RESEARCH INTERESTS

David A. Burney is an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Fordham University, an associated scientist of the Louis Calder Conservation and Ecology Center and the Université d’Antananarivo (Madagascar), and an instructor in the Education Department of the New York Botanical Garden. He received an M.Sc. in conservation biology from the University of Nairobi (Kenya) and a Ph.D. in Zoology with a minor in Botany from Duke University. His research has focused on endangered species, paleoenvironmental studies, and causes of extinction. He has used paleoecological techniques such as palynology and multidisciplinary stratigraphic analysis to study late Quaternary environmental changes and extinctions in North America, Africa, Madagascar, Hawaii, and the West Indies. He has applied stratigraphic charcoal analysis to the study of fire ecology and developed applications of palynology to cave research and archaeology.

FULL-LENGTH, PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

Burney, L.P., and D.A. Burney, 2003.  Charcoal stratigraphies for Kaua`i and the timing of human arrival.  Pacific Science. 57(2):211-226.

Burney, D.A., 2002.  Late Quaternary chronology and stratigraphy of twelve sites on Kaua`i.  Radiocarbon  44(1):1-32.

Burney, D.A., in press.  Madagascar’s prehistoric ecosystems.  In, Natural History of Madagascar, S. Goodman and J. Benstead, (eds.), Univ. Chicago Press, Chicago.

Burney, D.A., H.F. James, L.P. Burney, S.L. Olson, W. Kikuchi, W.L. Wagner, M. Burney, D. McCloskey, D. Kikuchi, F.V. Grady, R. Gage, and R. Nishek, 2001.  Fossil evidence for a diverse biota from Kaua`i and its transformation since human arrival.  Ecological Monographs 71(4):615-641.

Burney, D.A., 1999. Rates, patterns, and processes of landscape transformation and extinction in Madagascar. In, Extinctions in Near Time: Causes, Contexts, and Consequences, pp. 145-164, R. MacPhee, ed. Plenum, New York.

Burney, D.A., and Ramilisonina, 1998. The kilopilopitsofy, kidoky, and bokyboky: Accounts of strange animals from Belo-sur-mer, Madagascar, and the megafaunal "extinction window." American Anthropologist, 100(4): 1-10.

Asquith, A., and D.A. Burney, 1998. Honey bees attracted to the semiochemical methyl eugenol, used for male annihilation of the Oriental Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae). Proc. Hawaiian Entomological Society 33:57-66.

Burney, D.A., 1997a. Theories and facts regarding Holocene environmental change before and after human colonization. In, Natural Change and Human Impact in Madagascar, pp. 75-89, S.M. Goodman and B.D. Patterson, eds. Smithsonian Press, Washington.

Burney, D. A., 1997b. Tropical islands as paleoecological laboratories: gauging the consequences of human arrival. Human Ecology, 25:437-457.

Burney, D.A., H.F. James, F.V. Grady, J.-G. Rafamantanantsoa, Ramilisonina, H.T. Wright, and J.B. Cowart, 1997. Environmental change, extinction, and human activity: evidence from caves in NW Madagascar. Journal of Biogeography 24:755-767.

James, H.F., and D.A. Burney, 1997. The diet and ecology of Hawaii’s extinct flightless waterfowl: evidence from coprolites. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 62:279-297.

Burney, D.A., 1996a. Paleoecology of humans and their ancestors. In, East African Ecosystems and Their Conservation, pp. 17-34. T.R. McClanahan and T.P. Young, eds., Oxford U. Press, New York.

Burney, D.A., 1996b. Climate change and fire ecology as factors in the Quaternary biogeography of Madagascar. In, Biogeographie de Madagascar, pp. 49-58. W. Lourenco, ed. ORSTOM, Paris.

Burney, D.A., 1996c. Historical perspectives on human-assisted biological invasions. Evolutionary Anthropology 4(6): 216-221.

Wright, H.T., P. Verin, Ramilisonina, D.A. Burney, L.P. Burney, and K. Matsumoto, 1996. The evolution of settlement systems in the Bay of Boeny and the Mahavavy River Valley, north-western Madagascar. Azania 3l:37-73.

Burney, D.A., R.V. DeCandido, L.P. Burney, F.N. Kostel-Hughes, T.W. Stafford, Jr., and H.F. James, 1995. A Holocene record of climate change, fire ecology and human activity from montane Flat Top Bog, Maui. Journal of Paleolimnology 13: 209-217.

Simons, E.L., D.A. Burney, P.S. Chatrath, L.R. Godfrey, W.L. Jungers, and B. Rakotosamimanana, 1995. AMS ¹⁴C dates on extinct lemurs from caves in the Ankarana Massif of northern Madagascar. Quaternary Research 43: 249-254.

