A Bite Out of History

Alberta is renowned for its rich geological and paleontological landscape, bearing numerous fossils and artifacts that have been critical pieces in various scientific discoveries. Bringing a piece of history to life this fall is University of Calgary Biological Sciences student Austin Ashbaugh, who will present findings from his honors thesis at the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology’s 79th Annual Meeting in Brisbane, Australia. 

Ashbaugh completed his undergraduate degree in Zoology at the University of Calgary and is currently completing his Master’s in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. When asked what he enjoys most about the field, he comments that it is “the applicability…people don’t necessarily think paleontology is influencing what we do today.” He describes that relationships and animal adaptation over time can be compared to historic observations, we are able to see if the same trends from the past recur or if there are new environmental observations. Similarly, he highlights the relevance of tooth development in mammals and potential applications to the medical field.  

 

Focused on how dental region development has changed through mammalian evolution, Austin works closely with the University of Calgary’s Dr. Jessica Theodor and the Royal Tyrrell Museum’s Dr. Craig Scott. He is keen to understand how to differentiate now-extinct mammalian species. He notes that “North America has an amazing fossil record for mammalian teeth”, adding that “these samples show some of a few key diagnostic characters of a particular group of mammals - the multituberculates.” 

Multituberculate mammals range from small (mouse-sized) to large (beaver-sized) rodent-like mammals that are the longest living known group of mammals (a span of over 100 million years). There is a lack of knowledge regarding relationships of multituberculate groups to one another. Austin’s honors thesis examined the findings of another study that focused on the definition of species using shape and size analyses on multituberculate teeth. To test if results applied to all species within the Mesodma genus, Austin and his supervisors used the same method as the original study with a smaller and more diverse sample. According to Ashbaugh, in differentiating species “we need a more specific means of classification as opposed to the generalized conclusion provided in the previous study.” 

Austin explains one of the challenges in paleontology is getting a large sample size to work with, though it is rewarding when obtained. Using specimens from the University of Alberta and the Royal Tyrrell Museum, their study produced interesting results. They found that tooth shape and size are equally relevant in defining species across different locales based on the specimens they analyzed.  At this time, they are awaiting specimens from the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History in Connecticut to support this conclusion further. 

Ashbaugh’s interest in the field was apparent from the beginning of his academic career. When he started his undergraduate degree, he attended a zoology open house event where he learned more about Dr. Jessica Theodor’s research. The two shared an interest in monotremes, the “weird but fun” group of mammals that includes the platypus and echidnas.  Dr. Theodor introduced him to multituberculates, a closely related group. At the time, Austin was enrolled in Introduction to Vertebrates and was instructed by Dr. Theodor. Coming full circle, Austin is now a Teaching Assistant for the very same course.  

Ashbaugh describes his natural curiosity as something that was inspired at an early age and continued to be nurtured by his family. Often visiting the zoo on weekends, he recalls being enthralled by the sheer size of the tigers and variety of the exhibits, with unique plants and elements not typically found in Alberta. These trips along with visits to Banff and Canmore were memorable and Austin thanks his parents for his early exposure to nature. He extends his gratitude to his grandmother for challenging him to think critically and ask questions. 

Reflecting on his academic journey, he speaks on the lessons he has learned, personally and academically.  Austin emphasizes the importance of understanding that academic success is not necessarily a linear path, that there is value in knowing success requires dedication and at times, failure. Austin maintains that “it should be common practice to accept you are wrong and not take that as a personal offense… it’s important to have a critical mind and focus on the science.”

When sharing more about academic development, he describes that “you typically don’t see that they [scientists] spend years troubleshooting experiments, going through peer review, and completing minor/major revisions”, and that as a student, “you may only see the finished product.” 

Perseverance and dedication to his work are evident and in navigating his studies, Austin shares that his professors were supportive of his pursuits. He explains the importance of the connections he has established with the academic staff in the Department of Biological Sciences, particularly noting the value of their mentorship. 

Austin Ashbaugh has demonstrated a similar dedication to leadership in the community. With his passion for the field and experience guiding others, Austin hopes to share his knowledge and aspires to become a professor in the future. His love of education has led him to take on roles as a peer mentor, giving back to both the scientific community and students working along a similar path.  

To follow Austin, visit: 

LinkedIn: Austin Ashbaugh
Twitter: @Aus10Ash 

An article by Heather Tompson