Curator Brad Livezey

Carnegie Museum of Natural History deeply regrets that Brad Livezey died February 8, 2011, in an automobile accident on icy roads. Brad Livezey’s family and the museum thank you for your condolences and support at this difficult time. Brad’s passing is a terrible loss for his family, friends, and the scientific community. His dedication and passion for science will not be forgotten.

In tribute to Brad’s life and work, his family’s wishes are that contributions be made to support the Section of Birds at Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Tax-deductible contributions to the Bradley C. Livezey Endowment for Ornithological Research can be made out to: Director of Development, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.

Click here to read a memorial tribute to Brad Livezey.

Academic Training

PhD, 1985, University of Kansas, Department of Systematics and Ecology
MA, 1984, University of Kansas, Department of Mathematics
MS, 1979, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Wildlife Ecology
BS, 1976, Oregon State University, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife

General Research Interests

• Phylogenetic Relationships of Avian Families
• Phylogenetic Relationships of Waterfowl
• Evolution of Avian Flightlessness
• Comparative Osteology of Birds
• Multivariate Morphometrics
• Avian Paleontology

Research Emphases

• Evolution of avian flightlessness
• Species-level phylogenetics of avian orders
• Higher-order phylogenetics of birds
• Ecology and behavior of steamer ducks (Tachyeres)

Recent Publications

• Livezey, B. C. 2010. Phylogenetics of modern shorebirds (Charadriiformes) based on phenotypic evidence: – Analysis and discussion. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. Click here for PDF (2 Mb).
  
  
• Livezey, B. C. 2009. Phylogenetics of modern shorebirds (Charadriiformes) based on phenotypic evidence: I—Characterization. Bulletin of Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 40: 1–96, 1 appendix.
  Click here for PDF of article (801 Kb); click here for PDF of Bulletin cover (258 Kb).
  Click here for data matrices.
  
  
• Livezey, B. C., and R. L. Zusi. 2007. Higher-order phylogeny of modern birds (Theropoda, Aves: Neornithes) based on comparative anatomy: II. – Analysis and discussion. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 149: 1–94. May be accessed on the Linnean Society website at www.blackwell-synergy.com.
  
  
• Livezey, B. C., and R. L. Zusi. 2006. Higher-order phylogeny of modern birds (Theropoda, Aves: Neornithes) based on comparative anatomy: I. – Methods and characters. Bulletin of Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
  37: 1–544 (CD enclosed). Click to visit the Carnegie Museum Scientific Publications site for information on ordering Bulletin #37.
  Click here for data matrices.
  
  
• Corrections, notes, and suggestions regarding the character matrix used in Livezey & Zusi (2006, 2007):
  
  1. Character 1332 has been found to contain a coding problem, and it is recommended by the authors that subsequent users of the data matrix exclude character 1332 from analysis. Fortunately, effects of this single erroneous character were miniscule, and exclusion did not alter the topology recovered by Livezey & Zusi (2007); small numerical changes in some summary or nodal statistics, however, are possible.
  
  2. As should be obvious to most readers, references in the Bulletin to Livezey & Zusi (2006) in fact correspond to Livezey & Zusi (2007), as the second, analytical part of the study appeared later than originally expected in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.
  
  

Selected Publications

• Zusi, R. L., and B. C. Livezey. 2006. Variation in the os palatinum and its structural relation to the palatum osseum of birds (Aves). Annals of Carnegie Museum. 75: 137–180.
  
  
• Livezey, B. C. 2003. Avian spirit collections: attitudes, importance, and prospects. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Union 123A: 35–51. Click here for PDF (127 Kb).
  
  
• Livezey, B. C. 2003. Millennial status report as debate wanes [review, Chiappe and Witmer 2002]. Science 299: 1664–1665. Click here for PDF (445 Kb).
  
  
• Livezey, B. C. 2003. Evolution of flightlessness in rails (Gruiformes: Rallidae): phylogenetic, ecomorphological, and ontogenetic perspectives. Ornithological Monographs 53: 1–654.
  
