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I am currently a postdoctoral fellow at The Field Museum, where I am continuing my work on the evolution and diversification of deep-sea teleost lineages. The deep sea is the least explored and largest habitat on Earth. The extreme habitats of the deep sea (depths ≥ 200 m) have produced fascinating evolutionary transformations among the >5,000 species of marine fishes that have invaded this realm. As a group, deep-sea fishes are subject to similar selective pressures due to extreme environmental conditions (e.g., darkness, high atmospheric pressure); thus, convergent adaptations are extremely common. These convergent morphologies include: bioluminescence, thin bones, hermaphroditism, tubular/enlarged or reduced eyes, and large mouths with dagger-like teeth.
Nearly one third of marine fishes are known to exist at depths below 200 m, yet little is known about the macroevolutionary patterns and processes associated with diversification in the deep sea. My current and ongoing work on deep-sea lineages (e.g., lizardfishes and their allies, lanternfishes, dragonfishes, ponyfishes) adds to our knowledge of the biodiversity and evolutionary history of deep-sea lineages, and seeks to address questions related to their diversification in this realm.
Please visit and explore my website for further information regarding my research program, teaching experiences, and travels. You can also follow me on Twitter @Bathypterois
- Ph.D. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (Honors). University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS. 2009. Advisor: E.O. Wiley
- B.S. Biology (Honors). Regis University, Denver, CO. 2004. Advisor: M.J. Ghedotti
- Ray-finned fishes
- Phylogenetics
- Fossil fishes diversity
- Macroevolution
- The deep sea
2011 – Present
- Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Department of Zoology, The Field Museum. Chicago, Illinois.
2010 – 2011
- Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Museum of Natural Science. Louisiana State University. Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
2008 – 2009
- Graduate Research Assistant for NSF Euteleost Tree of Life. University of Kansas. Lawrence, Kansas.
2007 – 2009
- Graduate Teaching Assistant. Human Anatomy Observation Laboratory (Biology 251). University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS.
2006 – 2007
- Graduate Research Assistant for NSF EPSCoR. University of Kansas. Lawrence, Kansas.
2006
- Graduate Teaching Assistant. Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory (Biology 150). University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS.
2004 – 2006
- Graduate Research Assistant for Kansas Wildlife and Parks. University of Kansas. Lawrence, Kansas.
2010
- Davis, M.P. (PI), Lerner Gray Grant. Evolutionary Relationships of the Lizardfishes (Aulopiformes: Synodontoidei). - $1,500 (Awarded). American Museum of Natural History.
2009
- NSF DEB-0910081. Davis, M.P. (Co-PI), and Wiley, E.O. (PI). DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Evolutionary Relationships of Lizardfishes and their Allies (Euteleostei: Aulopiformes) and the Evolution of Deep-Sea Adaptations. $13,180. (Awarded).
- Panorama Society Small Grant (University of Kansas Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center) – $500
2008
- Deep Fin Student Exchange Fellowship – $2,000
- Panorama Society Small Grant (University of Kansas Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center) – $750
2007
- Panorama Society Small Grant (University of Kansas Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center) - $775
2006
- Panorama Society Small Grant (University of Kansas Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center) - $1,200
2013
- Davis, M.P., Arratia, G.A., and Kaiser, T. (In Press, 2013). The first fossil shellear and its implications for the evolution and divergence of the Kneriidae (Teleostei: Gonorynchiformes). In: Arratia, G.A., Schultze, H.P., and Wilson, M.V.H. (Eds.), Mesozoic Fishes V. München (Verlag Dr. F. Pfeil).
- Ghedotti, M.J. and Davis, M.P. (In Press, 2013). Poeciliidae: Livebearers. In: Warren, M.L. Jr. and Burr, B.M. (Eds.), North American Freshwater Fishes: Natural History, Ecology, and Conservation Volume II.
- Ghedotti, M.J. and Davis, M.P. (In Press, 2013). Phylogeny, classification, and evolution of salinity tolerance of the North American topminnows and killifishes, Family Fundulidae (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes). Fieldiana: Life and Earth Sciences. 7(2013):1-65.
2012
- Near, T.J., Eytan, R.I., Dornburg, A., Kuhn, K.L., Moore, J.A., Davis, M.P., Wainwright, P.C., Friedman, M., and Smith, W.L. (2012). Resolution of ray-finned fish phylogeny and timing of diversification. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 109(34):13698-703.
- Chakrabarty, P., Davis, M.P., and Sparks, J.S. (2012). The first record of a trans-oceanic sister-group relationship between obligate vertebrate troglobites. PLoS ONE 7(8): e44083.
- McMahan, C.D., Davis, M.P., Dominguez-Dominguez, O., Garcia de Leon, F., Doadrio, I. and K.R. Piller. (2012). From the Mountains to the Sea: Phylogeography and Cryptic Species Diversity within the Mountain Mullet, Agonostomus monticola (Teleostei: Mugilidae). Journal of Biogeography. DOI: 10.1111/jbi.12036.
2011
- Davis, M.P., and Chakrabarty, P (2011). Tripodfish locomotion and landing behavior (Aulopiformes: Bathypterois) from video observations at bathypelagic depths in the campos basin of Brazil. Marine Biology Research. (7)3:297-303.
- Chakrabarty, P., Davis, M.P., Berquist, R., Gledhill, K.M., Frank, L.R., Smith, Wm.L., and Sparks, J. (2011). Evolution of the light organ system in ponyfishes (Teleostei: Leiognathidae). Journal of Morphology. (272)6:704-721.
- Chakrabarty, P., Davis, M.P., Smith, Wm.L., Baldwin, Z., and Sparks, J. (2011). Is sexual selection driving diversification of the bioluminescent ponyfishes (Teleostei: Leiognathidae)? Molecular Ecology. (20)13:2818-2834.
- Wiley, E.O., Chakrabarty, P., Craig, M.T., Davis, M.P., Holcroft, N.I., Mayden, R.L., and Smith, Wm.L. (2011). A Response to Mooi, Williams and Gill. Zootaxa. (2946):33-37.
- Wiley, E.O., Chakrabarty, P., Craig, M.T., Davis, M.P., Holcroft, N.I., Mayden, R.L., and Smith, Wm.L. (2011). Will the real phylogeneticists please stand up? Zootaxa. (2946):7-16.
2010
- Davis, M.P., and Fielitz, C. (2010). Estimating divergence times of lizardfishes and their allies (Euteleostei: Aulopiformes) and the timing of deep-sea adaptations. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. (57)3:1194-1208.
- Davis, M.P. (2010). Evolutionary relationships of the Aulopiformes (Euteleostei: Cyclosquamata): a molecular and total evidence approach. In: Nelson, J. S., Schultze, H.-P., and Wilson, M. V. H. (Eds.), Origin and phylogenetic interrelationships of teleosts. München (Verlag Dr. F. Pfeil). PP 431-470.
2007
- Luttrell, G.R., Abe, F.R., Davis, M.P., and Anderson, K.R. (2007). Recent collections of the Slenderhead darter, Percina phoxocephala (Nelson), from the Kansas River Basin. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science. (110):127-128
2004
- Ghedotti, M.J., Simons, A.M., and Davis, M.P. (2004). Morphology and phylogeny of the studfish clade, subgenus Xenisma (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes). Copeia. (1):53-61.