معرفی
Trevor Worthy is an Associate Professor in the School of Biological Sciences at Flinders University, Australia, and a leading vertebrate palaeontologist specializing in fossil birds of the Australasia-Pacific region. He has over 33 years of research experience across New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific, with a focus on avian taxonomy, phylogenetics, and evolutionary responses to environmental changes. Worthy obtained his PhD from Adelaide University (2008) and has held postdoctoral positions at Sydney and Adelaide before joining Flinders in 2013.
Education:
- DSc 2011: Contributions to understanding the avifauna of the southwest Pacific, University of Waikato
- PhD 2008: Tertiary fossil waterfowl of Australia and New Zealand, University of Adelaide
- MSc 1986: Fossil frogs, Victoria University
- MSc 1981: Limnology, University of Waikato
- BSc 1978: Science (Honours), University of Waikato
Research Interests: Worthy’s work centers on the taxonomy and evolution of Australasian avifaunas, particularly Miocene and Quaternary birds. Key projects include the St Bathans Fauna of New Zealand, Pacific island paleofaunas, and the impacts of climate change on vertebrate distributions. His collaborations address topics like moa ecology, Pleistocene megafauna, and fossil-driven conservation strategies.
Grants and Awards: Major grants include ARC-funded projects on Australian megafauna and Zealandia’s biogeographic history. Awards include the Meritorious Service Award (2010) and D.L. Serventy Medal (2003). He is a Corresponding Fellow of the American Ornithologists’ Union and has held editorial roles in ornithological journals.
Labs and Teams: Worthy is a core member of the Flinders Palaeontology Group, part of Australia’s premier vertebrate paleontology research collective. This group explores vertebrate evolution from fish to mammals across deep time, with a focus on Australasia’s unique fossil record.
