Mark Puckett

Dr. Mark Puckett is a Professor at the University of Southern Mississippi specializing in micropaleontology and stratigraphy. His research focuses on using microfossils, particularly ostracods, to reconstruct paleoenvironments and chronostratigraphic frameworks. He is particularly noted for his work on the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary and the paleogeographic relationships of Caribbean regions. Dr. Puckett holds a Ph.D. from the University of Alabama (1992), following an MS from Mississippi State University (1987) and a BS from the University of Southern Mississippi (1983).

His research interests include quantitative stratigraphy, biostratigraphic correlation, and the application of the CONOP system to integrate stratigraphic data. Key projects involve analyzing Late Cretaceous deposits in the Gulf Coastal Plain and examining how sexual dimorphism and selection pressures influence evolutionary outcomes, including extinction risks. Recent work has explored the endemism patterns of ostracods and their response to tectonic events like Pangea’s breakup.

Dr. Puckett’s publications span over three decades, with a focus on Cretaceous microfossil biostratigraphy, environmental reconstructions, and evolutionary mechanisms. His creative activities include producing the documentary 35 Million Years Down the Chickasawhay, which highlights regional geology. He is affiliated with the Geological Society of America and the North American Micropaleontological Section (SEPM), and speaks Spanish professionally.