Inspiring Scientific Curiosity and Discovery

Uncovering the mechanisms of bat diversification through integrative morphology research

Speaker: Dr. Sharlene Santana, University of Washington

Dr. Sharlene Santana is a Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Washington and the Curator of Mammals at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture. Her lab’s work is largely focused on bats, as they are one of the most ecologically and morphologically diverse lineages of mammals and thus offer a natural experiment to investigate patterns and mechanisms of diversification.

In this talk, Dr. Santana will present two major areas of research her lab is exploring to uncover the patterns and underlying mechanisms of bat morphological diversity: (1) the evolution of bat flight, and (2) the evolution of cranial morphology in relation to echolocation modalities and diet. She will present case studies under these themes, which have helped elucidate how the modification of intrinsic mechanisms and functional adaptation have together shaped the diversification of bats.