Nicholas Geist

Nicholas Geist is a Professor in the Department of Biology at Sonoma State University, affiliated with the College of Science, Technology, and Business. His research focuses on vertebrate paleobiology, functional morphology, and conservation biology of western pond turtles. He holds a Ph.D. in Zoology from Oregon State University (1999).

Education:

• Ph.D. (Zoology), Oregon State University, 1999

Research Interests: Geist’s work spans paleobiology and functional morphology of vertebrates, particularly reptiles and archosaurs. Key areas include temperature-dependent sex determination in western pond turtles, evolution of reproductive strategies in crocodilians and birds, and lung ventilation mechanisms in pterosaurs. He also studies freshwater ecosystem restoration and western pond turtle conservation.

Publications Overview: His publications highlight interdisciplinary research in paleontology, ecology, and physiology. Recent work examines turtle developmental plasticity, pterosaur respiration, and dinosaur avian ancestry. Earlier studies contributed to understanding avian respiratory systems and non-avian feather origins in archosaurs.

Teaching: Courses include Introductory Genetics, Biological Diversity, Human Physiology, and specialized topics on vertebrate evolution.