Associate Curator  - Division of Mammals, Dept. Zoology, The Field Museum
Lecturer - Committee on Evolutionary Biology
Research Associate - Smithsonian Institution
Science Advisor  - Center for Tropical Conservation Studies, Silliman University, Dumaguete City, Philippines
Honorary Research Curator - Utah Museum of Natural History
Adjunct Curator - Museum of Birds and Mammals, University of the Philippines - Diliman
Adjunct Associate Professor - School of Forestry, University of the Philippines at Los Baños

OFFICE:  FM Mammals
PHONE:  312.665.7747
FAX:        312.665.7754
EMAIL:    lheaney@fmnh.org

Research Interests

In spite of the long-term interest of biologists in the dynamics of the processes that influence patterns of biological diversity, a comprehensive understanding has yet to emerge. My current research program focuses on the ecology and evolution of mammals on the islands of Southeast Asia, especially the Philippines, as a natural laboratory where the influence of area, habitat diversity, degree of isolation, and geological histories may be investigated. Variation in these factors allows direct investigation of patterns of extinction, colonization, and speciation in a remarkably diverse fauna. Studies include analysis of morphological, genetic, and ecological diversification, evolution of life history traits, reproductive ecology, and plant-animal interactions. Rapid destruction of natural habitats and extinction of native species has led me to integrate formal ecological and evolutionary studies with research on the impact of deforestation and to extensive training and consulting activities.

Graduate students would be welcome to undertake studies in any of these areas, whether as part of the SE Asian project or independently. Past students have studied reproductive ecology of bats, seed dispersal systems, tree squirrel population biology, mammalian paleoecology, evolution and functional morphology of horned mammals, and population biology of tropical birds.

Selected Publications

Heaney, L., 1991. A synopsis of climatic and vegetational change in Southeast Asia. Climatic Change, 19:53-61.

Heaney, L., 1991. An analysis of patterns of distribution and species richness among Philippine fruit bats (Pteropodidae). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 206:145-167.

Heaney, L., and A. T. Peterson, 1993. Genetic differentiation in Philippine bats of the genera Cynopterus and Haplonycteris. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 49:203-218.

Heaney, L., and M. Ruedi, 1994. A preliminary analysis of biogeography and phylogeny of shrews (Mammalia: Soricidae) from the Philippine Islands. pp. 357-377. The biology of shrews; J. Merritt, G. Kirkland, and R. Rose, eds. Special Publications, Carnegie Museum.

Heaney, L., 1995. Population vulnerability of mammals in isolated insular habitats: pp. 179-192. In C. Istock and R. S. Hoffmann (eds), Storm over a Mountain Island: Conservation Biology and the Mount Graham Affair. University of Arizona Press, Tucson. 291 pp.

Heaney, L., 1997.  Current problems and research priorities for the conservation of mammalian diversity in the Philippines. Sylvatrop 5:86-88.

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