Research Program & Publications
My research uses a multi-scale, systems approach to disentangle complex interactions between ecosystems, environments, and evolution in deep time.
(A full list of my publications can be found further down this page)
(A full list of my publications can be found further down this page)
From Organisms to Ecosystems: integrative approaches to biodiversity research in deep-time
I) High-resolution palaeocommunity dynamics across time and space
Analyzing trends in vertebrate community structure to test the response of species and ecosystems to climate perturbations (from sedimentological and other data sources). A major component of this research thus far has focused on the 3 million year span of the Belly River Group of Alberta, which records multiple major regional environmental and sea level changes, and uses a dataset of over 60 taphonomically-equivalent sites representing over 100,000 fossil specimens.
Most relevant papers (in addition to in-progress research):
Cullen, TM. and Evans, DC. (2016). Palaeoenvironmental drivers of vertebrate community composition in the Belly River Group (Campanian) of Alberta, Canada, with implications for dinosaur biogeography. BMC Ecology. doi: 10.1186/s12898-016-0106-8
Cullen, TM., Fanti, F., Capobianco, C., Ryan, MJ., and Evans, DC. (2016). A vertebrate microsite from a marine-terrestrial transition in the Foremost Formation (Campanian) of Alberta, Canada, and the use of faunal assemblage data as a palaeoenvironmental indicator. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 444: 101-114. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2015.12.015
Most relevant papers (in addition to in-progress research):
Cullen, TM. and Evans, DC. (2016). Palaeoenvironmental drivers of vertebrate community composition in the Belly River Group (Campanian) of Alberta, Canada, with implications for dinosaur biogeography. BMC Ecology. doi: 10.1186/s12898-016-0106-8
Cullen, TM., Fanti, F., Capobianco, C., Ryan, MJ., and Evans, DC. (2016). A vertebrate microsite from a marine-terrestrial transition in the Foremost Formation (Campanian) of Alberta, Canada, and the use of faunal assemblage data as a palaeoenvironmental indicator. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 444: 101-114. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2015.12.015
II) Biogeochemistry to characterize ecological interactions in ancient and modern environments
Applying isotopic and elemental analyses to reconstruct diet, environmental conditions, trophic interactions, and habitat preferences in extant and ancient systems. A major focus so far has been on Late Cretaceous coastal floodplain ecosystems and their modern near-analogue environments. The goals of this research are two-fold: 1) to understand the community structure and food webs of the Late Cretaceous, given that there are a number of unusual biogeographic and ecological patterns documented via fossil occurrence data; and 2) to use the Cretaceous as as a baseline model both for understanding ecological processes in non-analog greenhouse systems and apply those insights to form predictions of future ecological shifts as the Earth transitions from icehouse to greenhouse conditions as a result of ongoing climate change.
Most relevant papers (in addition to in-progress research):
Cullen, TM., Longstaffe, FJ., Wortmann, UG., Huang, L., Evans, DC. (In Review). Anomalous 13C-enrichment in Mesozoic vertebrate enamel reflects environmental conditions in a ‘vanished world’ and not a unique dietary physiology. Under review at Paleobiology (ms# PAB-OR-2022-0041).
Cullen, TM., Zhang, S., Spencer, J., Cousens, B. (2022). Sr-C-O isotope signatures reveal herbivore niche-partitioning in a Cretaceous ecosystem. Palaeontology. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/pala/12591
Cullen, TM., Longstaffe, FJ., Wortmann, UG., Huang, L., Fanti, F., Goodwin, MB., Ryan, MJ., Evans, DC. (2020). Large-scale stable isotope characterization of a Late Cretaceous dinosaur-dominated ecosystem. Geology 48(6): 546-551.
Most relevant papers (in addition to in-progress research):
Cullen, TM., Longstaffe, FJ., Wortmann, UG., Huang, L., Evans, DC. (In Review). Anomalous 13C-enrichment in Mesozoic vertebrate enamel reflects environmental conditions in a ‘vanished world’ and not a unique dietary physiology. Under review at Paleobiology (ms# PAB-OR-2022-0041).
