Ben Marks

Collections Manager, Birds

Gantz Family Collections Center

I am an evolutionary biologist with an emphasis in biogeography of birds.  I use museum specimens to study biogeographic patterns at various spatial scales.  My research interests span the fields of systematics, population genetics, phylogeography, conservation biology, and historical biogeography.

Understanding the mechanisms that lead to the formation of new species (speciation) is central to evolutionary biology.  I am interested in the contemporary and historical factors that have played a role in driving population divergence in widespread species, as these same factors may lead to the formation of new species.  From a conservation perspective, the more we can learn about species distributions and the factors that have contributed to their extent and limits, the better prepared we will be to conserve biodiversity.

At a broader geographic scale than my phylogeographic work, I’m interested in understanding phylogenetic relationships of bird families with primarily paleotropical distributions, or those who reach their peak diversity in the African and Asian tropics.  Recently, I’ve worked on projects investigating family-level systematics of Kingfishers, Bee-eaters  and Bulbuls and Greenbuls.

Education and Work

B.S. The Evergreen State College

M.S. Illinois State University

PhD. Louisiana State University

Accomplishments

Han, K-L., E. L. Braun, R. T. Kimball, S. Reddy, R. C. K. Bowie, M. J. Braun, J. L. Chojnowski, S. J. Hackett, J. Harshman, C. J. Huddleston, B. D. Marks, K. J. Miglia, W. S. Moore, F. H. Sheldon, D. W. Steadman, C. C. Witt & T. Yuri. in press. Are transposable element insertions homoplasy free? An examination using the avian tree of life. Systematic Biology

Voelker, G., R. K. Outlaw, S. Reddy, M. Tobler, J. M. Bates, S. J. Hackett, C. Kahindo, B. D. Marks, J. K. Peterhans, & T. P. Gnoske. 2010. A new species of black boubou from the Albertine Rift (Passeriformes: Malaconotidae: Laniarius). Auk. 127: 678-689.

Lim, H.C.,  F. Zou, S. S. Taylor, B. D. Marks, R. G. Moyle, G Voelker andF. H. Sheldon. 2010.Phylogeny of magpie-robins and shamas (Aves: Turdidae:Copsychusand Trichixos): implications for island biogeography in Southeast Asia.  Journal of Biogeography.  37: 1894-1906.

Marks, B.D. 2010.Are lowland rainforests really evolutionary museums?: Phylogeography of the Green Hylia in the Afrotropics.  Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 55: 178-184.

Arnold, K. A., and B. D. Marks.  2009.  Recent Texas Specimens of Red-Footed and Brown Boobies.  Bull. Texas Orn. Soc. 42: 1-2.

Weckstein, J. D., B. D. Marks, R. G. Moyle, K. P. Johnson, M. J. Meyer, J. Braimah, J. Oppong, and J. Amponsah, 2009. Birds recorded from surveys in Ghana's Central and Brong-Ahafo regions. Malimbus. 31:28-...

Contact

bmarks@fieldmuseum.org

Topics of Interest
Administrative Areas

Learning Resources

  • Adventures in the Herbarium: Museums and Medicines

    The importance and impact of Field Museum’s African flowering plant specimens are highlighted in two podcasts. These podcasts were written, recorded, and edited by two college interns who worked alongside experts and collections specimens.  Museums and Medicines highlights the impact plant specimens have had on human health and why their conservation is so important.

    Activity|Grades 3-12

  • Being Big on Land

    Learn why being big isn’t always an advantage and find out how mythic creatures like Godzilla and King Kong could never have carried their own weight.

    Video|Grades 3-12

  • Bergmann's Rule | Biomechanics Toolkit

    Uncover how an animal’s size affects its ability to regulate temperature.

    Lesson Plan|Grades 6-8

  • Biodiversity and Ecosystems

    Middle school-aged students will investigate the differences between native and invasive plants and demonstrate their learning by creating a model of a native plant garden.

    Lesson Plan|Grades 6-8