Tristan Stayton

Tristan Stayton

Professor of Biology
Biology Associate Department Chair
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Educational Background

  • Ph.D., The University of Chicago
  • B.S., Purdue University

Research Interests

  • Evolutionary and functional morphology of vertebrates, especially reptiles
  • Convergence in morphology and function
  • Paleobiology
  • Biomechanics and modeling of vertebrate functional systems

Teaching Interests

  • Vertebrate Anatomy
  • Organismal Biology
  • Herpetology
  • Functional morphology
  • (Macro)evolution
  • Biomechanics

Selected Publications

Stayton, C.T. 2009. Application of thin-plate spline transformations to finite element models, or, how to turn a bog turtle into a spotted turtle to analyze both. Evolution 63:1348-1355.

Stayton, C.T. 2011. Biomechanics on the half shell: functional performance influences patterns of morphological variation in the emydid turtle carapace. Zoology 114:213-223.

*Vega, C. and C.T. Stayton. 2011. Dimorphism in shell shape and strength in two species of emydid turtle. Herpetologica67:397-405.

*Fish, J.F. and C.T. Stayton. 2013. Morphological and mechanical changes in juvenile red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans) shells during ontogeny. Journal of Morphology 275:391-397.

Stayton, C.T. 2015. The definition, recognition, and interpretation of convergent evolution, and two new measures for quantifying and assessing the significance of convergence. Evolution 69:2140-2153.

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