DinoBite: Alyssa Bell, Ph. D.

Saturday, January 25, 1:00 - 1:25 p.m.

Into the Sea: The Evolution of the Hesperornithiformes

The hesperornithiforms are a fascinating chapter in avian evolution — one of the first groups of birds we know of to lose the ability to fly and instead adapt to an aquatic lifestyle. This talk will explore this unusual group of diverse birds, including how they range in size and geographic distribution, what we know about their diving specializations, and what remains a puzzle.

About the Speaker

Alyssa Bell, Ph. D., is a Los Angeles, California based paleontologist who splits her time between working with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, teaching at CalPoly Pomona, and leading the Paleontology Resource Group for Stantec Consulting Services. Bell's research explores the use of morphometric data to address questions of ecology and evolution, particularly among birds.