Cullen, TM., Zhang, S., Spencer, J., Cousens, B. (2022). Sr-C-O isotope signatures reveal herbivore niche-partitioning in a Cretaceous ecosystem. Palaeontology. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/pala/12591
Cullen, TM., Longstaffe, FJ., Wortmann, UG., Huang, L., Fanti, F., Goodwin, MB., Ryan, MJ., Evans, DC. (2020). Large-scale stable isotope characterization of a Late Cretaceous dinosaur-dominated ecosystem. Geology 48(6): 546-551.
III) Osteohistology to study growth variability and body-size evolution
Quantifying the variability present in multiple growth proxies found in bone microstructure and reconstructing the growth curves and body size evolution of different dinosaur clades. A major component of this research focuses on testing if hypothesized indicators of ontogenetic age and growth are recorded similarly across different bones of the same skeleton, different individuals of the same species, and across different species, to what extent each varies, and if that variation follows any particular pattern and/or introduces a sufficient amount of 'noise' to overprint the 'signal' of growth. Based on these data, I have also examined questions of macroevolution, in particular testing differences in growth pattern across taxa which have independently evolved 'gigantic' body size.
Most relevant papers (in addition to in-progress research):
Cullen, TM., Brown, CM., Chiba, K., Brink, KS., Makovicky, PJ., Evans, DC. (2021). Growth variability, dimensional scaling, and the interpretation of osteohistological data. Biology Letters 17: 202110383. doi: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2021.0383
Cullen, TM., Canale, JI., Apesteguía, S., Smith, NS., Hu, D., Makovicky, PJ. (2020). Osteohistological analyses reveal diverse strategies of theropod dinosaur body-size evolution. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 287: 20202258. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2020.2258.
Cullen, TM., Ryan, MJ., Currie, PJ., Kobayashi, Y., and Evans, DC. (2014). Osteohistological variation in growth marks and osteocyte lacunar density in a theropod dinosaur (Coelurosauria: Ornithomimidae). BMC Evolutionary Biology. doi: 10.1186/s12862-014-0231-y.
Most relevant papers (in addition to in-progress research):
Cullen, TM., Brown, CM., Chiba, K., Brink, KS., Makovicky, PJ., Evans, DC. (2021). Growth variability, dimensional scaling, and the interpretation of osteohistological data. Biology Letters 17: 202110383. doi: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2021.0383
Cullen, TM., Canale, JI., Apesteguía, S., Smith, NS., Hu, D., Makovicky, PJ. (2020). Osteohistological analyses reveal diverse strategies of theropod dinosaur body-size evolution. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 287: 20202258. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2020.2258.
Cullen, TM., Ryan, MJ., Currie, PJ., Kobayashi, Y., and Evans, DC. (2014). Osteohistological variation in growth marks and osteocyte lacunar density in a theropod dinosaur (Coelurosauria: Ornithomimidae). BMC Evolutionary Biology. doi: 10.1186/s12862-014-0231-y.
IV) Other research topics (collaborative and side-projects contributing to primary research)
I am also actively involved in collaborative research examining: I) sources of preservational, sampling, and analytical biases, II) dinosaur biodiversity, anatomy, and taxonomy, III) morphological variability, sexual dimorphism, and evolution in mammals, and IV) palaeoenvironmental and sedimentological analysis.
Most relevant papers (in addition to in-progress research):
Nanglu, K., Cullen, TM. (In Review). Across space and time: an empirical investigation and review of sampling and analytical biases in fossil data across macroecological scales. Under Review at Ecological Monographs (ms# ECM21-0207).
Canale, JI., Apesteguía, S., Gallina, PA., Mitchell, J., Smith, ND., Cullen, TM., Shinya, A., Haluza, A., Gianechini, FA., Makovicky, PJ. (2022). New giant carnivorous dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Argentina reveals convergent evolutionary trends in theropod arm reduction. Current Biology 32, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2022.05.057
Benson, R., Brown, CM., Campione, N., Cullen, TM., Evans, DC., Zanno, L. (2022). Comment on the influence of juvenile dinosaurs on community structure and diversity. Science 375(657821). doi: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abj5976
Cullen, TM., Zanno, L., Larson, DW., Todd, E., Currie, PJ., Evans, DC. (2021). Anatomical, morphometric, and stratigraphic review of theropod biodiversity in the Dinosaur Park Formation (Late Cretaceous; Campanian) of Alberta. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 58(9): 870-884.