Burney, D.A., G.A. Brook, and J.B. Cowart, 1994. A Holocene pollen record for the Kalahari Desert of Botswana from a U-series dated speleothem. The Holocene 4(3): 225-232.

Burney, D.A., L.P. Burney, and R.D.E. MacPhee, 1994. Holocene charcoal stratigraphy from Laguna Tortuguero, Puerto Rico, and the timing of human arrival on the island. Journal of Archaeological Science 21(3): 273-281.

Dewar, R.E., and D.A. Burney, 1994. Recent research in the paleoecology of the highlands of Madagascar and its implications for prehistory. Taloha 12:79-87.

Matsumoto, K., and D.A. Burney, 1994. Late Holocene environments at Lake Mitsinjo, northwestern Madagascar. The Holocene 4(1): 16-24.

Burney, D.A., 1993. Late Holocene environmental changes in arid southwestern Madagascar. Quaternary Research 40: 98-106.

Burney, D.A., and L.P. Burney, 1993. Modern pollen deposition in cave sites: Experimental results from New York State. New Phytologist 124: 523-535.

Wright, H.T., R. Andrianalvoarivony, I. Bailiff, D. Burney, H. Haas, V. Raharijaona, S. Rakotovololona, D. Rasamuel, and R. Dewar, 1992. Datation absolue de sites archeologiques du centre de Madagascar: Presentation des determinations. Taloha 11: 121-146.

MacPhee, R.D.E., and D.A. Burney, 1991. Dating of modified femora of extinct dwarf Hippopotamus from southern Madagascar: Implications for constraining human colonization and vertebrate extinction events. Journal of Archaeological Science 18: 695-706.

Brook, G.A., D.A. Burney, and J.B. Cowart, 1990a. Desert paleoenvironmental data from cave speleothems with examples from the Chihuahuan, Somali-Chalbi, and Kalahari deserts. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 76: 311-329.

Brook, G.A., D.A. Burney, and J.B. Cowart, 1990b. Paleoenvironmental data for Ituri, Zaire, from sediments in Matupi Cave, Mt. Hoyo. Virginia Museum of Natural History Memoirs 1: 49-70.

Brook, G.A., D.A. Burney, J.B. Cowart, and B.B. Ellwood, 1990. Present and former deserts: Evidence of environmental change from cave sediments in East Africa and the American Southwest. Studia Carsologica 2: 19-28.

Bliley, D.J., and D.A. Burney, 1988. Late Pleistocene climatic factors in the genesis of a Carolina bay. Southeastern Geology 29(2): 83-101.

Burney, D.A., 1988. Modern pollen spectra from Madagascar. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 66: 63-75.

Burney, D.A. , 1987a. Late Holocene vegetational change in central Madagascar. Quaternary Research 28(1): 130-143.

Burney, D.A., 1987b. Pre-settlement vegetation changes at Lake Tritrivakely, Madagascar. Palaeoecology of Africa 18: 357-381.

Burney, D.A. 1987c. Late Quaternary stratigraphic charcoal records from Madagascar. Quaternary Research 28(2): 274-280.

Burney, D.A., and L.P. Burney, 1987. Recent paleoecology of Nags Head Woods on the North Carolina Outer Banks. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 114(2): 156-168.

MacPhee, R.D.E., D.A. Burney, and N.A. Wells, 1985. Early Holocene chronology and environment of Ampasambazimba, a Malagasy subfossil lemur site. International Journal of Primatology 6(5): 461-487.

OTHER RELEVANT PUBLICATIONS

(Conference proceedings, magazine articles, published abstracts, and theses)

Burney, D.A., G. S. Robinson, and L.P. Burney, in review.  Sporormiella and the late Holocene extinctions in Madagascar.

Burney, D.A., D.W. Steadman, and P.S. Martin, 2002.  Evolution’s second chance: futuristic paleoecologists advocate jump-starting diminishing biodiversity.  Wild Earth 12(2):12-15.

Burney, D.A., 2002.  Sifaka predation by a large boa.  Folia Primatologica 73:144-145.

Burney, D.A., 2002.  Understanding biological invasions in Hawaii.  Environmental Review 9(4):1-8.  Interview conducted by D. Taylor.

Burney, D.A., 2001.  A down-under look at North America (review).  Natural History  110(6):76-78.

Burney, D.A., 2002. Explicit tests for models of ecosystem collapse in late Holocene Madagascar.  In, S. Leroy and I.S. Stewart, Environmental Catastrophes and Recovery in the Holocene, volume of abstracts, pp. 18-19.  Brunel University, London (UK), 28 August-2 September, 2002.

Robinson, G., D.A. Burney, and L.P. Burney, 2001.  Landscape paleoecology and late Quaternary extinctions in the Hudson Valley.  Geological Society of America Abstracts 33(1):2743.

