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Dept. of Geosciences and Geography
P.O.Box 64, Gustaff Hällströmin katu 2a
FI-00014 University of Helsinki
Finland

Laura.Saila(at)helsinki.fi
+358919151548

Research interests

I started working on a project about the extinction dynamics of Neogene (25 MA - recent) mammals in January 2010. I will be focusing on buiding a phylogenetic framework for the study, mainly by utilizing existing phylogenetic studies and supertree techniques. The phylogenetic framework, together with the extensive site occupation data stored in the NOW (Neogene of the Old World) data base will be used to study several extinction related hypothesis, as well as palaeobiogeographic patterns and speciation. Taxonomic information stored in the NOW database will also be reviewed and improved. This project is mainly funded by a 4-year research grant from the Academy of Finland, awarded to Prof. Mikael Fortelius.

Previously I have mainly worked on reptiles. My PhD project consisted of a detailed redescription of the Scottish procolophonid Leptopleuron lacertinum, a rediscription of Anomoiodon liliensterni from the Triassic of Germany, a review of the Permian (and some Triassic) procolophonoids of Russia, and creating a detailed, large scale phylogeny of the Procolophonoidea, with special emphasis on the palaeobiogeography and P/Tr extinction survival rate of procolophonoids. I hope to have all my results published in the near future. I am also currently working on some projects concerning the evolution and development of multicuspid dentition, found for example in procolophonids, together with researchers from the Jernvall Evo-Devo lab and University of Helsinki physics department.

Prior to my PhD studies, I worked on a rediscription of a Lower Jurassic reptilian fauna from South Wales, including a new species of Clevosaurus, for my palaeobiology MSc project. Additionally, I also majored in ecological and morphological zoology (with minors in genetics, media studies, social psychology and geology) at Helsinki University. For my MSci thesis project I studied the male mate choice in the poeciliid fish Heterandria formosa, a small fish native to Florida. I am also very interested in the evolutionary history of bats, whales, and turtles.

Recent publications

  • Deng, T., Wang, X., Fortelius,M., Li, Q., Wang, Y., Tseng, Z. J., Takeuchi, G. T., Saylor, J. E., Säilä, L. K., and Xie, G. 2011. Out of Tibet: Pliocene woolly rhino suggests high-plateauo origin of Ice Age megaherbivores. Science 333 no. 6047: 1285-1288 (DOI: 10.1126/science.1206594). LINK.
  • Säilä, L. K. 2010. Osteology of Leptopleuron lacertinum Owen, a prolophonoid parareptile from the Upper Triassic of Scotland, with remarks on ontogeny, ecology and affinities. Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 101: 1-25. PDF
  • Säilä, L. K. 2010. The phylogenetic position of Nyctiphruretus acudens, a parareptile from the Permian of Russia. Journal of Iberian Geology, 36: 123-143. PDF
  • Ala-Honkola, O., Säilä, L., and Lindström, K. 2010. Males prefer small females in a dichotomous choice tests in the poeciliid fish Heterandria formosa. Ethology, 116: 736-743. PDF
  • Säilä, L. K. 2009. The alpha taxonomy of the Russian Permian procolophonoids. Acta Paleontologia Polonica, 54: 599-608. PDF
  • Säilä, L. K. 2008. The osteology and affinities of Anomoiodon liliensterni, a procolophonid reptile from the Lower Triassic Bundsandstein of Germany. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 28: 1199-1205. PDF
  • Gill, P. G., Säilä, L. K., Corfe, I. J., Challands, T., Williams, M.and Clemens, W. A. 2006. The fauna and palaeoenvironment of St. Bride's Island: evidence from the Lower Jurassic fissure fills of South Wales. 9th Symposium of Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems and Biota, Abstracts and Proceedings. Natural History Museum, London, 48-51.
  • Säilä, L. K. 2005. A new species of the sphenodontian reptile Clevosaurus from the Lower Jurassic of South Wales. Palaeontology, 48: 817-831. PDF

Additional information

I also do scientific illustrations, please have a look: Scientific Illustrations. Most recently my illustrations appeared in a paper published in Science and on the cover of the Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. I also designed the logo for the SVP 2009 meeting, which was held in Bristol (UK), and the logo of the Jernvall Evo-Devo research group.

Useful links

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