MATHEW JOHN WEDEL
College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific and
College of Podiatric Medicine
Western University of Health Sciences
309 East Second Street
Pomona, CA 91766-1854
mathew.wedel@gmail.com
Click on links in parentheses for PDFs.
RESEARCH PAPERS
17. Wedel, M.J., and Taylor, M.P. 2013. Neural spine bifurcation in sauropod dinosaurs of the Morrison Formation: ontogenetic and phylogenetic implications. Palarch’s Journal of Vertebrate Palaeontology 10(1): 1-34. (link to PDF)
16. Taylor, M.P., and Wedel, M.J. 2013. Why sauropods had long necks; and why giraffes have short necks. PeerJ 1:e36 (Taylor and Wedel 2013 sauropod necks)
15. Wedel, M.J. 2012. A monument of inefficiency: the presumed course of the recurrent laryngeal nerve in sauropod dinosaurs. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 57(2):251-256. (Wedel 2012 dino RLN)
14. Yates, A.M., Wedel, M.J., and Bonnan, M.F. 2012. The early evolution of postcranial skeletal pneumaticity in sauropodomorph dinosaurs. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 57(1):85-100. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4202/app.2010.0075 (Yates et al 2012 prosauropod pneumaticity)
13. Taylor, M.P., Hone, D.W.E., Wedel, M.J., and Naish, D. 2011. The long necks of sauropods did not evolve primarily through sexual selection. Journal of Zoology. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2011.00824.x (Taylor et al 2011 no necks for sex)
12. Taylor, M.P., Wedel, M.J., and Cifelli, R.L. 2011. A new sauropod dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous Cedar Mountain Formation, Utah, USA. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 56(1):75-98. (Taylor et al 2011 Brontomerus)
11. Taylor, M.P., Wedel, M.J., and Naish, D. 2009. Head and neck posture in sauropod dinosaurs inferred from extant animals. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 54:213-220. (Taylor et al 2009 neck posture)
10. Wedel, M.J. 2009. Evidence for bird-like air sacs in saurischian dinosaurs. Journal of Experimental Zoology 311A(8):611-628. (Wedel 2009 air sacs)
9. Wedel, M.J. 2007a. What pneumaticity tells us about ‘prosauropods’, and vice versa. Special Papers in Palaeontology 77:207-222. (Wedel 2007 prosauropods)
8. Wedel, M.J. 2006. Origin of postcranial skeletal pneumaticity in dinosaurs. Integrative Zoology 2:80-85. (Wedel 2006 pneumaticity origins)
7. Wedel, M.J. 2005. Postcranial skeletal pneumaticity in sauropods and its implications for mass estimates; pp. 201-228 in Wilson, J.A., and Curry-Rogers, K. (eds.), The Sauropods: Evolution and Paleobiology. University of California Press, Berkeley. (Wedel 2005 mass estimates)
6. Bonnan, M.F., and Wedel, M.J. 2004. First occurrence of Brachiosaurus (Dinosauria: Sauropoda) from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation of Oklahoma. PaleoBios 24(2):13-21. (Bonnan Wedel 2004 Oklahoma Brachiosaurus)
5. Wedel, M.J. 2003b. The evolution of vertebral pneumaticity in sauropod dinosaurs. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 23:344-357. (Wedel 2003 evolution of pneumaticity)
4. Wedel, M.J. 2003a. Vertebral pneumaticity, air sacs, and the physiology of sauropod dinosaurs. Paleobiology 29:243-255. (Wedel 2003 sauropod pneumaticity)
3. Wedel, M.J., and Sanders, R.K. 2002. Osteological correlates of cervical musculature in Aves and Sauropoda (Dinosauria: Saurischia), with comments on the cervical ribs of Apatosaurus. PaleoBios 22(3):1-6. (Wedel Sanders 2002 sauropod necks)
2. Wedel, M.J., Cifelli, R.L., and Sanders, R.K. 2000b. Osteology, paleobiology, and relationships of the sauropod dinosaur Sauroposeidon. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 45:343-388. (Wedel et al 2000 Sauroposeidon in Acta)
