Robert K. Carr Lecturer/Instructor Comparative Anatomy and General Biology laboratory

M.S., The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Ph.D., The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Gymnotrachelus hydei
Research
 
 

I am interested in questions concerning diversity and extinction and the evolutionary patterns and processes associated with these phenomena. Paleozoic gnathostomes provide an excellent opportunity to evaluate a number of these important evolutionary questions. During the Devonian there was a major radiation within this group. The water column, in which these fishes lived, was not devoid of other predators; however, the history of early vertebrates shows the origin and evolution of organisms with specializations in locomotion, feeding structures, and sensory organs, as well as central processing and coordination of sensory and motor systems.

Devonian sediments offer a unique and important view of early gnathostome history since they represent the largest estimated volume and geological map area for Paleozoic systems. Placoderms provide an excellent model for the analysis of evolutionary patterns and mechanisms at a time early in gnathostome history.

My interest in the evolution of early gnathostomes has combined phylogeny, evolution, ecology, and functional morphology of Arthrodira (Class Placodermi) in the context of global gnathostome patterns. This study has required a major revision of the systematics of arthrodires centering on North American fossils from the Appalachian and Michigan Basins.

Ongoing field work is being conducted in the Michigan and Catskill (Appalachian) Basins to document faunal patterns within the basins before and after three major global extinction events.

Sedimentological and fossil evidence are being used to evaluate autecology and community ecology within and among basins. Additionally, postmortem patterns are used to determine the sources of fossil material because organisms are often preserved in areas outside their natural habitat.
 
 

Recent Publications
 
 

Carr, R. K., 1991. Reanalysis of Heintzichthys gouldii, an aspinothoracid arthrodire (Placodermi), from the Cleveland Shale (Famennian) of Northern Ohio, U. S. A., with a systematic review of brachythoracid arthrodires. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 103(4):349—390.

Carr, R. K., 1994. A redescription of Gymnotrachelus hydei (Placodermi, Arthrodira) from the Cleveland Shale (Famennian) of northern Ohio, U. S. A. Kirtlandia. Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 48:3—21.

Carr, R. K., 1995. Placoderm diversity and evolution. VIIth International Symposium: Studies on Early Vertebrates. Bulletin du Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 17:85-125.

Carr, R. K., 1995. Opportunity knocked and no one was home: Aspinothoracid arthrodires (Placodermi) from the Ohio Shale Formation (Upper Devonian, North America). Geobios 19:81—83.

Carr, R. K., and W. J. Hlavin, 1995. Dinichthyidae (Placodermi): A paleontological fiction? Geobios 19:85—87.

Carr, R. K., 1996. Stenosteus angustopectus sp. nov. from the Cleveland Shale (Famennian) of northern Ohio with a review of selenosteid (Placodermi) systematics. Kirtlandia 49:19—43.

Elliot, D. K., Johnson, H. G., Cloutier, R., Carr, R. K., and Daeschler, E. B., (2000). Middle and Late Devonian vertebrates of the western Old Red Sandstone Continent. In Blieck, A. and Turner, S., editors. Palaeozoic Vertebrate Biochronology and Global Marine/Non-marine Correlation, Final Report of IGCP 328 (1991-1996).

Kent, G. C., and Carr, R. K., 2001. Comparative Anatomy of the Vertebrates, 9th edition, McGraw-Hill, Dubuque.

Carr, R. K., (2004). Recognizing paraphyletic stem groups: A case study in the analysis of eubrachythoracid arthrodires (Placodermi).  In Arratia, G., Wilson, M. V. H., & Cloutier, R. (eds), Recent Advances in the Origin and Early Radiation of the Vertebrates. p. 127-138. Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfiel, München.

Carr, R. K. and G. L. Jackson, (in press). Diplognathus lafargei sp. nov. from the Antrim Shale (Upper Devonian) of the Michigan Basin, Michigan, U.S.A.

Carr, R. K., (in press).  Paleoecology of Dunleosteus terrelli  (Placodermi: Arthrodira).  Kirtlandia, Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

Posters:
Carr, R. K. and G. L. Jackson, 2002. New information on an old fish: Bungartius perissus (Placodermi: Arthrodira).  62nd Annual Meeting, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Norman, Oklahoma.

