Roy E. Plotnick, PhD
Professor Emeritus
Invertebrate Paleobiology and Paleontology, Ecology
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Contact
Building & Room:
2454 SES
Address:
845 West Taylor St.
Office Phone:
Email:
Related Sites:
About
Multi-faceted scientist with interests in Invertebrate paleobiology, mathematical methods and models, Anthropocene ecological change, and science education and outreach. I use a wide range of analytical and experimental methods.
Research Areas:
Invertebrate paleontology, Paleobiomechanics, Taphonomy, Trace fossils, Landscape ecology, Macroevolutionary patterns, Earth science education
Selected Grants
National Science Foundation, Geopaths-Impacts: Establishing Partnerships to Recruit Geoscience Undergraduates from Urban Chicago, Co-Principal Investigator
Selected Publications
Plotnick, R. E. 2016. Lattice models in ecology, paleontology, and geology. IN: Autogenic Dynamics and Self-Organization in Sedimentary Systems. SEPM Special Publication 106.: 83-94.
Plotnick, R. E., F. A. Smith, and S. K. Lyons. 2016. Fossil record of the Sixth Extinction. Ecology Letters. 19(5): 546-553.
Stigall, A. L., R. E. Plotnick, and L. E. P. Boush. 2017. The first Cenozoic spinicaudatans from North America. Journal of Paleontology 91(3):467-476.
Plotnick, R. E. 2017. Recurrent hierarchical patterns and the fractal distribution of fossil localities. Geology 45(4):295-298.
Boblitt, C. M., R. E. Plotnick, F. Kenig, and D. Meyer-Dombard. 2018. Determining taphonomic controls and rates of decay in cave environments using microcosms. PALAIOS 33(4):141-153.
Wagner, P., R. E. Plotnick, and S. K. Lyons. 2018. Evidence for trait-based dominance in occupancy among fossil taxa and the decoupling of macroecological and macroevolutionary success. The American Naturalist 192(3): E120-E138. .
Hsieh, S., Schassburger, A., and Plotnick, R. E. 2019. The modern and fossil record of farming behavior. Paleobiology. 45(3):395-404.
Plotnick, R. E., and P. Wagner. 2018. The greatest hits of all time: the histories of dominant genera in the fossil record. Paleobiology: https://doi.org/10.1017/pab.2018.15
Plotnick, R. E., and K. A. Koy. 2020. The Anthropocene fossil record of terrestrial mammals. Anthropocene 29:100233.
Pasterski, M. J., A. Bellagamba, S. Chancellor, A. Cunje, E. Dodd , K. Gefeke, S. Hsieh, A. Schassburger, A. Smith, W. Tucker, and R. E. Plotnick. 2020. Aquatic landscape change, extirpations, and introductions in the Chicago Region. Urban Ecosystems. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-020-01001-6
Professional Leadership
Co-chair, Development Committee, Paleontological Society
Notable Honors
2005-2008, Distinguished Lecturer, Paleontological Society
2012, Fellow, Paleontological Society
2013, Fellow, Geological Society of America
2017, Edward P Bass Distinguished Environmental Visiting Scholar, Yale Department of Geology and Geophysics
Education
AB, 1976, Columbia University
MS, 1978, University of Rochester
PhD., 1983, University of Chicago