Bat Research at GSU
Research in the Hutcheon lab revolves around three main themes:
1. Vertebrate Systematics. I am generally interested in the systematics of the vertebrate groups and particularly engaged with the systematics of bats. We use a variety molecular methods to construct phylogenies. In this lab, however, phylogenies are not ends in themselves, but a tool to study evolution.
Recent publications in systematics:
2. Evolution of Vertebrate Sensory Systems. In order to navigate through complex terrains and obtain food organisms must obtain information about their environment. I use bats as a model to study the evolution of sensory systems. Although bats are famous for their echolocation abilities, I am primarily concerned with the more neglected abilities of bats such as olfaction and sight. These studies also relate to the bigger issue of the evolution of the vertebrate brain.
Recent publications in sensory ecology:
3. Evolution of Feeding Strategies. Finding food isn't enough; an organism must be able to efficiently capture and process its prey. Bats are my preferred model for examining the evolution of how animals exploit resources. Because frugivory evolved twice in the Chiroptera in two unrelated familied, the Pteropodidae and the Phyllostomidae, a lot of my interests are involved with how fruit eating evolved. However, I have current or pending projects to study the evolution of bat flowers (with Michelle Zjhra) and how vampire bats meet their nuritional requirements on a blood-based diet (with Dana Nayduch).
Recent publications in evolution of feeding strategies:
Hutcheon, J.M. 2003. Frugivory by malagasy bats. In Madagascar a Natural History, S.M. Goodman and J. Benstead (eds). University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