  
• Livezey, B. C., and R. L. Zusi. 2001. Higher-order phylogenetics of modern Aves based on comparative anatomy. Netherlands Journal of Zoology 51: 179–206.
  
  
• Livezey, B. C. 1998. A phylogenetic analysis of the Gruiformes (Aves) based on morphological characters, with an emphasis on the rails (Rallidae). Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society (Ser. B) 353: 1–72. Click here for data matrices.
  
  
• Livezey, B. C. 1997. A phylogenetic analysis of basal Anseriformes, the fossil Presbyornis, and the interordinal relationships of waterfowl. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 121: 361–428.
  
  
• Livezey, B. C. 1997. A phylogenetic classification of waterfowl (Aves: Anseriformes), including selected fossil species. Annals of Carnegie Museum 66: 455–494.
  
  
• Livezey, B. C. 1997. A phylogenetic analysis of modern shelducks and sheldgeese (Anatidae, Tadornini). Ibis 139: 51–66. Click here for data matrices.
  
  
• Livezey, B. C. 1996. A phylogenetic analysis of modern pochards (Anatidae: Aythyini). Auk 113: 74–93.
  
  
• Livezey, B. C. 1996. A phylogenetic reassessment of the tadornine–anatine divergence (Aves: Anseriformes: Anatidae). Annals of Carnegie Museum 65: 27–88. Click here for data matrices.
  
  
• Livezey, B. C. 1996. A phylogenetic analysis of the geese and swans (Anseriformes: Anserinae), including selected fossil species. Systematic Biology 45: 15–50.
  
  
• Livezey, B. C. 1995. Phylogeny and evolutionary ecology of modern seaducks (Anatidae: Mergini). Condor 97: 233–255.
  
  
• Livezey, B. C. 1995. Phylogeny and comparative ecology of stiff-tailed ducks (Anatidae: Oxyurini). Wilson Bulletin 107: 214–234. Click here for data matrices.
  
  
• Livezey, B. C. 1995. Heterochrony and the evolution of avian flightlessness. Pp. 169–193 in Evolutionary Change and Heterochrony (K. J. McNamara, ed.). J. Wiley, London.
  
  
• Livezey, B. C. 1993. An ecomorphological review of the dodo (Raphus cucullatus) and solitaire (Pezophaps solitaria), flightless Columbiformes of the Mascarene Islands. Journal of Zoology (London) 230: 247–292.
  
  
• Livezey, B. C. 1992. Morphological corollaries and ecological implications of flightlessness in the Kakapo (Psittaciformes: Strigops habroptilus). Journal of Morphol. 213: 105–145.
  
  
• Livezey, B. C. 1992. Flightlessness in the Galápagos Cormorant (Compsohalieus [Nannopterum] harrisi): heterochrony, giantism, and specialization. Zool. J. Linnean Soc. 105: 155–224.
  
  
• Livezey, B. C. 1991. A phylogenetic analysis and classification of Recent dabbling ducks (Tribe Anatini) based on comparative morphology. Auk 108: 471–508.
  
  
• Livezey, B. C. 1990. Evolutionary morphology of flightlessness in the Auckland Islands Teal. Condor 92: 639–673.
  
  
• Livezey, B. C. 1989. Phylogenetic relationships and incipient flightlessness of the extinct Auckland Islands Merganser. Wilson Bull. 101: 410–435.
  
  
• Livezey, B. C. 1989. Morphometric patterns in Recent and fossil penguins (Aves, Sphenisciformes). Journal of Zoology (London) 219: 269–307.
  
  
• Livezey, B. C. 1988. Morphometrics of flightlessness in the Alcidae. Auk 105: 681–698.
  
  
• Livezey, B. C., and P.S. Humphrey. 1986. Flightlessness in steamer-ducks (Anatidae: Tachyeres): its morphological bases and probable evolution. Evolution 40: 540–558.