Burney, D.A., 2000.  Watching from the Edge of Extinction (review).  Quarterly Review of Biology 75:338-339.

Burney, D.A., 2000.  Amazon Pollen Manual and Atlas (review).  Quarterly Review of Biology 75:460.

Martin, P.S. and D.A. Burney, 1999. Bring back the elephants! Wild Earth, Spring 1999, 57-64.

Burney, D.A., W.L. Jungers, H.F. James, L.R. Godfrey, 1998. The paleoecology of Archaeolemur: An extinct prosimian for all seasons. In, XVIIth Congress of the International Primatological Society (abstract).

Godfrey, L.R., Ganzhorn, J., Jungers, W.L., Simons, E.L., Burney, D.A., and Rakotosamimanana, B., 1998. Primate communities of Madagascar: Past and present. In, XVIIth Congress of the International Primatological Society (abstract).

Burney, D.A., 1997. Rates, patterns and processes of landscape transformation and extinction in Madagascar. Proceedings of "Humans and other catastrophes: A new look at extinctions and the extinction process." Symposium sponsored by the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History, April 17, 1997, 6 p.

Burney, D.A., 1996. Quaternary vegetation changes in Madagascar. In, Pour la Création d’une Banque Africaine de Données Palynologiques, Symposium proceedings, p. 4, Paris, 8-11 September.

Burney, D.A., and 11 co-authors, 1996. Belo-sur-mer and other integrated sites from Holocene Madagascar. Paleontological Society Spec. Pub. 8:56.

James, H.F., and D.A. Burney, 1996. Flightlessness and folivory in Hawaii’s extinct flightless waterfowl. Paleontological Society Spec. Pub. 8:194.

Burney, D. A., 1995. Historical perspectives on biological invasions. Proceedings of the Seventh Annual Symposium on the Frontiers of Science, National Academy of Sciences, Irvine, CA, Nov. 2-4, 1995. 7 p.

Burney, D.A., 1995. Vinavina sy ny tena fiovan’ny tontolo iainana nisy nadritry ny vanim-potoana "Holocene" taloha sy taorian’ny fisian’ny olombelona (Malagasy, "Theories and facts on Holocene environmental change before and after human colonization"). In, Fiovan’ny tontolo iainana eto Madagasikara (D. Rakotondravony et al., eds.). Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, p. 108-109.

Burney, D.A., 1995. Animal extinctions in Madagascar: a real-life whodunnit. Environmental Review 2(12): 7-15. Interview, conducted by D. Taylor.

Burney, D.A., 1994. The consequences of human arrival in Madagascar, Puerto Rico, and the Hawaiian Islands. Proceedings of the Society for American Archaeologists, pp. 29-30 (abstract).

Burney, D.A., and R.E. Dewar, 1994. The Giant Red Brick: changing views of human impact on Madagascar’s environment. Proceedings of the American Anthropological Association (abstract).

Burney, D.A., D.W. Steadman, D.M. McCloskey, and L.P. Burney, 1994. Stratigraphy and paleoecology of the Otisville Mastodon Site. Proceedings of the New York Natural History Conference III (abstract).

Burney, D.A., 1993. Recent animal extinctions: recipes for disaster. American Scientist 81:530-541.

Reprinted in, Slatkin, M., ed., 1995. Exploring Evolutionary Biology, Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, Mass.

Also reprinted in, Current Issues in Geology: Selected Readings, 1995 Edition.

Burney, D.A., L.P. Burney, J.-G. Rafamantanantsoa, R.D. D’Arrigo, and G.C. Jacoby, 1993. Laminated sediment cores, tree-ring records, and laminated speleothems from Madagascar. Eos 4/20:93.

Burney, D.A., and L.P. Burney, 1992. Interpreting paleoecological records from cave sites: experimental results from New York State. Proceedings of the New York Natural History Conference II:30 (abstract).

Burney, D.A., L.P. Burney, R. DeCandido, F. Kostel-Hughes, N. Reyes, and K. Matsumoto, 1992. Palynological indicators of human impacts on oceanic islands: examples from Madagascar, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America 73(2):129.

Burney, D.A., J.-G. Rafamantanantsoa, and T. Rakotondrazafy, 1990. Processes of environmental change and causes of extinction in Madagascar. Proceedings of the International Conference of Systematic and Evolutionary Biologists IV (abstract).

Burney, D.A., 1989. The piece of East Africa that slipped away. Swara 12(4):8-13.

Burney, D.A., and R.D.E. MacPhee, 1988. Mysterious island: What killed Madagascar’s large native animals? Natural History 97(7): 46-55.

