Josh Schmerge

Instructional Assistant Professor of Biology

• Faculty
• Instructor

• Email:

  jdschmer@olemiss.edu

• Office Location:

  312 Shoemaker Hall

• Phone:

  662-915-3239

Research Interests

Dr. Schmerge's primary research interests are in the field of vertebrate paleontology. He is interested in the fossil history and functional anatomy of burrowing rodent species. He has investigated the incisor anatomy of living rodents to better understand their correlation with diet and behavior and to facilitate better interpretation of the lifestyles of extinct rodents. Dr. Schmerge has studied the convergent evolution of burrowing beavers from the Miocene of the North American Midwest. He has also studied the cranial anatomy and evolutionary relationships of tyrannosaurid theropods to provide insight into the taxonomic validity of the dinosaur Nanotyrannus lancensis, which has been variously described as a dwarf tyrannosaur species or a juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex.

Publications

Schmerge, J.D., and B. M. Rothschild. 2016. When a groove is not a groove: clarification of the appearance of the dentary groove in tyrannosaurid theropods and the distinction between Nanotyrannus and Tyrannosaurus. Reply to Comment on: “Distribution of the dentary groove of theropod dinosaurs: implications for theropod phylogeny and the validity of the genus Nanotyrannus Bakker et al., 1988”. Cretaceous Research 65:238–243.

The occurrence of a lateral groove in the dentary of theropod dinosaurs was argued to be a key diagnostic character for establishing the validity of Nanotyrannus lancensis as a unique taxon separate from Tyrannosaurus rex by Schmerge and Rothschild (2016). The validity of this distinction has been challenged in a comment paper by Brusatte et al. (2016). The main criticisms raised in this comment address the methodology of the original study, the distribution of the dentary groove in theropods, the possibility of ontogenetic variability in the occurrence of the dentary groove, and the application of phylogenetic analysis to studying character distributions. In this reply, we clarify the definition of the theropod dentary groove, elucidate the difference between a true dentary groove and the appearance of a false “pseudo-groove”, justify our original methodology with a discussion of the errors involved in identifying grooves by Brusatte et al. (in press), and support our original findings with descriptions of additional specimens. Investigation of additional specimens of Nanotyrannus, as well as critical examination of Tyrannosaurus specimens presented by Brusatte et al. (2016), reaffirm the result of our original study that Nanotyrannus can be differentiated from Tyrannosaurus based on the depth of its dentary groove, independent of ontogenetic stage. Despite any possible ontogenetic variation in the appearance of the dentary groove that can be interpreted, all specimens of Nanotyrannus possess distinct grooves whereas Tyrannosaurus lacks a groove. The most parsimonious explanation for the different appearance of these grooves is that Nanotyrannus does not represent a juvenile Tyrannosaurus.

Schmerge, J. D., and B. M. Rothschild. 2016. Distribution of the dentary groove of theropod dinosaurs: Implications for theropod phylogeny and the validity of the genus Nanotyrannus Bakker et al., 1988. Cretaceous Research 61:26–33.

Schmerge, J. D. 2015. Interpretation of euhapsine (Castoridae: Palaeocastorinae) burrowing behaviors based on the functional anatomy of the teeth and skull with a description of a new species and genus. PhD Dissertation, University of Kansas. 316 p.

Schmerge, J. D., D. J. Riese, and S. T. Hasiotis. 2013. Vinegaroon (Arachnida: Thelyphonida: Thelyphonidae) trackway production and morphology: Implications for media and moisture control in trackway morphology and a proposal for a novel system of interpreting arthropod trace fossils. PALAIOS 28:116–128.

Schmerge, J. D. 2011. A statistical examination of the change in body size of mammalian communities across the Eocene–Oligocene Boundary. Master’s Thesis. University of Kansas. 84 p.

Courses Taught

• BISC 102 Inquiry Into Life: Human Biology
• BISC 104 Inquiry Into Life: The Environment

Honors and Awards

 

• 2022    Nominated for Faculty Teaching Excellence Award in the School of Math and Science at LCCC.
• 2016    Recipient of Research Award sponsored by KC Gem & Mineral Show
• 2015    Recipient of the Erasmus A. Haworth Outstanding Student Award for academic achievement and contribution to the Geology Department.
• 2015    First place award for oral presentation by PhD student, Kansas Academy of Science Annual Meeting.