Dr Emma Sherratt
Postdoctoral Fellow
School of Biological Sciences
Faculty of Sciences
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.
Research Fellow on the DVC early career research fellowship scheme.
I am an expert in morphometrics - the statistical analysis of organismal form (shape and size), which I apply to the study of morphological evolution at macroevolutionary scales. I also use these method to answer questions pertaining to systematics and phylogenetics, biogeography, environmental adaptation, developmental biology and palaeontology.
My day-to-day research is computer based and museum based. I used cutting-edge 3D technology, such as X-ray microCT and laser scanning, to get digital anatomical information from museum specimens. Then I take precise measurements on these structures and use statistical analysis to test specific hypotheses.
From 2013-2017 I was co-author of the widely used R package 'geomorph' for statistical analysis of multivariate and multidimensional data. I continue to write code for my own research projects and teach workshops in morphometrics.
Reptiles and amphibians are my passion, but I have worked on a diverse array of animals including snakes, rabbits and mice, caecilian amphibians, Anolis lizards, bivalved scallops, and frogs (and their tadpoles). I have also supervised students studying morphological evolution of lizards, marsupials, primates, bird eggs and even plant leaves.
Contact me for research collaboration opportunities and morphometrics training.
I am happy to take students at all levels (undergraduate student summer scholarships, undergraduate honours, masters and PhD). I have projects available using morphometrics and phylogenetic comparative methods to answer questions in evolutionary biology, developmental biology, palaeontology and ecology. Email me for details.
I am an evolutionary biologist, focussed on developing and applying comparative methods and morphometric tools to studying phenotypic evolution. I research macroevolutionary trends in the morphological evolution of vertebrates to understand the historical factors responsible for biodiversity. My empirical research has focused primarily with reptiles and amphibians, and recently includes mammals and molluscs. I apply my expertise in 3D digital imaging (micro-CT, surface scanning and microscopy) to characterising morphological variation, and also use these data to contribute to systematics (taxonomy) and phylogenetics. I am currently building my research interests to include theoretical evolutionary biology: I am learning to develop morphometric and comparative tools to quantitatively assess phenotypic variation in a macroevolutionary context. In particular, I am working to better integrate 3D digital reconstructions of anatomy into morphometrics, and expanding comparative methods to included multidimensional data.
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2017 Research Fellow University of Adelaide, Adelaide 2016 - 2017 Postdoctoral Research Fellow Australian National University, Canberra 2014 - 2016 Lecturer in Zoology University of New England 2013 - 2014 Postdoctoral Research Assistant Iowa State University, Ames 2011 - 2013 Postdoctoral Research Assistant Harvard University, Cambridge 2006 - 2007 Research Technician University of Manchester, Manchester -
Awards and Achievements
Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount 2017 Fellowship Early Career Research Fellowship The University of Adelaide Australia — 2012 Award Postdoctoral Award for Professional Development Harvard University United States US$1,000 2007 Scholarship PhD Scholarship, National Environmental Research Council (NERC) industrial collaborative awards in science and engineering (CASE) University of Manchester United Kingdom — 2006 Award Zoology Prize of Excellence University of Manchester United Kingdom — -
Language Competencies
Language Competency French Can read, write, speak and understand spoken German Can read, write, speak and understand spoken -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2007 - 2011 University of Manchester, Manchester United Kingdom Ph.D. Animal Biology 2002 - 2006 University of Manchester, Manchester United Kingdom B.Sc. Zoology with Industrial Experience -
Research Interests
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Journals
Year Citation 2019 Sherratt, E., Coutts, F. J., Rasmussen, A. R., & Sanders, K. L. (2019). Vertebral evolution and ontogenetic allometry: The developmental basis of extreme body shape divergence in microcephalic sea snakes.. Evolution & development.
2019 Bardua, C., Marshall, A., Gower, D. J., Wilkinson, M., Sherratt, E., & Goswami, A. (2019). Morphological evolution and modularity of the caecilian skull. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 19(1), 1-23.
2019 Marshall, A. F., Bardua, C., Gower, D. J., Wilkinson, M., Sherratt, E., & Goswami, A. (2019). High-density three-dimensional morphometric analyses support conserved static (intraspecific) modularity in caecilian (Amphibia: Gymnophiona) crania. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society.
