Daniel Williams
Associate Professor of Biology
Biology Program
| Degree | Institution |
|---|---|
| Ph.D. | University of Kansas |
| M.S. | Georgia College & State University |
| B.A. | Berry College, Rome, GA |
About
Dr. Daniel Williams joined USM in 2013 as an assistant professor of biology.
He earned a Master鈥檚 Degree in Evolutionary Biology from Georgia College and State
University in 2004 and his Ph. D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University
of Kansas in 2009.
Immediately following graduation Dr. Williams began teaching and conducting undergraduate
research at Georgia Southern University.
At KU and Georgia Southern he worked on the effects of ice age climate change on the
evolution of mammals and birds. At Georgia Southern he also mentored students in a
forensic biology research program.
Dr. Williams teaches anatomy and physiology, biology for today, ecology, environmental
problems, and ornithology. His current research interests at USM involve the impacts
of climate change on generalist mammals, such as White-tailed Deer, and the impacts
of urbanization on birds.
Research Interests
- Vertebrate Paleontology
- Paleobiology
- Biogeography
- Phylogenetics
- Urban Ecology
Research
I work on the evolutionary ecology of fossil and modern birds and mammals. I use fieldwork, systematics, and biogeography to study evolution in response to local and global ecological change. I currently apply these tools in two areas:
- The vertebrate microfauna at the Cretaceous boundary: In terms of biomass, the Cretaceous Hell Creek fauna of Montana was dominated by various dinosaur groups. Concentrating on the dinosaurs only tells a part of the ecological story leading up to one of the five mass extincitons in earth鈥檚 history at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary however. My ongoing work examines the growing diversity of species and data types for the vertebrate microfauna in the Hell Creek to create a more complete picture of late Cretaceous ecology.
- Vertebrate urban ecology of the Sixth Great Mass Extinction: We are experiencing a sixth mass extinction caused by humans. The study of mammal and bird adaptation to urban environments is an area of current and future import as urbanization coupled with global climate shifts continues apace. I work with undergraduate students in ecology fieldwork of mammal and bird urban species that exploit urban environments, such as the Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginianus) and Gray Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis), as well as those vertebrates disturbed by urban changes.
Selected Presentations
2023 Havner, K A., and D.R. Williams. Healed bone injuries in Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana). Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 126. (poster presentation).
2021 Williams, D., Burnham, D., and L. Gurche. Report of a diving bird from the Hell Creek Formation, Garfield County, Montana. Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. (oral presentation)
2020 Williams, D., Burnham, D., and L. Gurche. Preliminary Report of an Articulated Mammalian Hand from the Hell Creek Formation in Northeastern Montana. Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. (oral presentation)
2019 Gonzales, E.N., Banes, T.C., and D.R. Williams. Initial Report on Skeletal Lesions in Virginia Opossums (Didelphis virginiana) from Leavenworth County, KS. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 122. (poster presentation)
2018 Houk, A.N. and D.R. Williams. The Utility of Dental Landmark Analysis for the Identification of Dire Wolf (Canis dirus). Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 121. (poster presentation)
Selected Science and Math Undergraduate Research (SMURF) Presentations
2023 Ferrell, A.A. and D.R. Williams. Changes in diet of Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) along an urban-rural Spectrum. Science and Mathematics Undergraduate Research Forum. (poster presentation).
2017 Smith, M. and D.R. Williams. The Effect of Habitat on Squirrel Density in an Urban University Campus. Science and Mathematics Undergraduate Research Forum. (poster presentation)
2017 Stevens, A. and D.R. Williams. Survey of Buteo jamaicensis (Red-tailed Hawk) Pellets. Science and Mathematics Undergraduate Research Forum. (poster presentation)
2016 Vollbrecht, S. and D.R. Williams. Audience effect on foraging behavior of sympatric populations of Fox and Gray Squirrels. Science and Mathematics Undergraduate Research Forum. (poster presentation)