1. Wedel, M.J., Cifelli, R.L., and Sanders, R.K. 2000a. Sauroposeidon proteles, a new sauropod from the Early Cretaceous of Oklahoma. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 20:109-114. (Wedel et al 2000 Sauroposeidon in JVP)
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
7. Wedel, M.J. 2011. We are all air-heads: of sinus headaches and strangled birds. Cosmos Online. (Wedel 2011 air-heads)
6. Taylor, M. P., Farke, A.A., and Wedel, M.J. 2010. The Open Dinosaur Project. The Palaeontological Association Newsletter 73:59-63. (Taylor et al 2010 ODP)
5. Farke, A.A., Taylor, M.P., and Wedel, M.J. 2009. Public databases offer one solution to mistrust and secrecy. Nature 461:1053. (Farke et al 2009 open science)
4. Wedel, M.J. 2007c. Review of: Tidwell, V., and K. Carpenter (eds.). 2005. Thunder-Lizards: The Sauropodomorph Dinosaurs. Indiana University Press, Bloomington. In: PalArch’s Journal of Vertebrate Palaeontology. Unpaginated, 2pp. (Wedel 2007 Thunder-Lizards review)
3. Wedel, M.J. 2007b. Aligerando a los gigantes (Lightening the giants). ¡Fundamental! 12:1-84. [in Spanish, with English translation] (Wedel 2007 Fundamental)
2. Wedel, M.J., and Cifelli, R.L. 2005. Sauroposeidon: Oklahoma’s native giant. Oklahoma Geology Notes 65:40-57. (Wedel Cifelli 2005 Oklahoma giant)
1. Wedel, M.J. 2000. Reconstructing Brachiosaurus. Prehistoric Times 42:47. (Wedel 2000 reconstructing Brachiosaurus)
ABSTRACTS
32. Kraatz, B.P., Bumacod, N., Wedel, M., Azevedo, B. 2013 Evolution, ecology, and modularity of the lagomorph skull. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, San Francisco, CA.
31. Kraatz, B.K., Bumacod, N., and Wedel, M.J. 2012. Ecological correlates to cranial morphology within Leporidae. 1st Annual Southwestern Regional Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, San Berndardino, CA.
30. Wedel, M.J. 2012. The evolution and development of skeletal pneumaticity: exceptions to the epithelial hypothesis suggest other levels of control. Symposium of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Comparative Anatomy, 2012 meeting proceedings.
29. Taylor, M.P, and Wedel, M.J. 2012. Re-evaluating “Apatosaurus” minimus, a bizarre Morrison-Formation sauropod with diplodocoid and macronarian features. Symposium of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Comparative Anatomy, 2012 meeting proceedings.
28. Bumacod, N., Kraatz, B.P., and Wedel, M.J. 2012. Lagomorph cranial evolution: a morphometric study. World Lagomorph Conference, 2012 meeting proceedings.
27. Graff, V.I., Wedel, M.J., and Taylor, M.P. 2012. Evaluating hypotheses of neck support in sauropod dinosaurs. CalPaleo, 2012 meeting proceedings.
26. Wedel, M.J. What pneumaticity tells us about sauropods, and vice versa. CalPaleo, 2012 meeting proceedings.
25. Wedel, M.J., and Yates, A.M. 2011. A Diplodocus-sized bipedal basal sauropodomorph from the Late Triassic of South Africa. Symposium of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Comparative Anatomy, 2011 meeting proceedings.
24. Taylor, M.P., and Wedel, M.J. 2011. Sauropod necks: how much do we really know? Symposium of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Comparative Anatomy, 2011 meeting proceedings.
23. Wedel, M.J., and Yates, A.M. 2011. A Diplodocus-sized bipedal basal sauropodomorph from the Late Triassic of South Africa. Western Area Vertebrate Paleontology, 2011 meeting proceedings.
22. Lee, A., Irmis, R., Wedel, M., Werning, S., and Padian, K. 2010. The universal temperature dependence model fails to predict body temperatures accurately for extant amniotes and extinct dinosaurs. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30, Supplement to 3:121A.