2019 Gray, J. A., Sherratt, E., Hutchinson, M., & Jones, M. E. (2019). Changes in ontogenetic patterns facilitate diversification in skull shape of Australian agamid lizards. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 19(7), 1-10.
2019 Gallaher, T. J., Adams, D. C., Attigala, L., Burke, S. V., Craine, J. M., Duvall, M. R., . . . Clark, L. G. (2019). Leaf shape and size tracks habitat transitions across forest-grassland boundaries in the grass family (Poaceae). Evolution.
2018 Mitchell, D. R., Sherratt, E., Sansalone, G., Ledogar, J. A., Flavel, R. J., & Wroe, S. (2018). Feeding Biomechanics Influences Craniofacial Morphology at the Subspecies Scale among Australian Pademelons (Macropodidae: Thylogale). Journal of Mammalian Evolution, Online, 1-11.
2018 Sherratt, E., Anstis, M., & Keogh, J. (2018). Ecomorphological diversity of Australian tadpoles. Ecology and Evolution, OnlinePubl(24), 12929-12939.
2018 Sherratt, E., Rasmussen, A., & Sanders, K. (2018). Trophic specialization drives morphological evolution in sea snakes. Royal Society Open Science, 5(3), 172141-1-172141-8.
Scopus2 WoS1 Europe PMC12018 Attard, M., Sherratt, E., McDonald, P., Young, I., Vidal-García, M., & Wroe, S. (2018). A new, three-dimensional geometric morphometric approach to assess egg shape. PeerJ, 6(6), 5052.
2018 Mitchell, D., Sherratt, E., Ledogar, J., & Wroe, S. (2018). The biomechanics of foraging determines face length among kangaroos and their relatives. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 285(1881), 1-10.
Scopus2 WoS12017 Esquerré, D., Sherratt, E., & Keogh, J. (2017). Evolution of extreme ontogenetic allometric diversity and heterochrony in pythons, a clade of giant and dwarf snakes. Evolution, 71(12), 2829-2844.
Scopus7 WoS6 Europe PMC32017 Sherratt, E., Serb, J., & Adams, D. (2017). Rates of morphological evolution, asymmetry and morphological integration of shell shape in scallops. BMC evolutionary biology, 17(1), 248-1-248-11.
Scopus3 WoS3 Europe PMC12017 Serb, J., Sherratt, E., Alejandrino, A., & Adams, D. (2017). Phylogenetic convergence and multiple shell shape optima for gliding scallops (Bivalvia: Pectinidae). Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 30(9), 1736-1747.
Scopus6 WoS7 Europe PMC42017 Sherratt, E., Vidal-García, M., Anstis, M., & Keogh, J. (2017). Adult frogs and tadpoles have different macroevolutionary patterns across the Australian continent. Nature Ecology and Evolution, 1(9), 1385-1391.
Scopus8 WoS5 Europe PMC22017 Barak, M., Sherratt, E., & Lieberman, D. (2017). Using principal trabecular orientation to differentiate joint loading orientation in the 3rd metacarpal heads of humans and chimpanzees. Journal of Human Evolution, 113, 173-182.
Scopus6 WoS42017 Dickson, B., Sherratt, E., Losos, J., & Pierce, S. (2017). Semicircular canals in Anolis lizards: ecomorphological convergence and ecomorph affinities of fossil species. Royal Society Open Science, 4(10), 170058-1-170058-15.
Scopus2 WoS2 Europe PMC12017 Attard, M., Medina, I., Langmore, N., & Sherratt, E. (2017). Egg shape mimicry in parasitic cuckoos. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 30(11), 2079-2084.
Scopus4 WoS4 Europe PMC32017 Garland, K., Marcy, A., Sherratt, E., & Weisbecker, V. (2017). Out on a limb: bandicoot limb co-variation suggests complex impacts of development and adaptation on marsupial forelimb evolution. Evolution and Development, 19(2), 69-84.
Scopus1 WoS2 Europe PMC12016 Klaczko, J., Sherratt, E., & Setz, E. (2016). Are diet preferences associated to skulls shape diversification in xenodontine snakes?. PLoS ONE, 11(2), 1-12.