Cullen, TM., Fraser, D., Rybczynski, N., and Schroder-Adams, C. (2014). Early evolution of sexual dimorphism and polygyny in Pinnipedia. Evolution 68-5: 1469–1484. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/evo.12360
Most relevant papers (in addition to in-progress research):
Nanglu, K., Cullen, TM. (In Review). Across space and time: an empirical investigation and review of sampling and analytical biases in fossil data across macroecological scales. Under Review at Ecological Monographs (ms# ECM21-0207).
Canale, JI., Apesteguía, S., Gallina, PA., Mitchell, J., Smith, ND., Cullen, TM., Shinya, A., Haluza, A., Gianechini, FA., Makovicky, PJ. (2022). New giant carnivorous dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Argentina reveals convergent evolutionary trends in theropod arm reduction. Current Biology 32, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2022.05.057
Benson, R., Brown, CM., Campione, N., Cullen, TM., Evans, DC., Zanno, L. (2022). Comment on the influence of juvenile dinosaurs on community structure and diversity. Science 375(657821). doi: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abj5976
Cullen, TM., Zanno, L., Larson, DW., Todd, E., Currie, PJ., Evans, DC. (2021). Anatomical, morphometric, and stratigraphic review of theropod biodiversity in the Dinosaur Park Formation (Late Cretaceous; Campanian) of Alberta. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 58(9): 870-884.
Cullen, TM., Fraser, D., Rybczynski, N., and Schroder-Adams, C. (2014). Early evolution of sexual dimorphism and polygyny in Pinnipedia. Evolution 68-5: 1469–1484. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/evo.12360
PDFs are available upon request. Google Scholar page is here
ORCID: 0000-0002-4261-1323
ORCID: 0000-0002-4261-1323
Peer-Reviewed Publications
IN PREP (MS prepared, submission imminent)
30. Thompson, M., Cullen, TM., Shröder-Adams, C., Ryan, MJ. (In Prep). Multi-proxy palaeoenvironmental and palaeoecological reconstruction of the Foremost Formation (Upper Cretaceous; Campanian) of Alberta. Formatted for Cretaceous Research.
SUBMITTED (submitted to journal, awaiting initial editorial decision to send for review vs desk-reject)
29. Nanglu, K., de Carle, D., Cullen, TM., Castañeda, RA., Manglicmot, RC., Chang, LM., Massey, MD., Arif, S., Fellin, E., Anderson, E., Astudillo-Clavijo, V. (Submitted). The nature of science: the fundamental role of natural history in ecology, evolution, conservation and education. Submitted to Biological Reviews (ms# BRV-08-2022-0245).
IN REVIEW (submitted and currently under peer review, or reviews returned and resubmission in progress)
28. Reisz, R.*, Cullen, TM.*, Larson, DW., Witton, MP., Scott, D., Maho, T., Brink, KS., Evans, DC. (In Review). Theropod dinosaur facial reconstruction and the significance of soft tissues in paleobiology. Under review at Science (ms# abo7877). *co-first-authored
27. Cullen, TM., Longstaffe, FJ., Wortmann, UG., Huang, L., Evans, DC. (In Review). Anomalous 13C-enrichment in Mesozoic vertebrate enamel reflects environmental conditions in a ‘vanished world’ and not a unique dietary physiology. Under review at Paleobiology (ms# PAB-OR-2022-0041).
26. Nanglu, K., Cullen, TM. (In Review). Across space and time: an empirical investigation and review of sampling and analytical biases in fossil data across macroecological scales. Under Review at Ecological Monographs (ms# ECM21-0207).
25. Wilkinson, RD., Cullen, TM., Avrahami, H., Zanno, L., Evans, DC. (In Review). Paleontology and sedimentology of the Acheroraptor holotype locality, a multi-taxic bonebed in the Hell Creek Formation of Montana, USA. Under Review at Palaios (ms# 21-052).
ACCEPTED / IN PRESS (paper has been formally accepted and is in publication/formatting process)
24. Chinzorig, T., Cullen, TM., Phillips, G., Rolke, R., Zanno, LE. (Accepted). Large-bodied ornithomimosaurs inhabited Appalachia during the Late Cretaceous of North America. PLoS ONE (ms# PONE-D-22-08668)
23. Cullen, TM., Dunn, R., Suarez, C., Chiba, K. (In Press). Chp. 2.5: Studying Ecosystems. In The Complete Dinosaur, 3rd Edition. Edited by L. Zanno, T. Holtz, and V. Arbour. Indiana University Press.