21. Wedel, M.J., and Taylor, M.P. 2010. Caudal pneumaticity and pneumatic hiatuses in the sauropod dinosaurs Giraffatitan and Apatosaurus. Symposium of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Comparative Anatomy, 2010 meeting proceedings.
20. Taylor, M.P., and Wedel, M.J. 2010. Why giraffes have such short necks. Symposium of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Comparative Anatomy, 2010 meeting proceedings.
19. Wedel, M.J., and Pyenson, N.J. 2010. The evolution of gigantism in sauropods and whales: constrasting solutions to common problems. International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology, 2010 meeting proceedings.
18. Hone, D.W.E., Wedel, M.J., Xu, X., and Clark, J.M. 2009. A small Asian brachiosaurid sauropod dinosaur from the Late Middle Jurassic of China. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 29, Supplement to Issue 3.
17. Naish, D., Taylor, M.P., and Wedel, M.J. 2009. Extant animals provide new insights on head and neck posture in sauropods. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 29, Supplement to Issue 3.
16. Yates, A., Wedel, M., and Bonnan, M. 2009. The early evolution of postcranial pneumaticity in sauropodomorph dinosaurs: New evidence from South Africa. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 29, Supplement to Issue 3.
15. Sanders, R.K., and Wedel, M.J. 2008. The endocranial anatomy of the dome-skulled chalicothere Tylocephalonyx UCMP 115867 with emphasis on the paranasal sinuses and turbinates. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28(3), Supplment.
14. Wedel, M.J., and Taylor, M.P. 2008. Did sauropods really decline in the Early Cretaceous of North America? PaleoBios 28(1), Supplement, p. 8.
13. Pine, S., and Wedel, M. 2007. Increases in sacral vertebrae in non-avian dinosaurs: a pervasive, homoplastic, driven evolutionary trend. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 27(3):130A.
12. Wedel, M.J. 2006. Pneumaticity, neck length, and body size in sauropods. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 26(3):137A.
11. Wedel, M.J. 2005. What pneumaticity tells us about “prosauropods”, and vice versa. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 25(3):128A. [listed below under Invited Talks and Symposia]
10. Wedel, M.J. 2004. Skeletal pneumaticity in saurischian dinosaurs and its implications for mass estimates. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 24(3):127A.
9. Wedel, M.J., Bonnan, M.F., and Sanders, R.K. 2002. Two previously unreported sauropod dinosaurs from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation of Oklahoma. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 22(3):118A.
8. Wedel, M.J. 2002. An unusually large cervical rib of Apatosaurus from the Morrison Formation of Oklahoma, with comments on the cervical musculature of sauropods. PaleoBios 22(1), Supplement, p. 8. (CalPaleo meeting proceedings)
7. Wedel, M.J. 2002. Ontogeny and vertebral pneumaticity in sauropod dinosaurs. Western Area Vertebrate Paleontologists, 2002 Meeting Proceedings.
6. Wedel, M.J. 2001. Evolution of vertebral pneumaticity in the Sauropoda. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 21(3):111A-112A. [listed above under Invited Talks and Symposia]
5. Sanders, R.K., Wedel, M.J., Sereno, P.C., and Staab, G. 2000. A restoration of the cranio-cervical system in Jobaria. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 20(3):67A.
4. Wedel, M.J. 2000. New material of sauropod dinosaurs from the Cloverly Formation. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 20(3):77A.
3. Wedel, M.J., and Sanders, R.K. 1999. Comparative anatomy and functional morphology of the cervical series in ratites and sauropods. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 19(3):83A.
2. Wedel, M.J., and Sanders, R.K. 1998. Using computerized tomography to investigate sauropod cervical morphology. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 18(3):87A.
1. Wedel, M.J., and Cifelli, R.L. 1997. A new sauropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous of Oklahoma. SVP 1997 Program Changes, p. 3.
