia has been funded by the University of Arkansas Department of Anthropology.

Hershel is a master's student in Anthropology. He is currently developing a research project but hopes to focus on the ecological effects of mammalian extinction. Hershel has worked with the lab for many years illustrating concepts that combine taphonomy, chemical, and ecological information (see Australopithecus afarensis illustration) within a paleontological framework. 

Gisell is an honors student and a biological anthropology major. Her research has been funded by the UA honors college and the Arkansas Department of Education. 

She uses carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes from hair and feces to explore the impacts of indigenous north American fauna (like bison) compared to anthropogenic species like cows. She works in the Tallgrass Prairie, OK.

Jahzara is an honors student and a biology major. Her research in the lab has been funded by the UA honors college. 

She uses carbon and oxygen stable isotopes from modern mammal teeth to examine how mammal diet and behaviors vary across South Luangwa National Park in Zambia. Her undergradaute thesis was published in 2025.

Peter's research addresses how environmental variables control geochemical markers in fossil sediments. He was an honor's college funded scholar in the Paleoecology Lab. 

In the future, Peter says, "I would like to use paleoenvironmental reconstructions to contextualize ancient ecology in Africa from the Miocene onwards, expand our current understanding of human evolution, and supplement research on present-day ecological phenomena. I believe this work will become increasingly relevant in light of the rapid environmental change of today."

Troy explored the importance of mammals in the necrobiome by investigating the association between carcass decomposition and large mammal biodiversity. His research in the lab was funded by the Arkansas Department of Education and the UA honor's college.

He graduated with honors in Biology at the University of Arkansas and is now a laboratory technician in at the University of Arkansas.

Mandeep's graduated with honors in biology major. Her research in the lab was funded by the Arkansas Department of Education and the UA honor's college.

She is currently a medical student at UAMS. 

Her research explored the relationship between carbon and oxygen stable isotopes in ancient soils. By characterizing soils to describe the past sedimentary environments and analyzing the associated stable isotope signals, this research will provide an important test of the hypothesis that vegetation type (particularly canopy cover) is associated with evaporation. This will allow paleoanthropologists to determine not only the type of plants that were present in fossil environments, but whether their canopy cover was thick enough to affect soil water evaporation. 

Hershel is a graduate of the University of Arkansas with a focus in Biological Anthropology. He is a paleoecology expert-in-training and resident lab artist and graphic designer (see illustration below).