Research
My collaborators (both professional and student) and I conduct specimens-based research to document and interpret historical patterns of mammalian diversity.
We examine the fossil record (from 50 million years ago to 300 years ago) through the lenses of macroevolution and macroecology to answer questions like:
How does today’s biodiversity crisis compare to those of the past? What are we losing in addition to populations and species? [Tomiya & Meachen, 2018]
What drives diversification and extinction of carnivores? [Tomiya et al., 2021]
Why are some groups of mammals a lot more (or less) diverse than others? [Tomiya & Miller, 2021]
1. Lagomorph body-size evolution: Student researcher Lauren Miller measuring rabbit teeth at Museum of Vertebrate Zoology.
2 & 4. Quaternary biotic transitions in western North America: Collecting modern raptor pellets in northwestern Nevada (2); Fieldwork at Natural Trap Cave, Wyoming (4), led by Dr. Julie Meachen (Des Moines University).
3. Evolution of carnivoran milk teeth: Field Museum REU intern Dana Reuter measuring bear teeth.