Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Anna K. Behrensmeyer

Senior Research Geologist and Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology
Department / Division
Education
  • Ph.D., Harvard University
  • B.A., Washington University (St. Louis)
Research Interests

Paleoecology of terrestrial environments, especially in the later Cenozoic of Africa and Pakistan, continental sedimentation, investigation of taphonomic processes affecting the fossil record, human paleoecology, evolution of terrestrial ecosystems.

Publications
Journal Article
Book Chapter
  • Kinyanjui, Rahab N., Meadows, Michael, Gillson, Lindsey, Bamford, Marion K., Behrensmeyer, Anna K., and Potts, Richard. 2021. "Reconstructing vegetation history of the Olorgesailie Basin during the Middle to Late Pleistocene using phytolith data." In Quaternary Vegetation Dynamics – The African Pollen Database. 1 ed. Runge, Jürgen, Gosling, William D., Lézine, Anne-Marie, and Scott, Louis, editors. 85–106. London: CRC Press.
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K. and Strömberg, Caroline A. E. 2019. "Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction." In Foundations of Paleoecology: Classic Papers with Commentaries. Lyons, S. Kathleen, Behrensmeyer, Anna K., and Wagner, Peter J., editors. 415–419. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press. (https://doi.org/10.7208/chicago/9780226618340.001.0001), https://doi.org/10.7208/chicago/9780226618340.001.0001.
  • Barry, John C., Behrensmeyer, Anna K., Badgley, Catherine E., Flynn, Lawrence J., Peltonen, Hannele, Cheema, I. U., Pilbeam, David, Lindsay, Everett H., Raza, S. M., Rajpar, Abdul Rahim, and Morgan, Michele E. 2013. "The Neogene Siwaliks of the Potwar Plateau, Pakistan." In Fossil Mammals of Asia: Neogene Biostratigraphy and Chronology. Wang, Xiaoming, Flynn, Lawrence J., and Fortelius, Mikael, editors. 373–399. Columbia University Press.
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K. and Reed, Kaye E. 2013. "Reconstructing the Habitats of Australopithecus: Paleoenvironments, Site Taphonomy, and Faunas." In The Paleobiology of Australopithecus. Reed, Kaye E., Fleagle, John G., and Leakey, Richard E., editors. 41–60. Springer Netherlands. In Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology.
  • Flynn, Lawrence J., Lindsay, Everett H., Pilbeam, David, Raza, S. M., Morgan, Michele E., Barry, John C., Badgley, Catherine E., Behrensmeyer, Anna K., Cheema, I. U., Rajpar, Abdul Rahim, and Opdyke, Neil D. 2013. "The Siwaliks and Neogene Evolutionary Biology in South Asia." In Fossil Mammals of Asia: Neogene Biostratigraphy and Chronology. Wang, Xiaoming, Flynn, Lawrence J., and Fortelius, Mikael, editors. 353–372. Columbia University Press.
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K. and Miller, Joshua H. 2012. "Building links between ecology and palaeontology using taphonomic studies of recent vertebrate communities." In Palaeontology in Ecology and Conservation. Louys, Julien, editor. 69–91. New York: Springer. In Springer Earth System Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-25038-5_5.
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K. 2011. "Conversations with Glynn's Ghost: The Evolution of Paleolandscape Research at East Turkana." In Casting the Net Wide: Papers in Honor of Glynn Isaac and His Approach to Human Origins Research. Sept, Jeanne and Pilbeam, David, editors. 21–40. Cambridge, MA: American School of Prehistoric Research, Harvard University.
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K. 2011. "Linking Researchers across Generations: Field Notes in Paleobiology." In Field Notes for Scientists and Naturalists. Canfield, Michael, editor. 89–108. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K. 2008. "Paleoenvironmental context of the Pliocene A.L. 333 “First Family” Hominin Locality, Denen Dora Member, Hadar Formation, Ethiopia." In GSA Special Paper 446: The Geology of Early Humans in the Horn of Africa. Quade, Jay and Wynn, Jonathan, editors. 203–214.
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K. 2007. "Bonebeds through Geologic Time." In Bonebeds: Genesis, Analysis, and Paleobiological Significance. Rogers, R., Eberth, D., and Fiorillo, T., editors. 65–102. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K. 2007. "Changes through Time in Carcass Survival in the Amboseli ecosystem, southern Kenya." In Breathing Life into Fossils: Taphonomic Studies in Honor of C.K. (Bob) Brain. Pickering, T., Schick, K., and Toth, N., editors. 137–160. Stone Age Institute Press.
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K., Alemseged, Zeresenay, and Bobe, Rene. 2007. "Finale and future: investigating faunal evidence for hominin paleoecology in East Africa." In Hominin Environments in the East African Pliocene: An Assessment of the Faunal Evidence. Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology Series, Volume 1. Bobe, Rene, Alemseged, Zeresenay, and Behrensmeyer, Anna K., editors. 333–346. Springer.
