Royal H. Mapes, Ph.D.

     I am primarily an Invertebrate Paleontologist and my research program primarily combines paleobiology, paleoecology, biostratigraphy and depositional interpretation of primarily Midcontinent Upper Paleozoic rocks. At Ohio University my students and I have developed an extensive research collection of invertebrate fossils numbering more than 400,000 specimens. The collections have been obtained from more than 400 outcrops that span the limits of Carboniferous aged rock exposures in Texas, Oklahoma and parts of Arkansas, Nebraska, New Mexico and Kansas. In addition, limited collections from other areas and time periods such as lower Triassic invertebrates from Nevada and Devonian cephalopods from Morocco, North Africa have also been obtained.

     During the past 20 years, analysis of this large Carboniferous collection has allowed development and testing of a generalized community succession model for cyclically deposited rock units. Effectively, this model allows the interpretation of certain aspects of taphonomy in terrestrial and marine paleoenvironments. Refinement of this model is an ongoing commitment.

     Past research activities also include more than 200 published investigations (abstracts, papers and monographs) on paleobiology, evolution and biostratigraphy of molluscs (cephalopods, polyplacophores, gastropods, hyoliths, rostroconchs, bivalves), brachiopods, conodonts, corals, arthropods (marine and terrestrial), conulariids, echinoderms Mastoids, crinoids) and other invertebrates. The taphonomy of fossil plants has ranked high in my recent research efforts where I am investigating the paleoecologic conditions that allows preservation of terrestrial plant debris in the marine environment. A preliminary model has now been developed for the upper most Carboniferous (Stephanian) and limited tests in Morocco, North Africa, England and Ireland have been made. Additional testing is underway.

Selected References:

• Scott, A.C., Galtier, J., Mapes, R.H. and Mapes, G., 1997, Paleoecological and Evolutionary Significance of Anatomically Preserved Terrestrial Plants in Upper Carboniferous Marine Goniatite Bullions. Journal of the Geological Society, London 154: 61-68.

• Mapes, R.H. and Mapes, G., 1997, Biotic Destruction of Terrestrial Plant Debris in the Late Paleozoic Marine Environment. Lethaia 29: 157-169.

• Hoare, R.D. and Mapes, R.H., 1997, Cardiarina Cordata Cooper, 1956, (Brachiopoda) Terebratuloid or Rhynchonelloid. Journal of Paleontology 7(1)(1997): 32-34.

• Hoare, R.D., and Mapes, R.H., 1996, Late Paleozoic Problematic Sclerites of Hercolepadid Affinities. Journal of Paleontology, 70(3): 341-347.

• Hoare, R.D., Mapes, R.H., 1996, Immature specimens of the Brachiopod Genera Cooperina and Heteraosia from the Pennsylvanian of Texas. The Compass, 71(4): 121-125.