22. Cullen, TM. (In Press). Chp. 13: Stable isotopic analyses of living and extinct crocodylians: implications for understanding their ecology, environments, and physiology. In Crocodylian Biology and Paleobiology. Edited by H Woodward and J Farlow. Indiana University Press.
PUBLISHED (paper formally published online and/or in-print in peer-reviewed publication)
21. Canale, JI., Apesteguía, S., Gallina, PA., Mitchell, J., Smith, ND., Cullen, TM., Shinya, A., Haluza, A., Gianechini, FA., Makovicky, PJ. (2022). New giant carnivorous dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Argentina reveals convergent evolutionary trends in theropod arm reduction. Current Biology 32, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2022.05.057
20. Cullen, TM., Zhang, S., Spencer, J., Cousens, B. (2022). Sr-C-O isotope signatures reveal herbivore niche-partitioning in a Cretaceous ecosystem. Palaeontology. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/pala/12591
19. Benson, R., Brown, CM., Campione, N., Cullen, TM., Evans, DC., Zanno, L. (2022). Comment on the influence of juvenile dinosaurs on community structure and diversity. Science 375(657821). doi: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abj5976
18. Cullen, TM., Brown, CM., Chiba, K., Brink, KS., Makovicky, PJ., Evans, DC. (2021). Growth variability, dimensional scaling, and the interpretation of osteohistological data. Biology Letters 17: 202110383. doi: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2021.0383
17. Cullen, TM., Zanno, L., Larson, DW., Todd, E., Currie, PJ., Evans, DC. (2021). Anatomical, morphometric, and stratigraphic review of theropod biodiversity in the Dinosaur Park Formation (Late Cretaceous; Campanian) of Alberta. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 58(9): 870-884.
16. Cullen, TM., Canale, JI., Apesteguía, S., Smith, NS., Hu, D., Makovicky, PJ. (2020). Osteohistological analyses reveal diverse strategies of theropod dinosaur body-size evolution. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 287: 20202258. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2020.2258.
15. Cullen, TM., Longstaffe, FJ., Wortmann, UG., Huang, L., Fanti, F., Goodwin, MB., Ryan, MJ., Evans, DC. (2020). Large-scale stable isotope characterization of a Late Cretaceous dinosaur-dominated ecosystem. Geology 48(6): 546-551. (Featured Article & subject of GSA blog)
14. Cullen, TM., Simon, DJ., Benner, EKC., Evans, DC. (2020). Morphology and osteohistology of a large-bodied caenagnathid (Theropoda: Oviraptorosauria) from the Hell Creek Formation (Montana): implications for size-based classifications and growth estimation in theropods. Papers in Palaeontology. https://doi.org/10.1002/spp2/1302
13. Arbour, VM., Evans, DC., Simon, DJ., Cullen, TM., Braman, D. (2019). Cretaceous flora and fauna of the Sustut Group near the Sustut River, northern British Columbia, Canada. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjes-2019-0031.
12. Cullen, TM., Longstaffe, FJ., Wortmann, UG., Goodwin, MB., Huang, L., and Evans, DC. (2019). Stable isotopic characterization of a coastal floodplain forest community: a case-study for isotopic reconstruction of Mesozoic vertebrate assemblages. Royal Society Open Science 6: 181210. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.181210.