Carr, R. K., 2004.  Teaching comparative anatomy: A Place for Pedagogical Theory and Practice.  7th International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology, Boca Raton, FL.

Jones, K. and R. K. Carr, 2004. New discoveries of placoderm fishes from the Callaway facies of the Cedar Valley Limestone (Middle Devonian) of Callaway County, Missouri, U.S.A. .  Xth International Symposium on Early Vertebrates/Lower Vertebrates, Gramado, Brazil.

Published Abstracts:
Carr, R. K., 1989a.  A reanalysis of Heintzichthys gouldii.  Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 8 Supplement to No. 3:10A-11A.
   
Carr, R. K., 1989b.  Diversity of placoderms (Pisces) in the Late Devonian.  Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 9, Supplement to No. 3:15A
   
Carr, R. K., 1990.  Two new dinichthyid arthrodires (Placodermi) from the Upper Devonian of Ontario (Michigan Basin) and Ohio (Catskill Basin).  Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 10, Supplement to No. 3:16A-17A.

Carr, R. K., 1992.  Ecology of Dunkleosteus terrelli (Arthrodira) within the Catskill Basin (North America).  Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 12, Supplement to No. 3:21A.

Hannibal, J. T., R. K. Carr, and C. J. Frye, 1992.  Tintenflecken from the Michigan Basin: preservation, ontogeny, and variation of aptychi found in Upper Devonian rocks at Paxton, Michigan.  Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs, 24(7):224.

Carr, R. K. and G. L. Jackson, 2002. New information on an old fish: Bungartius perissus (Placodermi: Arthrodira).  Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Supplement to No. 3.

Carr, R. K. and G. L. Jackson, 2004. Diplognathus lafargei sp. nov. from the Antrim Shale (Upper Devonian) of the Michigan Basin, Michigan, U.S.A. Xth International Symposium on Early Vertebrates/Lower Vertebrates, Gramado, Brazil.

PRESENTATIONS (without separate abstract publication):
Carr, R. K. and E. Mark-Kurik, 1998.  Reanalysis of Heterostius and Homostius (brachythoracid arthrodires: Placodermi): Implications on systematics and paleogeography.  IGCP 406 Meeting on Circum-Arctic Palaeozoic Faunas and Facies, Warsaw, Poland.

Carr, R. K., 1999.  Reanalysis of Homostius. 47th Symposium of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Comparative Anatomy, Royal Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Carr, R. K., 2000. Recognizing paraphyletic stem groups: A case study in the analysis of Protitanichthys (Placodermi, Arthrodira).. 9th International Meeting Early Vertebrates/Lower Vertebrates, Flagstaff, AZ, May 15-19, 2000.

Kampouris, G. E. and R. K. Carr, 2000. Revision of Protitanichthys, a pachyosteomorph arthrodire from the Middle Devonian (Early Givetian) of the Michigan and Appalachian basins. 9th International Meeting Early Vertebrates/Lower Vertebrates, Flagstaff, AZ, May 15-19, 2000.

Carr, R. K., 2002. Phylogenetic systematics and the arthrodires (Placodermi): Why haven’t we reached a consensus?  First International Palaeontolgical Congress, Sydney, Australia, 5-10 July 2002.

Carr, R. K., 2004.  A tale of two histories: Devonian fishes and their impact on the history of science in Ohio.  1st Annual Ohio Natural History Conference, Columbus, OH, 28 Feb 2004.


 
 

Courses Taught
 
 

COMPARATIVE VERTEBRATE ANATOMY

(BIOS 303 — Lecturer/Laboratory Instructor)

Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy is presented as an integrative science developing an understanding of organisms, their parts and functional systems, development, evolution, and ecology. An integrative presentation demonstrates the reciprocal importance of other biological disciplines in understanding comparative anatomy and evolution. It provides an organismal context for students interested in these other disciplines, including pre-medical programs. This approach requires the combination of data from classical comparative anatomy with current developmental, ecological, and theoretical research. It provides students with an exposure both to underlying principles and to current theory.

INTRODUCTION TO ZOOLOGY LABORATORY

(BIOS 170 — Laboratory Instructor)
 

Address, Phone, E-mail:

Dept. of Biological Sciences

Irvine Hall

Ohio University

Athens, OH 45701

(740) 593-2290

 carrr1@ohio.edu

Links

Life in the Devonian