Dan McShea
- Center for Theoretical & Mathematical Sciences
- 242/223 Bio Sci
- Campus Box 90338
- Phone: 919-660-7342 office, 660-7343 lab
- Fax: (919) 660-7293
- Homepage
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Specialties
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Research Summary
Macroevolution, paleobiology, philosophy of biology -
Research Description
I am interested in large-scale evolutionary trends, that is, trends that include a number of higher taxa and span a large portion of the history of life. Features that have been said to show such trends include complexity, size, fitness, and others. In my research, I have been developing operational measures of these features, devising methods for testing empirically whether trends have occurred, and studying the causes and correlates of trends. My major work so far has been on trends in complexity. I am also interested in: 1. The relationships among the various evolutionary forces acting on animal form -- functional, formal, and phylogenetic. 2. Theoretical aspects of animal psychology. 3. The philosophy of biology.