11. McFeeters, B., Ryan, MJ., and Cullen, TM. (2018). Response to Brownstein (2018) 'Rebuttal of McFeeters, Ryan and Cullen, 2018'. Vertebrate Anatomy Morphology Palaeontology 6: 73-74. dx.doi.org/10.18435/vamp29343
10. McFeeters, B., Ryan, MJ., and Cullen, TM. (2018). Positional variation in pedal unguals of North American ornithomimids (Dinosauria, Theropoda): a response to Brownstein (2017) . Vertebrate Anatomy Morphology Palaeontology 5. doi: 10.18435/vamp29283
9. LeBlanc, ARH., Brink, K., Cullen, TM., and Reisz, R. (2017). Evolutionary implications of tooth attachment versus tooth implantation: a case study using dinosaur, crocodilian, and mammal teeth. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. doi: 10.1080/02724634.2017.1354006
8. Evans, DC., Cullen, TM., Larson, DW., and Rego, A. (2017). A new species of troodontid theropod (Dinosauria: Maniraptora) from the Horseshoe Canyon Formation (Maastrichtian) of Alberta, Canada. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences. doi: 10.1139/cjes-2017-0034 (Postprint available on PaleorXiv: https://paleorxiv.org/b8mqe/)
7. Cullen, TM. and Evans, DC. (2016). Palaeoenvironmental drivers of vertebrate community composition in the Belly River Group (Campanian) of Alberta, Canada, with implications for dinosaur biogeography. BMC Ecology. doi: 10.1186/s12898-016-0106-8 (Editor's Pick and BMC Ecology top 10 highlight for 2016, and subject of a BMC Series blog)
6. McFeeters, B., Ryan, MJ., Schröder-Adams, C., and Cullen, TM. (2016). A new ornithomimid theropod from the Dinosaur Park Formation of Alberta, Canada. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. doi: 10.1080/02724634.2016.1221415
5. Cullen, TM., Fanti, F., Capobianco, C., Ryan, MJ., and Evans, DC. (2016). A vertebrate microsite from a marine-terrestrial transition in the Foremost Formation (Campanian) of Alberta, Canada, and the use of faunal assemblage data as a palaeoenvironmental indicator. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 444: 101-114. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2015.12.015 (Postprint available on PaleorXiv: https://paleorxiv.org/43j7z/)
4. Cullen, TM., Ryan, MJ., Currie, PJ., Kobayashi, Y., and Evans, DC. (2014). Osteohistological variation in growth marks and osteocyte lacunar density in a theropod dinosaur (Coelurosauria: Ornithomimidae). BMC Evolutionary Biology. doi: 10.1186/s12862-014-0231-y. (Editor’s Pick and a BMC series highlight for November 2014, and included in list of the 12 best figures in BMC Evolutionary Biology for 2014)
3. Evans, DC., Larson, DW., Cullen, TM., & Sullivan, RM. (2014). "Saurornitholestes" robustus is a troodontid (Dinosauria: Theropoda). Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 51(7): 730-734. doi: 10.1139/cjes-2014-0073
2. Cullen, TM., Fraser, D., Rybczynski, N., and Schroder-Adams, C. (2014). Early evolution of sexual dimorphism and polygyny in Pinnipedia. Evolution 68-5: 1469–1484. (Subject of the May 2014 cover of Evolution) doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/evo.12360 (Postprint available on PaleorXiv: https://paleorxiv.org/zgh62/)
1. Cullen TM., Ryan MJ, Schröder-Adams C, Currie PJ, Kobayashi Y. (2013). An Ornithomimid (Dinosauria) Bonebed from the Late Cretaceous of Alberta, with Implications for the Behavior, Classification, and Stratigraphy of North American Ornithomimids. PLoS ONE 8(3): e58853. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0058853
30. Thompson, M., Cullen, TM., Shröder-Adams, C., Ryan, MJ. (In Prep). Multi-proxy palaeoenvironmental and palaeoecological reconstruction of the Foremost Formation (Upper Cretaceous; Campanian) of Alberta. Formatted for Cretaceous Research.
SUBMITTED (submitted to journal, awaiting initial editorial decision to send for review vs desk-reject)
29. Nanglu, K., de Carle, D., Cullen, TM., Castañeda, RA., Manglicmot, RC., Chang, LM., Massey, MD., Arif, S., Fellin, E., Anderson, E., Astudillo-Clavijo, V. (Submitted). The nature of science: the fundamental role of natural history in ecology, evolution, conservation and education. Submitted to Biological Reviews (ms# BRV-08-2022-0245).
IN REVIEW (submitted and currently under peer review, or reviews returned and resubmission in progress)
28. Reisz, R.*, Cullen, TM.*, Larson, DW., Witton, MP., Scott, D., Maho, T., Brink, KS., Evans, DC. (In Review). Theropod dinosaur facial reconstruction and the significance of soft tissues in paleobiology. Under review at Science (ms# abo7877). *co-first-authored
27. Cullen, TM., Longstaffe, FJ., Wortmann, UG., Huang, L., Evans, DC. (In Review). Anomalous 13C-enrichment in Mesozoic vertebrate enamel reflects environmental conditions in a ‘vanished world’ and not a unique dietary physiology. Under review at Paleobiology (ms# PAB-OR-2022-0041).