Scopus9 WoS9 Europe PMC62016 Kraatz, B., & Sherratt, E. (2016). Evolutionary morphology of the rabbit skull. PeerJ, 4(9), 1-23.
Scopus2 WoS2 Europe PMC22016 Marcy, A., Hadly, E., Sherratt, E., Garland, K., & Weisbecker, V. (2016). Getting a head in hard soils: convergent skull evolution and divergent allometric patterns explain shape variation in a highly diverse genus of pocket gophers (Thomomys). BMC Evolutionary Biology, 16(1), 1-16.
Scopus6 WoS4 Europe PMC22016 Sherratt, E., Alejandrino, A., Kraemer, A., Serb, J., & Adams, D. (2016). Trends in the sand: directional evolution in the shell shape of recessing scallops (Bivalvia: Pectinidae). Evolution; international journal of organic evolution, 70(9), 2061-2073.
Scopus10 WoS11 Europe PMC62015 Hetherington, A., Sherratt, E., Ruta, M., Wilkinson, M., Deline, B., & Donoghue, P. (2015). Do cladistic and morphometric data capture common patterns of morphological disparity?. Palaeontology, 58(3), 393-399.
Scopus22 WoS232015 Kraatz, B., Sherratt, E., Bumacod, N., & Wedel, M. (2015). Ecological correlates to cranial morphology in Leporids (Mammalia, Lagomorpha). PeerJ, 3(3), 1-20.
Scopus7 WoS5 Europe PMC52015 Leamy, L., Klingenberg, C., Sherratt, E., Wolf, J., & Cheverud, J. (2015). The genetic architecture of fluctuating asymmetry of mandible size and shape in a population of mice: Another look. Symmetry, 7(1), 146-163.
Scopus9 WoS102015 Sherratt, E., Del Rosario Castañeda, M., Garwood, R., Mahler, D., Sanger, T., Herrel, A., . . . Hillis, D. (2015). Amber fossils demonstrate deep-time stability of Caribbean lizard communities. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(32), 9961-9966.
Scopus17 WoS16 Europe PMC72014 Sherratt, E., Gower, D., Klingenberg, C., & Wilkinson, M. (2014). Evolution of Cranial Shape in Caecilians (Amphibia: Gymnophiona). Evolutionary Biology, 41(4), 528-545.
Scopus34 WoS302014 Tschopp, P., Sherratt, E., Sanger, T., Groner, A., Aspiras, A., Hu, J., . . . Tabin, C. (2014). A relative shift in cloacal location repositions external genitalia in amniote evolution. Nature, 516(7531), 391-394.
Scopus34 WoS34 Europe PMC302014 Del Rosario Castañeda, M., Sherratt, E., & Losos, J. (2014). The Mexican amber anole, Anolis electrum, within a phylogenetic context: Implications for the origins of Caribbean anoles. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 172(1), 133-144.
Scopus7 WoS72014 Maddin, H., & Sherratt, E. (2014). Influence of fossoriality on inner ear morphology: Insights from caecilian amphibians. Journal of Anatomy, 225(1), 83-93.
Scopus9 WoS10 Europe PMC62014 Wilkinson, M., Presswell, B., Sherratt, E., Papadopoulou, A., & Gower, D. (2014). A new species of striped Ichthyophis Fitzinger, 1826 (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Ichthyophiidae) from Myanmar. Zootaxa, 3785(1), 45-58.
Scopus9 WoS9 Europe PMC12013 Sanger, T., Sherratt, E., Mcglothlin, J., Brodie, E., Losos, J., & Abzhanov, A. (2013). Convergent Evolution Of Sexual Dimorphism In Skull Shape Using Distinct Developmental Strategies. Evolution, 67(8), 2180-2193.
Scopus41 WoS41 Europe PMC222013 Wilkinson, M., Sherratt, E., Starace, F., & Gower, D. (2013). A new species of skin-feeding caecilian and the first report of reproductive mode in Microcaecilia (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Siphonopidae). PLoS ONE, 8(3), e57756-1-e57756-11.
Scopus22 WoS17 Europe PMC22012 Kamei, R., San Mauro, D., Gower, D., Van Bocxlaer, I., Sherratt, E., Thomas, A., . . . Biju, S. (2012). Discovery of a new family of amphibians from northeast India with ancient links to Africa. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 279(1737), 2396-2401.