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
2008-present – Assistant Professor, Dept. of Anatomy, Western University of Health Sciences
2007-2008 – Instructor, School of Natural Science and Writing Program, UC Merced
2004-2005 – NSF Graduate Teaching Fellow, UC Berkeley
2001: Instructor, Department of Zoology, University of Oklahoma
EDUCATION
2007 – Ph.D., Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA
Advisors: Kevin Padian and Bill Clemens
Title: Postcranial pneumaticity in dinosaurs and the origin of the avian lung (PDF: Wedel 2007 dissertation)
2001 – M.S., Zoology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
Advisor: Richard L. Cifelli
Title: The evolution of vertebral pneumaticity in the Sauropoda (PDF: Wedel 2001 MS thesis)
1997 – B.S., cum laude, Zoology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
Advisor: Richard L. Cifelli
Title: A new sauropod from the Early Cretaceous of Oklahoma (PDF: Wedel 1997 BS thesis)
HONORS AND AWARDS
2006 – Fourth International Award in Palaeontology Research, Fundación Conjunto Paleontológico de Teruel – Dinópolis, Spain.
2005 – George D. Louderback Award, UC Museum of Paleontology, Berkeley.
2004 – Teaching Effectiveness Award, University of California, Berkeley.
2004 – Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor, UC Berkeley Dept. of Integrative Biology.
2004 – First Place, University of Oklahoma Graduate College Student Poster Session.
DOCUMENTARY APPEARANCES
October 17, 2011 – “Weird or What: Monsters.” History Channel Canada.
August 19, 2011 – “Jurassic CSI: Megasaurus.” National Geographic Channel.
December 13, 2009 – “Clash of the Dinosaurs: Generations.” The Discovery Channel.
December 6, 2009 – “Clash of the Dinosaurs: Extreme Survivors.” The Discovery Channel.
“Clash of the Dinosaurs: Perfect Predators.” The Discovery Channel.
“Clash of the Dinosaurs: The Defenders.” The Discovery Channel.
September 24, 2009 – “Animal Armageddon: The Next Extinction”. Animal Planet.
March 5, 2009 – “Animal Armageddon: Panic in the Sky”. Animal Planet.
February 26, 2009 – “Animal Armageddon: Doomsday”. Animal Planet.
November 8, 2008 – “Evolve: Size”. The History Channel.
September 2, 2008 – “Evolve: Flight”. The History Channel.
March 23, 2008 – “Walking With Dinosaurs 2008”. The Discovery Channel.
INVITED TALKS AND SYMPOSIA
April 8, 2012. “Flip-top heads, air-filled bones, and teenage pregnancy: how sauropod dinosaurs got so big.” Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, CA.
December 11, 2011. “Sauropod pneumaticity: a report from the front lines.” DFG 533 ‘Evolution of Sauropod Gigantism’ workshop, University of Bonn, Germany.
March 23, 2011. “All-time giants: how the largest dinosaurs got so big.” San Bernardino County Museum, Redlands, CA.
November 11, 2010. “Impacts and the history of life: an observer’s perspective.” AstroCamp, Idyllwild, CA.
July 27, 2010. “The evolution of gigantism in whales and sauropods: contrasting solutions to common problems.” Evolution of Gigantism symposium, ICVM, Punta del Este Uruguay.
February 11, 2010. “Professional ethics in paleontology.” Webb Schools, Claremont, CA.
July 18, 2009 – “Cosmic catastrophe: asteroids vs. dinosaurs.” San Bernardino County Museum, Redlands, CA.
April 25, 2009 – “The evolution of dinosaurs.” Tree of Life workshop, Jepson Herbarium, Berkeley, CA.
November 20, 2008 – “A new sauropod dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous of Utah.” Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany.
November 16, 2008 – “Vertebral pneumaticity and the repeated evolution of long necks in sauropods.” DFG 533 ‘Evolution of Sauropod Gigantism’ workshop, University of Bonn, Germany.
November 14, 2008 – “Confessions of an air-head: pneumatic bones and sauropod lungs.” DFG 533 ‘Evolution of Sauropod Gigantism’ workshop, University of Bonn, Germany.
November 20, 2005 – “Carving your Thanksgiving dinosaur.” Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley, CA.