Burney, D.A., R.D.E. MacPhee, G. Rafamantanantsoa, T. Rakotondrazafy, and G.W. Kling, 1988. The roles of natural factors and human activities in the environmental changes and faunal extinctions of late Holocene Madagascar. Proceedings of the symposium Early Man in Island Environments, Oliena, Sardinia, p. 127 (abstract).

MacPhee, R.D.E., and D.A. Burney, 1988. Recent extinctions in Madagascar and the West Indies: a comparison. Proceedings of the symposium Early Man in Island Environments, Oliena, Sardinia, p. 132 (abstract).

Bliley, D.J., and D.A. Burney, 1987. Climatic factors in the genesis of a Carolina bay. American Society of Agronomy abstract #55-82.

Burney, D.A., and R.D.E. MacPhee, 1987. Holocene extinctions and environmental change in Madagascar and the West Indies. AAAS Pacific Division Symposium, p. 21.

Burney, D.A., R.D.E. MacPhee, R.E. Dewar, N.A. Wells, J.E. Andriamanantena, and M. Vuillaume-Randriamanantena, 1987. L’environnement au cours de l’Holocene et la disparition de la megafaune à Madagascar: Quel rapport avec la conservation de la nature? In, Priorités en Matière de Conservation des Espèces à Madagascar. R. Mittermeier, et al., eds. IUCN, Gland, pp. 137-143.

Livingstone, D.A., J. Maley, M.A. Sowunmi, D. Burney, P. Bailey, L. Burney, A. Tucker, and J.M. Maitima, 1987. New pollen diagrams from tropical Africa. INQUA XII:214.

Burney, D.A., 1986. Late Quaternary Environmental Dynamics of Madagascar. Ph.D. dissertation, Duke University. Pub. No. 87-06,828, Univ. Microfilms International, Ann Arbor, MI.

Burney, D.A., R.D.E. MacPhee, R.E. Dewar, and N.A. Wells, 1986. Cause, effect, and megafaunal extinction in Holocene Madagascar: pollen and charcoal influx at Lake Kavitaha. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 69:182-183.

Livingstone, D.A., L.P. Burney, P. Bailey, D.A. Burney, and A.E. Tucker, 1986. Late Quaternary pollen diagrams from eastern tropical Africa. In, The Longest Record (abstract), Berkeley, CA.

Wells, N.A., D.A. Burney, R.D.E. MacPhee, R.E. Dewar, and H.F.S. Rakotovololona, 1986. Temporal change in production and erosion of Madgascar’s lateritic regolith. International Sedimentological Congress Abstracts 12:327.

Wells, N.A., H.F.S. Rakotovololona, R.E. Dewar, R.D.E. MacPhee, and D.A. Burney, 1986. Stonelines demonstrate perpetually immature landscapes on lateritized metamorphic terrain in Madagascar. Geological Society of America Annual Meeting (abstract).

MacPhee, R.D.E., D.A. Burney, and N.A. Wells, 1985. Holocene environment and megafaunal adaptation in Madagascar. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 66:199-200.

Wells, N.A., R.D.E. MacPhee, D.A. Burney, E.L. Simons, P.J. Chatrath, R.E. Dewar, and M. Vuillaume-Randriamanantena, 1985. Geology of several Holocene fossil sites in Madagascar. NE section, Geological Society of America 17(1):69.

Wells, N.A., R.D.E. MacPhee, D.A. Burney, E.L. Simons, P.J. Chatrath, R. Dewar, and M. Vuillaume-Randriamanantena, 1984. Sedimentology of Ampasambazimba Marsh, one of Madagascar’s best Holocene fossil deposits. SEPM Technical Program (abstract).

Burney, D.A., 1983. Tourismus in Ostafrika: Dauer-streß fur Geparde? Das Tier (1):24-29.

Livingstone, D.A., D.A. Burney, and 21 others, 1983. Potential sites for a long core in the East African Rift. Bull. Centres Rech. Explor.-Prod. Elf-Aquitaine 7(1):443-448.

Burney, D.A., 1982. Life on the cheetah circuit. Natural History 91(5):50-59.

Syndicated releases: Scope (South Africa)

Copel 21 (Japanese translation)

Burda (German translation)

Manchete (Brazil, Portuguese translation)

Burney, D.A., 1982. How to see more game. Swara 5(2):24-26.

Burney, D.A., 1981. Man and the Mara cheetahs. Wildlife News 16(1):8-11.

Burney, D.A., 1980. The Effects of Human Activities on Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus Schr.) in the Mara Region of Kenya. M.Sc. thesis, Univ. of Nairobi, 311 pp.

Burney D.A., and L.P. Burney, 1979. Cheetah and man. Swara 2(2):24-29.

Burney, D.A., and L.P. Burney, 1979. Cheetah and man, part II. Swara 2(3):28-32.

Page last updated 7/7/03 by Craig L. Frank (Frank@fordham.edu)