Scopus63 WoS56 Europe PMC112011 Wilkinson, M., Mauro, D., Sherratt, E., & Gower, D. (2011). A nine-family classification of caecilians (Amphibia: Gymnophiona). Zootaxa, (2874), 41-64.
Scopus88 WoS802010 Gower, D., Wilkinson, M., Sherratt, E., & Kok, P. (2010). A new species of Rhinatrema Duméril & Bibron (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Rhinatrematidae) from Guyana. Zootaxa, (2391), 47-60.
Scopus22 WoS202008 Leamy, L., Klingenberg, C., Sherratt, E., Wolf, J., & Cheverud, J. (2008). A search for quantitative trait loci exhibiting imprinting effects on mouse mandible size and shape. Heredity, 101(6), 518-526.
Scopus36 WoS38 Europe PMC332007 Poynton, J., Loader, S., Sherratt, E., & Clarke, B. (2007). Amphibian diversity in East African biodiversity hotspots: Altitudinal and latitudinal patterns. Biodiversity and Conservation, 16(4), 1103-1118.
Scopus23 WoS22 Europe PMC5 -
Conference Papers
Year Citation 2016 Barak, M. M., Sherratt, E., & Lieberman, D. E. (2016). Trabecular orientation in the 3rd metacarpal head of humans and chimps reveals their difference in locomotion behavior. In AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY Vol. 159 (pp. 86). Atlanta, GA: WILEY-BLACKWELL.
WoS12015 Sherratt, E., Adams, D., & Serb, J. (2015). Macroevolution, phylomorphospace and directional evolution in recessing scallops. In INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY Vol. 55 (pp. E166). West Palm Beach, FL: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2012 Sherratt, E., Wilkinson, M., Gower, D., & Klingenberg, C. (2012). Evolution of cranial modularity in caecilians. In Integrative and Comparative Biology Vol. 52 (pp. E159). Charleston, South Carolina: Oxford University Press (OUP). -
Original Creative Works
Year Citation 2012 Publication status: Published
Title: They've Kept On Keeping On
Authors: Sherratt E
Publication date: 5 October 2012
Pagination: 46
DOI: 10.1126/science.1228913
Journal: Science
ISSN: 0036-8075
eISSN: 1095-9203
Volume: 338
Issue: 6103
Verification-status: Not verified
2012 Publication status: Published
NTRO sub category: Book Review, Review, Journal
Title: Horseshoe Crabs and Velvet Worms The Story of the Animals and Plants That Time Has Left Behind
Authors: Sherratt E
Publisher: AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE
Publication date: 5 October 2012
Pagination: 46
Journal: SCIENCE
ISSN: 0036-8075
eISSN: 1095-9203
Volume: 338
Issue: 6103
Language: English
Author URL: http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/
Verification-status: Not verified -
Datasets
Year Citation 2018 Attard, M., Sherratt, E., McDonald, P., Young, I., Vidal-García, M., & Wroe, S. (2018). A new, three-dimensional geometric morphometric approach to assess egg shape.
2018 Sherratt, E., Rasmussen, A., & Sanders, K. (2018). Trophic specialisation drives morphological evolution in sea snakes.
2018 Sherratt, E., Anstis, M., & Keogh, S. K. (2018). Ecomorphological diversity of Australian tadpoles.
2017 Attard, M., Medina, I., Sherratt, E., & Langmore, N. (2017). Egg shape mimicry in parasitic cuckoos.
2017 Sherratt, E., Vidal-García, M., Anstis, M., & Keogh, S. (2017). Adult frogs and tadpoles have different macroevolutionary patterns across the Australian continent.
2017 Esquerré, D., Sherratt, E., & Keogh, J. S. (2017). Evolution of extreme ontogenetic allometric diversity and heterochrony in pythons, a clade of giant and dwarf snakes.
2017 Dickson, B., Sherratt, E., Losos, J., & Pierce, S. (2017). Semicircular canals in Anolis lizards: ecomorphological convergence and ecomorph affinities of fossil species.
2015 Sherratt, E., Castañeda, M. D. R., Garwood, R., Mahler, D. L., Sanger, T., Herrel, A., . . . Losos, J. (2015). Amber fossils demonstrate deep-time stability of Caribbean lizard communities.