October 22, 2005 – “What pneumaticity tells us about ‘prosauropods’, and vice versa.” Evolution of Giants symposium, 65th SVP meeting, Mesa, AZ.
October 3, 2001 – “The evolution of vertebral pneumaticity in the Sauropoda.” Sauropod Evolution and Paleobiology symposium in honor of John S. McIntosh, 61st SVP meeting, Bozeman, MT.
April 26, 2001. “Sauroposeidon and air sac systems in dinosaurs.” Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, Norman, OK.
March 22, 2001. “Vertebral pneumaticity in dinosaurs: evolution and implications.” Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, CA.
RESEARCH GRANTS (source, title, amount)
2006 – UC Dept. of Integrative Biology, Pneumatic hiatuses in dinosaurs, $4730
2005 – UC Dept. of Integrative Biology, Micro CT of pneumatic bones in birds, $3760
2004 – Jurassic Foundation, Postcranial pneumaticity in sauropods, $1500
2004 – Sigma Xi GIAR, Pneumatization in birds: micro CT, $780
2004 – UC Dept. of Integrative Biology, Development of pneumaticity in birds, $2825
2004 – UCMP Samuel Welles Fund, Origin and evolution of pneumaticity, $1000
2004 – UC Museum of Paleontology, The canalis supramedullaris of sauropods, $299
2003 – UC Dept. of Integrative Biology, Development of pneumaticity in birds, $4700
2003 – UC Dept. of Integrative Biology, Evolution of pneumaticity in dinosaurs, $200
2000 – OU Graduate College, Evolution of pneumaticity in sauropods, $300
2000 – OU Graduate Student Senate, Evolution of pneumaticity in sauropods, $100
1997 – OU Honors Council, A new sauropod dinosaur from Oklahoma, $200
1997 – OU Honors Council, A new sauropod from the Antlers Formation, $200
PROFESSIONAL CONSULTING (employer, supervisor, duties)
2013 – Mega Brands America, Inc., Theresa Wong, fact checking and proofing art for upcoming product
2012-2013 – Scholastic, Inc., Sam Nisson, research, fact checking, and proofing art for upcoming product
2011 – Capstone Press, Shelly Lyons, research, fact checking, and proofing art for Dinosaur Timeline book
2011 – Capstone Press, Christine Peterson, research, fact checking, and proofing art for dinosaur book series
2011 – Scholastic, Inc., Megan Butler, research, fact checking, and proofing art for iPad app The Magic School Bus: Dinosaurs
2010 – Scholastic Inc., Jennifer Contrucci, research, fact checking, and proofing art for Nintendo Digging Dinosaurs video game
2009-11 – Capstone Press, Aaron Souter, fact checking and proofing art for Dinosaur Wars book series
2008 – Scholastic, Inc., Megan Butler, research, fact checking, and proofing art for upcoming video game
2007-08 – Leapfrog Enterprises, Inc., Julia Petchey, research, fact checking, and proofing illustrations for book T. Rex’s Mighty Roar
2006-07 – University of California Museum of Paleontology, Judy Scotchmoor, revising and writing content for UCMP taxa pages
2005 – Lawrence Hall of Science, Brooke Smith, research, fact checking, signage, and public demonstrations for exhibit Big Dinos Return
2003 – Leapfrog Enterprises, Inc., Wesley Hall, research, fact checking, and proofing illustrations for book Leap and the Lost Dinosaur
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Selected by Proceedings B as a Top Reviewer in 2009.
Over 65 peer reviews for Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, AMNH Novitates, Anatomical Record, Biological Reviews, Biology Letters, Bonner Zoologische Beiträge, BYU Geology Studies, Cretaceous Research, Eclogae Geologicae Helvetiae, Historical Biology, Journal of Experimental Zoology, Journal of Systematic Paleontology, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, III Latin-American Congress of Vertebrate Paleontology, Naturwissenschaften, Neues Jahrbuch, Palaeontology, PaleoBios, PeerJ, PLoS ONE, Proceedings B, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, and Indiana University Press.
Updated March 15, 2013