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K., Bobe, Rene, and Alemseged, Zeresenay. 2007. "Approaches to the analysis of faunal change during the East African Pliocene." In Hominin Environments in the East African Pliocene: An Assessment of the Faunal Evidence, Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology Series, Volume 1. Bobe, Rene, Alemseged, Zeresenay, and Behrensmeyer, Anna K., editors. 1–24. Springer.
  • Bobe, Rene, Behrensmeyer, Anna K., Eck, G. G., and Harris, J. M. 2007. "Patterns of abundance and diversity in late Cenozoic bovids from the Turkana and Hadar Basins, Kenya and Ethiopia." In Hominin Environments in the East African Pliocene: An Assessment of the Faunal Evidence, Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology Series, Volume 1. Bobe, Rene, Alemseged, Zeresenay, and Behrensmeyer, Anna K., editors. 129–158. Springer.
  • Badgley, C. E., Nelson, S., Barry, John C., Behrensmeyer, Anna K., and Cerling, T. 2005. "Testing models of faunal turnover with Neogene mammals from Pakistan." In Interpreting the Past: Essays on Human, Primate, and Mammal Evolution, in Honor of David Pilbeam. American School of Prehistoric Research Monograph Series. Lieberman, D. E., Smith, R. J., and Kelley, J., editors. 29–44. Brill Academic Publishers, Inc.
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K., Badgley, C. E., Barry, John C., Morgan, M., and Raza, S. M. 2005. "The Paleoenvironmental Context of Siwalik Miocene Vertebrate Localities." In Interpreting the Past: Essays on Human, Primate, and Mammal Evolution in Honor of David Pilbeam. Lieberman, D. E., Smith, R. J., and Kelley, J., editors. 48–62. Brill Academic Publishers, Inc.
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K. 2002. "Bones through Time: The Importance of Biotic versus Abiotic Taphonomic Processes in the Vertebrate Fossil Record." In Current topics on Taphonomy and Fossilization. De Renzi, M., Alonso, M. V. P., Belinchon, M., Peñalver, Enrique, and Montoya, P., editors. 297–304. Proceedings of the International Conference Taphos 2002.
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K., Potts, Richard, Deino, A., and Ditchfield, P. 2002. "Olorgesailie, Kenya: A million years in the life of a rift basin." In Sedimentation in Continental Rifts, SEPM Special Publication. Renaut, R. W. and Ashley, G. M., editors. 97–106. 73
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K. 2000. "Taphonomy: 3.3.7. Terrestrial Vertebrates." In Palaeobiology II. Briggs, D. E. G. and Crowther, P. R., editors. 318–321.
  • Isaac, G. L. and Behrensmeyer, Anna K. 1997. "Chapter 2, Geological Context and Paleoenvironments." In Koobi Fora Research Project Volume 5: Plio-Pleistocene Archaeology. Isaac, G. L. and Isaac, B., editors. 12–53. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K. and Chapman, R. E. 1993. "Models and Simulations of Taphonomic Time-averaging in Terrestrial Vertebrate Assemblages." In Taphonomic Approaches co Time Resolution in Fossil Assemblages. Kidwell, Susan M. and Behrensmeyer, Anna K., editors. 125–149. Knoxville, Tennessee: The Paleontological Society.
  • Kidwell, Susan M. and Behrensmeyer, Anna K. 1993. "Taphonomic Approaches to Time Resolution in Fossil Assemblages: Introduction." In Taphonomic Approaches to Time Resolution in Fossil Assemblages. Kidwell, Susan M. and Behrensmeyer, Anna K., editors. 1–8. Knoxville, Tennessee: The Paleontological Society.
  • Potts, Richard and Behrensmeyer, Anna K. 1992. "Late Cenozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems." In Terrestrial Ecosystems Through Time: Evolutionary Paleoecology of Terrestrial Plants and Animals. Behrensmeyer, Anna K., Damuth, J., DiMichele, William A., Potts, Richard, Sues, Hans-Dieter, and Wing, Scott L., editors. 419–541. Chicago: University of Chicago.
  • Wing, Scott L., Sues, Hans-Dieter, Potts, Richard, DiMichele, William A., and Behrensmeyer, Anna K. 1992. "Evolutionary Paleoecology." In Terrestrial Ecosystems Through Time: Evolutionary Paleoecology of Terrestrial Plants and Animals
    . Behrensmeyer, Anna K., editor. 1–13. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K. 1990. "Transport/Hydrodynamics of Bones." In Palaeobiology: A Synthesis. 232–235.
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K. and Badgley, C. E. 1989. "Foreword." In Recent Vertebrate Carcasses and Their Paleobiological Implications. vii. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K., Gordon, K. D., and Yanagi, G. T. 1989. "Non-human Bone Modification in Miocene Fossils from Pakistan." In Bone Modification (Proceedings of First International Conference on Bone Modification). Bonnichsen, R. and Sorg, M. H., editors. 99–120. Orono, Maine: Center for the Study of the First Americans.
