Katie E. Davis

Dr. Katie E. Davis is a Lecturer in Palaeobiology at the University of York’s Department of Biology. Her research focuses on evolutionary patterns and processes in biodiversity over deep time, integrating macroevolution and macroecology. She investigates how organisms respond to environmental changes, with particular interests in vertebrates, coral reefs, and insects. Key collaborations include projects on parrot conservation, dinosaur evolution, and disparity methods in palaeobiology.

Her work emphasizes the role of the geological record as a natural laboratory for understanding climate-driven biodiversity shifts. Notable projects include studies on hermit crab diversification linked to global cooling and mosquito speciation tied to elevated CO2 levels. Methodologically, Davis develops phylogenetic supertrees and time-scaling techniques to reconstruct evolutionary histories.

Teaching focuses on palaeobiology, ecology, and computational biology, emphasizing critical thinking and real-world problem-solving. Students explore topics like mass extinctions, climate change impacts, and vertebrate diversification through student-led activities and data-driven projects.

Publications span over 20 peer-reviewed articles, including high-impact works in Nature Communications and Communications Biology. Her research bridges past and present, offering insights into contemporary biodiversity challenges such as climate change and conservation prioritization.