26. Nanglu, K., Cullen, TM. (In Review). Across space and time: an empirical investigation and review of sampling and analytical biases in fossil data across macroecological scales. Under Review at Ecological Monographs (ms# ECM21-0207).
25. Wilkinson, RD., Cullen, TM., Avrahami, H., Zanno, L., Evans, DC. (In Review). Paleontology and sedimentology of the Acheroraptor holotype locality, a multi-taxic bonebed in the Hell Creek Formation of Montana, USA. Under Review at Palaios (ms# 21-052).
ACCEPTED / IN PRESS (paper has been formally accepted and is in publication/formatting process)
24. Chinzorig, T., Cullen, TM., Phillips, G., Rolke, R., Zanno, LE. (Accepted). Large-bodied ornithomimosaurs inhabited Appalachia during the Late Cretaceous of North America. PLoS ONE (ms# PONE-D-22-08668)
23. Cullen, TM., Dunn, R., Suarez, C., Chiba, K. (In Press). Chp. 2.5: Studying Ecosystems. In The Complete Dinosaur, 3rd Edition. Edited by L. Zanno, T. Holtz, and V. Arbour. Indiana University Press.
22. Cullen, TM. (In Press). Chp. 13: Stable isotopic analyses of living and extinct crocodylians: implications for understanding their ecology, environments, and physiology. In Crocodylian Biology and Paleobiology. Edited by H Woodward and J Farlow. Indiana University Press.
PUBLISHED (paper formally published online and/or in-print in peer-reviewed publication)
21. Canale, JI., Apesteguía, S., Gallina, PA., Mitchell, J., Smith, ND., Cullen, TM., Shinya, A., Haluza, A., Gianechini, FA., Makovicky, PJ. (2022). New giant carnivorous dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Argentina reveals convergent evolutionary trends in theropod arm reduction. Current Biology 32, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2022.05.057
20. Cullen, TM., Zhang, S., Spencer, J., Cousens, B. (2022). Sr-C-O isotope signatures reveal herbivore niche-partitioning in a Cretaceous ecosystem. Palaeontology. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/pala/12591
19. Benson, R., Brown, CM., Campione, N., Cullen, TM., Evans, DC., Zanno, L. (2022). Comment on the influence of juvenile dinosaurs on community structure and diversity. Science 375(657821). doi: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abj5976
18. Cullen, TM., Brown, CM., Chiba, K., Brink, KS., Makovicky, PJ., Evans, DC. (2021). Growth variability, dimensional scaling, and the interpretation of osteohistological data. Biology Letters 17: 202110383. doi: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2021.0383
17. Cullen, TM., Zanno, L., Larson, DW., Todd, E., Currie, PJ., Evans, DC. (2021). Anatomical, morphometric, and stratigraphic review of theropod biodiversity in the Dinosaur Park Formation (Late Cretaceous; Campanian) of Alberta. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 58(9): 870-884.
16. Cullen, TM., Canale, JI., Apesteguía, S., Smith, NS., Hu, D., Makovicky, PJ. (2020). Osteohistological analyses reveal diverse strategies of theropod dinosaur body-size evolution. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 287: 20202258. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2020.2258.
15. Cullen, TM., Longstaffe, FJ., Wortmann, UG., Huang, L., Fanti, F., Goodwin, MB., Ryan, MJ., Evans, DC. (2020). Large-scale stable isotope characterization of a Late Cretaceous dinosaur-dominated ecosystem. Geology 48(6): 546-551. (Featured Article & subject of GSA blog)
14. Cullen, TM., Simon, DJ., Benner, EKC., Evans, DC. (2020). Morphology and osteohistology of a large-bodied caenagnathid (Theropoda: Oviraptorosauria) from the Hell Creek Formation (Montana): implications for size-based classifications and growth estimation in theropods. Papers in Palaeontology. https://doi.org/10.1002/spp2/1302
13. Arbour, VM., Evans, DC., Simon, DJ., Cullen, TM., Braman, D. (2019). Cretaceous flora and fauna of the Sustut Group near the Sustut River, northern British Columbia, Canada. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjes-2019-0031.
