معرفی
Felisa Smith is a Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of New Mexico and affiliated with the Center for Stable Isotopes. Her research focuses on conservation paleoecology, examining historical ecological systems to inform contemporary environmental challenges.
- Role: CSI Affiliated Faculty
- Email: fasmith@unm.edu
Her work investigates late Quaternary mammal community dynamics, particularly the impacts of megafauna extinctions ~13,000 years ago in the Americas. Using stable isotopes, geometric morphometrics, and continental databases like NEOTOMA, she analyzes shifts in ecosystem structure, dietary patterns, and body size trends post-extinction.
The Smith Lab also explores nontraditional fossils and integrates paleoecological insights into modern debates about anthropogenic climate change. Their research highlights unexpected post-extinction shifts in small herbivore body sizes and C4 dietary expansion, challenging established ecological theories like Bergmann’s rule.
Professor Smith has authored the book Mammalian Paleoecology, which synthesizes fossil-record analysis methods to contextualize ancient mammal communities and their relevance to current biodiversity crises.
