Stephanie K. Drumheller

Stephanie Drumheller-Horton’s research interests center on vertebrate taphonomy, ichnology, paleopathology, and paleoecology. In particular, I study bone surface modifications generated under modern and experimental conditions to better understand the processes which left similar traces on bone in the fossil record. My current research projects include: 1) testing methods for applying these modern analogies in a deep time perspective; 2) interpreting trophic interactions, behavior, and diet from bite marks left by different archosaurian groups, especially members of Crocodyliformes; 3) identifying and differentiating historically understudied traces and pathologies, such as bite marks vs. shell disease and different types of plant mediated damage to bone.

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Publications

Google Scholar

• Drumheller, S.K., J.H. Nestler, C.E. Hackett Farris, S.C. Farris, and F.J. Mazzotti, 2020. Crocodylus acutus bite marks on a nest data logger and a taphonomic approach to interpreting and mitigating disruptions to nest monitoring research. PeerJ, e8577.
• Drumheller, S.K. and E.W. Wilberg, 2020. A synthetic approach for assessing the interplay of form and function in the crocodyliform snout. Zoological Journal of the Linnaean Society, 188(2): 507-521.
• Souron, A., A. Napias, T. Lavindalie, F. Santos, R. Ledevin, J.-C. Castel, S. Costamagno, D. Cusimano, S. Drumheller, J. Parkinson, L. Rozada, and D. Cochard, 2019. A new geometric morphometrics-based shape and size analysis discriminating anthropogenic and non-anthropogenic bone surface modifications of an experimental data set. IMEKO TC-4 International Conference on Metrology for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, Florence, Italy, December 4-6, 2019, 560-565.
• Noto, C.R., S.K. Drumheller, T.L. Adams, and A.H. Turner, 2019. An enigmatic small neosuchian crocodyliform from the Woodbine Formation of Texas. The Anatomical Record, https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.24174.
• Drumheller, S.K., K.A. Vliet, and J. Darlington, 2019. Surveying death roll behavior across crown Crocodylia. Ethology, Ecology & Evolution, 31(4): 329-347.
• D’Amore, D.C., M. Harmon*, S.K. Drumheller, and J. Testin, 2019. Quantitative heterodonty in Crocodylia: variability and decoupling in size and shape across modern and extinct taxa. PeerJ: e6485.
• Adams, T.L., C.R. Noto, and S.K. Drumheller, 2017. Deltasuchus motherali: a new crocodyliform from the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) Woodbine Formation of West Texas. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 37(4): DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2017.1349776.
• Drumheller, S.K. and C.A. Brochu, 2016. A phylogenetic framework for taphonomic patterns in the fossil record: An example using the bite marks of Crocodylia. Palaios 31: 463-478.
• Drumheller, S.K., E.W. Wilberg, and R.W. Sadlier, 2016. The utility of captive animals in actualistic research: A geometric morphometric exploration of ecophenotypy and functional constraints in the tooth row of Alligator mississippiensis. Journal of Morphology 277(7): 866-878.
• Drumheller, S.K., M.R. Stocker, and S. Nesbitt, 2014. Direct evidence of trophic interactions among apex predators in the Late Triassic of western North America. Naturwissenschaften 101: 975-987.
• Drumheller, S.K. and C.A. Brochu, 2014. A diagnosis of Alligator mississippiensis bite marks with comparisons to existing crocodylian datasets. Ichnos 21: 131-146.
• Boyd, C.A., S.K. Drumheller, and T.A. Gates, 2013. Crocodyliform feeding traces on juvenile ornithischian dinosaurs from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) Kaiparowits Formation, Utah. PLoS ONE 8(2): e57605.
• Noto, C.R., D.J. Main, and S.K. Drumheller, 2012.  Feeding traces and paleobiology of a Cretaceous (Cenomanian) crocodyliform: Example from the Woodbine Formation of Texas.  Palaios 27(2):105-115.
• Drumheller, S.K., 2007.  Experimental taphonomy and microanalysis of crocodylian feeding traces.  Microscopy and Microanalysis 13:510-511.

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Contact

Phone: 865-974-2366

Email: sdrumhel@utk.edu

Professional Website: scholar.google.com/citations?user=WKGoPw8AAAAJ&hl=en&oi=sra

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Research Interests

My research interests center on taphonomy, ichnology, paleopathology, and paleoecology, especially as applied to understanding the evolution and behaviors of archosaurs.

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Education

• Ph.D. The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA (2012)
  Dissertation title: An actualistic and phylogenetic approach to identifying and interpreting crocodylian bite marks"
  Department of Geoscience (advisor: Christopher A. Brochu)
  
• B.S. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (2005)
  Honors Program, magna cum laude
  Major: Geology
  Minor: Biology