12. Cullen, TM., Longstaffe, FJ., Wortmann, UG., Goodwin, MB., Huang, L., and Evans, DC. (2019). Stable isotopic characterization of a coastal floodplain forest community: a case-study for isotopic reconstruction of Mesozoic vertebrate assemblages. Royal Society Open Science 6: 181210. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.181210.
11. McFeeters, B., Ryan, MJ., and Cullen, TM. (2018). Response to Brownstein (2018) 'Rebuttal of McFeeters, Ryan and Cullen, 2018'. Vertebrate Anatomy Morphology Palaeontology 6: 73-74. dx.doi.org/10.18435/vamp29343
10. McFeeters, B., Ryan, MJ., and Cullen, TM. (2018). Positional variation in pedal unguals of North American ornithomimids (Dinosauria, Theropoda): a response to Brownstein (2017) . Vertebrate Anatomy Morphology Palaeontology 5. doi: 10.18435/vamp29283
9. LeBlanc, ARH., Brink, K., Cullen, TM., and Reisz, R. (2017). Evolutionary implications of tooth attachment versus tooth implantation: a case study using dinosaur, crocodilian, and mammal teeth. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. doi: 10.1080/02724634.2017.1354006
8. Evans, DC., Cullen, TM., Larson, DW., and Rego, A. (2017). A new species of troodontid theropod (Dinosauria: Maniraptora) from the Horseshoe Canyon Formation (Maastrichtian) of Alberta, Canada. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences. doi: 10.1139/cjes-2017-0034 (Postprint available on PaleorXiv: https://paleorxiv.org/b8mqe/)
7. Cullen, TM. and Evans, DC. (2016). Palaeoenvironmental drivers of vertebrate community composition in the Belly River Group (Campanian) of Alberta, Canada, with implications for dinosaur biogeography. BMC Ecology. doi: 10.1186/s12898-016-0106-8 (Editor's Pick and BMC Ecology top 10 highlight for 2016, and subject of a BMC Series blog)
6. McFeeters, B., Ryan, MJ., Schröder-Adams, C., and Cullen, TM. (2016). A new ornithomimid theropod from the Dinosaur Park Formation of Alberta, Canada. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. doi: 10.1080/02724634.2016.1221415
5. Cullen, TM., Fanti, F., Capobianco, C., Ryan, MJ., and Evans, DC. (2016). A vertebrate microsite from a marine-terrestrial transition in the Foremost Formation (Campanian) of Alberta, Canada, and the use of faunal assemblage data as a palaeoenvironmental indicator. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 444: 101-114. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2015.12.015 (Postprint available on PaleorXiv: https://paleorxiv.org/43j7z/)
4. Cullen, TM., Ryan, MJ., Currie, PJ., Kobayashi, Y., and Evans, DC. (2014). Osteohistological variation in growth marks and osteocyte lacunar density in a theropod dinosaur (Coelurosauria: Ornithomimidae). BMC Evolutionary Biology. doi: 10.1186/s12862-014-0231-y. (Editor’s Pick and a BMC series highlight for November 2014, and included in list of the 12 best figures in BMC Evolutionary Biology for 2014)
3. Evans, DC., Larson, DW., Cullen, TM., & Sullivan, RM. (2014). "Saurornitholestes" robustus is a troodontid (Dinosauria: Theropoda). Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 51(7): 730-734. doi: 10.1139/cjes-2014-0073
2. Cullen, TM., Fraser, D., Rybczynski, N., and Schroder-Adams, C. (2014). Early evolution of sexual dimorphism and polygyny in Pinnipedia. Evolution 68-5: 1469–1484. (Subject of the May 2014 cover of Evolution) doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/evo.12360 (Postprint available on PaleorXiv: https://paleorxiv.org/zgh62/)
1. Cullen TM., Ryan MJ, Schröder-Adams C, Currie PJ, Kobayashi Y. (2013). An Ornithomimid (Dinosauria) Bonebed from the Late Cretaceous of Alberta, with Implications for the Behavior, Classification, and Stratigraphy of North American Ornithomimids. PLoS ONE 8(3): e58853. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0058853
