University of Portsmouth School of Earth and Environmental Sciences Palaeobiology Research Group Honorary Research AssociateAppointed: 2009 | |
QualificationsPh.D., University of Portsmouth, Entomology, 2009. B.Sc. (Hons), University of Portsmouth, Palaeobiology & Evolution, 2004. Expertise and Research InterestsSystematics and palaeontology of insects
My research is focused largely, though not exclusively on Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets and their allies) and related polyneopteran orders (e.g. Mantodea, Dermaptera etc.). I take a fully integrated approach to my work, studying both living and fossil taxa equally within a rigorous phylogenetic context. In addition to alpha taxonomy and revisionary and monographic studies, I am also engaged in phylogenetic work utilising modern cladistic methodologies in order to elucidate evolutionary history and historical biogeography as well as addressing character transformation and the evolution of form within the wider framework of comparative biology. My research in this area covers a broad spectrum taxonomically, geographically and stratigraphically, incorporating modern and fossil taxa from around the world and is focused on the following themes:
* The taxonomy, systematics, phylogenetics and historical biogeography of Orthoptera.
* The importance of fossils to the higher systematics and phylogeny of insects.
* The detection and phylogenetic resolution of ancient radiations in insects.
* Character evolution in insect stem groups and the importance of morphological novelty. MembershipsFellow of the Linnean Society of London (FLS) Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society (FRES) International Palaeoentomological Society Orthopterists' Society Palaeontological Association Systematics Association Honors and Awards2009, Elected Fellow,
Royal Entomological Society
2008, Elected Fellow,
The Linnean Society of London
2004-2008,
Ph.D. Studentship,
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC),
University of Portsmouth,
Entomology
2004, Best Honours Research Prize,
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences,
University of Portsmouth,
Palaeobiology
2001, Commended Award,
Sixth British Biology Olympiad,
Institute of Biology
Publications- Heads, S. W. (2009) The first fossil spider cricket (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Phalangopsinae): 20 million years of troglobiomorphosis or exaptation in the dark?, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, In Press
- Heads, S. W. (2009) A new pygmy mole cricket in Cretaceous amber from Burma (Orthoptera: Tridactylidae), Denisia, 26, 75-82
- Heads, S. W. (2009) New pygmy grasshoppers in Miocene amber from the Dominican Republic (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae), Denisia, 26, 69-74
- Heads, S. W., Chesmore, D. (2008) New records for the slender ground-hopper Tetrix subulata from Yorkshire (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae), British Journal of Entomology and Natural History, 21, 243-246
- Heads, S. W. (2008) A new species of Yuripopovia from the Early Cretaceous of the Isle of Wight (Coleorrhyncha: Progonocimicidae), British Journal of Entomology and Natural History, 21, 247-253
- Delclòs, X., Nel, A., Azar, D., Bechly, G., Dunlop, J. A., Engel, M. S., Heads, S. W. (2008) The enigmatic Mesozoic insect taxon Chresmodidae (Polyneoptera): new palaeobiological and phylogenetic data, with the description of a new species from the Lower Cretaceous of Brazil, Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Abhandlungen, 247, 353-381
- Heads, S. W., Lakin, C. (2008) A new katydid of the genus Phoebolampta from St Maarten (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae), Polskie Pismo Entomologiczne, 77, 257-266
- Heads, S. W., Martill, D. M., Loveridge, R. F. (2008) Palaeoentomological paradise: the Cretaceous Crato Formation of Brazil, Antenna (Bulletin of the Royal Entomological Society), 32 (2), 91-98
- Heads, S. W. (2008) The first fossil Proscopiidae (Insecta, Orthoptera, Eumastacoidea) with comments on the historical biogeography and evolution of the family, Palaeontology, 51, 499-507
- Martill, D. M., Heads, S. W. (2007) Out of Eden? Araripe GeoPark is a palaeontological paradise of international significance - but is the scientific community being excluded?, Geoscientist, 17 (11), 20-24
- Martill, D. M., Bechly, G., Heads, S. W. (2007) Appendix: species list for the Crato Formation In Martill, D. M., Bechly, G., Loveridge, R. F. (eds), The Crato Fossil Beds of Brazil: Window into an Ancient World, 582-607 pages (bookchapter)
- Martins-Neto, R. G., Heads, S. W., Bechly, G. (2007) Neuropterida In Martill, D. M., Bechly, G., Loveridge, R. F. (eds), The Crato Fossil Beds of Brazil: Window into an Ancient World, 328-340 pages (bookchapter)
- Menon, F., Heads, S. W., Szwedo, J. (2007) Cicadomorpha In Martill, D. M., Bechly, G., Loveridge, R. F. (eds), The Crato Fossil Beds of Brazil: Window into an Ancient World, 283-297 pages (bookchapter)
- Heads, S. W., Martins-Neto, R. G. (2007) Orthopterida In Martill, D. M., Bechly, G., Loveridge, R. F. (eds), The Crato Fossil Beds of Brazil: Window into an Ancient World, Cambridge University Press, 265-283 pages (bookchapter)
- Menon, F., Heads, S. W. (2005) New species of Palaeontinidae (Insecta: Cicadomorpha) from the Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation of Brazil, Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde, Serie B (Geologie und Paläontologie), 357, 1-11
- Menon, F., Heads, S. W., Martill, D. M. (2005) New Palaeontinidae (Insecta: Cicadomorpha) from the Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation of Brazil, Cretaceous Research, 26, 837-844
- Heads, S. W., Martill, D. M., Loveridge, R. F. (2005) An exceptionally preserved antlion (Insecta, Neuroptera) with colour pattern preservation from the Cretaceous of Brazil, Palaeontology, 48, 1409-1417
- Heads, S. W. (2005) A new caddisfly larval case (Insecta, Trichoptera) from the Lower Cretaceous Vectis Formation (Wealden Group) of the Isle of Wight, southern England, Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, 117, 307-310
Funding Received- Royal Entomological Society:
Conference Participation Grant (to present at ENTO '09, Sheffield, July 2009),
£200,
2009
to 2009.
- Natural Environment Research Council (NERC):
NERC Ph.D. studentship [NER/S/A/2004/13011 & 14238],
£10,700 + stipend,
2004
to 2008.
KeywordsCOS Keywords:Biogeography.Additional Terms:Comparative Morphology, Entomology, Evolution, Evolutionary Biology, Hexapod, Historical Biogeography, Insect, Palaeobiology, Palaeoentomology, Phylogeny, Systematics, Taxonomy.Profile DetailsCOS Expertise ID #1290753 Individual Expertise profile of Sam William Heads, Copyright Sam William Heads. © COS Expertise TM, 2009, ProQuest LLC All rights reserved. |