2014 Castañeda, M. D. R., Sherratt, E., & Losos, J. (2014). The Mexican amber anole, Anolis electrum, within a phylogenetic context: implications for the origins of Caribbean anoles.
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Software
Year Citation 2017 Adams, D. C., Collyer, M., Kaliontzopoulou, A., & Sherratt, E. (2017). geomorph: Software for geometric morphometric analyses (Version 3.0.5) [Computer Software]. CRAN. -
Filesets
Year Citation — Sherratt, E., Coutts, F., Rasmussen, A. R., & Sanders, K. (n.d.). Data for: Vertebral evolution and ontogenetic allometry: The developmental basis of extreme body shape divergence in microcephalic sea snakes.
2017 ECR Fellowship, DVC Fellowship scheme, The University of Adelaide, SA AUS - Stipend and research funds (AU$10,000)
2017 ECR International Conference Travel Scheme, The University of Adelaide, SA AUS - Travel grant (AU$2,000) to attend Evolution, Portland OR USA
2016 ECR Fellowship, DVC Fellowship scheme, The University of Adelaide, SA AUS - Stipend and research funds (AU$10,000)
2012 Postdoctoral Award for Professional Development, Harvard University, MA USA - Travel grant (US$1,000) to attend World Congress of Herpetology, Vancouver Canada
2007 Ph.D. studentship, National Environmental Research Council (NERC) industrial collaborative awards in science and engineering (CASE) studentship, UK (Stipend and research funds)
Unit coordinator and instructor
University of New England, NSW AUS. Undergraduate student course
Principles in Zoology (ZOOL 100) (12 week course; 1-week intensive school, plus 9 labs and 23 lectures; 52 Students -27 on campus, 25 off campus) 2014-2015
Primary instructor
Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Dallas TX USA. Graduate student and above workshop
Short course in Geometric Morphometrics (1 day, 35 participants) 2015
Australian National University, ACT AUS. Graduate student and above course
Short course in Geometric Morphometrics (1 day, 12 participants) 2015
University of Adelaide, SA AUS. Graduate student and above course
Short course in Geometric Morphometrics (1 day, 36 participants) 2015
University of Queensland, QLD AUS. Graduate student and above course
Short course in Geometric Morphometrics (1 day, 13 participants) 2014
University of New England, NSW AUS. Graduate student and above course
Short course in Geometric Morphometrics (2 days, 21 participants) 2014
The Natural History Museum, London, University of Manchester, and Harvard University
Training in micro-Computed Tomography Scanning and Processing Software (1 day each, 11 participants overall) 2009-2013
The Natural History Museum, London. Graduate student and above course
Micro-CT Processing and Software Workshop (1 day, 5 participants) 2010
Endnote Tricks and Tips Workshops (1 day each, 8 participants overall) 2009
Co-instructor
University of Iowa, IA USA. Graduate & above course
Short course in Geometric Morphometrics, (assisting Prof. D.C. Adams) (1 day, 11 participants) 2013
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain. Graduate & above course
Geometric Morphometrics & Phylogeny (assisting Prof. C.P. Klingenberg) (1 week, 25 participants) 2010
Guest lectures
Australian National University, ACT AUS
Lecture and lab for Australian Vertebrates course (BIOL 2111) 2016
Lecture for 3D visualisations for Cyberculture course (ARTV 2018) 2016
University of New England, NSW AUS. Undergraduate student course
Lecture for Evolution and Biogeography (EVOL211/411) 2015
Iowa State University, IA USA
Two lectures for Vertebrate Biology course (BIOL 365) 2013
Harvard University, MA USA
Lecture and lab on caecilians for Herpetology course (OEB 167) 2012
Teaching assistant
University of Manchester, UK. Undergraduate student courses
Anatomy Student Research Skills (lab-based, 1 semester) 2010, 2011
Data handling skills (lab- and computer-based, 1 semester) 2011
Analysis of Organismal Form (in person & online, 1 semester) 2009, 2010
Tropical Biology Field course, Ecuador (3 weeks) 2009
Behaviour & Ecology Field course, France (2 weeks) 2007
Marine Biology Field course, Scotland (1 week) 2007
Connect With Me
External Profiles