Non-Refereed Publications
5. Cullen, T. August 25, 2022. Big head, small arms. Article for The Conversation.
https://theconversation.com/big-head-small-arms-a-newly-discovered-gigantic-dinosaur-evolved-in-a-similar-manner-to-tyrannosaurus-rex-188678
4. Cullen, T. January 10, 2017. Dinosaur distributions in the Belly River. Blog for BMC Series blog. http://blogs.biomedcentral.com/bmcseriesblog/2017/01/10/dinosaur-distributions-belly-river/
3. Cullen, T. July 9, 2016. Microsites and Macroinferences. Blog for 'Valley of the Last Dinosaurs' project of Denver Museum of Nature & Science and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. http://lastdinos.livesci.org/field-notebook/7/9/microsites-and-macroinferences
2. Cullen, T. July 7, 2016. Field Camps in Many Shapes and Sizes. Blog for 'Valley of the Last Dinosaurs' project of Denver Museum of Nature & Science and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. http://lastdinos.livesci.org/field-notebook/7/7/field-camps-in-many-shapes-and-sizes
1. Cullen, T. November 19, 2014. Photography in the Field: equal parts business & pleasure. Royal Ontario Museum blogs. https://www.rom.on.ca/en/blog/photography-in-the-field-equal-parts-business-pleasure
https://theconversation.com/big-head-small-arms-a-newly-discovered-gigantic-dinosaur-evolved-in-a-similar-manner-to-tyrannosaurus-rex-188678
4. Cullen, T. January 10, 2017. Dinosaur distributions in the Belly River. Blog for BMC Series blog. http://blogs.biomedcentral.com/bmcseriesblog/2017/01/10/dinosaur-distributions-belly-river/
3. Cullen, T. July 9, 2016. Microsites and Macroinferences. Blog for 'Valley of the Last Dinosaurs' project of Denver Museum of Nature & Science and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. http://lastdinos.livesci.org/field-notebook/7/9/microsites-and-macroinferences
2. Cullen, T. July 7, 2016. Field Camps in Many Shapes and Sizes. Blog for 'Valley of the Last Dinosaurs' project of Denver Museum of Nature & Science and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. http://lastdinos.livesci.org/field-notebook/7/7/field-camps-in-many-shapes-and-sizes
1. Cullen, T. November 19, 2014. Photography in the Field: equal parts business & pleasure. Royal Ontario Museum blogs. https://www.rom.on.ca/en/blog/photography-in-the-field-equal-parts-business-pleasure
Funding, Support, and Collaboration
I would like to thank the following agencies and institutions for their funding and/or support of my research (detailed amounts and further information in my CV PDF):
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarships [MSc & PhD] & Postdoctoral Fellowship)
Government of Ontario (Ontario Graduate Scholarship; Queen Elizabeth II Scholarship for Science and Technology)
Dinosaur Research Institute (project grants, travel funding)
Carleton University (internal scholarships and RA support)
University of Toronto (internal scholarships)
University of Western Ontario Laboratory for Stable Isotope Science (support, training, and use of analytical equipment)
Canadian Museum of Nature (access to collections, permissions to destructively sample materials)
Royal Ontario Museum (access to collections, use of laboratory facilities, permissions to destructively sample materials)
Royal Tyrrell Museum (access to collections, permissions to destructively sample materials)
Field Museum of Natural History (access to collections, permissions to destructively sample materials)
Kenneth C. Griffin Charitable Fund (support for FMNH postdoctoral position)
Friends of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (support for NCMNS / NCSU postdoctoral position)
Government of Ontario (Ontario Graduate Scholarship; Queen Elizabeth II Scholarship for Science and Technology)
Dinosaur Research Institute (project grants, travel funding)
Carleton University (internal scholarships and RA support)
University of Toronto (internal scholarships)
University of Western Ontario Laboratory for Stable Isotope Science (support, training, and use of analytical equipment)
Canadian Museum of Nature (access to collections, permissions to destructively sample materials)
Royal Ontario Museum (access to collections, use of laboratory facilities, permissions to destructively sample materials)
Royal Tyrrell Museum (access to collections, permissions to destructively sample materials)
Field Museum of Natural History (access to collections, permissions to destructively sample materials)
Kenneth C. Griffin Charitable Fund (support for FMNH postdoctoral position)
Friends of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (support for NCMNS / NCSU postdoctoral position)