Research area:

Vertebrate evolution

Research description:

Research in my laboratory has really spanned two focal areas. First, we worked on the analysis of vertebrate reproductive patterns, linking physiological mechanisms, their present function and their evolutionary history -- with particular interest in the role of social factors in integrating reproductive cyclicity. Published research dealt with these topics using such organisms as garter snakes, scincid lizards, damselfish, and slider turtles. This work included collaboration with researchers at Auburn University and the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory and spawned three M.S. degrees. Lately, we have become interested in functional anatomy, the developmental biology of the vertebrate skeleton, and the analysis of ancient DNA (with Joseph Ng) and how these factors can be used to infer or support evolutionary relationships among non-mamalian taxa. Onn M.S. student is   working on Pachycephalosaur skulls and I continue my work on dinosaur wrist movements.

Selected Publications:

Garstka, W.R. and D. Crews. 1982. Female control of male reproductive function in a Mexican Snake. SCIENCE 217:1159-1160

Cooper, W.E. Jr. and W.R. Garstka. 1986. Lingual responses to chemicalfractions of urodeal glandular pheromone ofthe skink, Eumeces laticeps. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY 242: 249-253

Lovich, J.E., C.J. McCoy, and W.R. Garstka. 1990. The development and significance of melanism in the slider turtle, Trachemys scripta. Chp. 21 in J.W. Gibbons (Ed.) LIFE HISTORY  AND ECOLOGY OF THE SLIDER TURTLE. Smithsonian Institution Press pp 233-256

Garstka, W.R. and D.A. Burnham. 1997. Posture and stance of Triceratops: evidence of  digitigrade manus and cantilever vertebral column. In: D.L. Wolberg, E. Stump, and G.D. Rosenberg (Eds.)DINOFEST INTERNATIONAL. Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia. pp 385-391

Lawton, M.F., J.C. Hanks, and W.R. Garstka. 1997. The mask of theory and the face of nature.In: P. Gowaty (Ed.) FEMINISM AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY: BOUNDARIES, INTERSECTIONS, AND FRONTEIRS. Chapman Hall. New York. pp 63-85