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K. 1987. "Miocene Fluvial Facies and Vertebrate Taphonomy in Northern Pakistan." In Recent Developments in Fluvial Sedimentology, Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Sedimentology, Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists Special Publication. Ethridge, F. G., Flores, R. M., and Harvey, M. D., editors. 169–176. Tulsa, Oklahoma: Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists.
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K. 1987. "Taphonomy and Hunting." In The Evolution of Hunting. Nitecki, M. H. and Nitecki, D. V., editors. 423–450. New York: Plenum Press.
  • Buzas, Martin A. and Behrensmeyer, Anna K. 1987. "Ecology-Paleoecology." In Fossil Invertebrates. Boardman, Richard S., Cheetham, Alan H., and Rowell, Albert J., editors. 19–28. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications.
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K. 1985. "Taphonomy and the paleoecologic reconstruction of hominid habitats in the Koobi Fora Formation." In L'Environnement des Hominidés au Plio-Pléistocène. 309–323. Paris: Masson.
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K. and Cooke, H. B. S. 1985. "Paleoenvironments, Stratigraphy and Taphonomy in the African Pliocene and Early Pleistocene." In Ancestors: The Hard Evidence. Delson, E., editor. 60–62. New York: Alan R. Liss, Inc.
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K. 1984. "The Bones of Amboseli Park as a Key to East African Paleoecology." In National Geographic Society Reports, 1975 Projects. Swanson, Winfield, editor. 91–109. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society.
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K. and Raza, S. M. 1984. "A Procedure for Documenting Fossil Localities of Northern Pakistan." In Contribution to the Geology of Siwa-liks of Pakistan, Memoirs of the Geological Society of Pakistan. Shah, S. M. Ibrahim and Pilbeam, David, editors. 65–69. Rawalpindi, Pakistan: The Army Press.
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K. 1983. "Natural bone distributions on recent land surfaces: implications for archaeological site formation." In Animals and Archaeology: I. Hunters and their prey. Clutton-Brock, Juliet and Grigson, Caroline, editors. 93–106. Oxford: British Archaeological Reports. In BAR International series (no. 163).
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K. 1983. "Commentary on: Parental Investment: The Hominid Adaptation." In How Humans Adapt: A Biocultural Odyssey. Ortner, Donald J., editor. 56–58. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K. 1982. "Time Sampling Intervals in the Vertebrate Fossil Record." In Proceedings of the North American Paleontological Convention III. 41–45. Montreal, Quebec: Département de Géologie, Université de Montréal, and Geological Survey of Canada.
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K. 1981. "Vertebrate Paleoecology in a Recent East African Ecosystem." In Communities of the Past. Gray, Jane, Boucot, A. J., and Berry, W. B. N., editors. 591–616. Stroudsburg: Dowden, Hutchinson, and Ross, Inc.
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K. and Boaz, D. D. 1981. "Late Pleistocene Geology and Paleontology of Amboseli National Park, Kenya." In Palaeocology of Africa. Coetzee, J. A. and van Zinderen Bakker, E. M.,Sr., editors. 135–188. Rotterdam: A. A. Balkema.
Book
  • Lyons, S. Kathleen, Behrensmeyer, Anna K., and Wagner, Peter J., editors. 2019. Foundations of Paleoecology: Classic Papers with Commentaries. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press. https://doi.org/10.7208/chicago/9780226618340.001.0001.
  • Damuth, J., Behrensmeyer, Anna K., DiMichele, William A., Labandeira, Conrad C., Potts, Richard, and Wing, Scott L. 1997. ETE Database Manual. Evolution of Terrestrial Ecosystems Consortium. Washington, D.C..
  • Kidwell, Susan M. and Behrensmeyer, Anna K., editors. 1993. Taphonomic Approaches to Time Resolution in Fossil Assemblages. Knoxville, Tennessee: Paleontological Society. In Short Courses in Paleontology; no. 6.
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K., Damuth, J., DiMichele, William A., Potts, Richard, Sues, Hans-Dieter, and Wing, Scott L., editors. 1992. Terrestrial Ecosystems Through Time. Chicago: University of Chicago.
Book Review
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K. 1999. [Book review] "Evolution of Tertiary Mammals of North America Volume 1: Terrestrial Carnivores, Ungulates, and Ungulatelike Mammals, edited by Christine M. Janis, Kathleen M. Scott and Louis L. Jacobs." Palaeogeography palaeoclimatology palaeoecology, 155, 341–345.
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K. 1993. [Book review] "Mammoths, mastodonts, and elephants: biology, behavior, and the fossil record, by Gary Haynes." American Anthropologist, 95, 166–167.
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K. 1993. [Book review] "The Dragon in the Cliff - a Novel Based on the Life of Anning,mary - Cole,s." Science, 260, (5106), 376–377.
  • Behrensmeyer, Anna K. 1982. [Book review] "Quaternary Paleoecology - Birks,hjb, Birks,hh." American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 58, (1), 119–120.