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Cheng-Hsiu Tsai
PeerJ Author & Reviewer
255 Points

Contributions by role

Author 135
Reviewer 120

Contributions by subject area

Animal Behavior
Conservation Biology
Ecology
Paleontology
Zoology
Marine Biology
Developmental Biology
Evolutionary Studies
Taxonomy

Cheng-Hsiu Tsai

PeerJ Author & Reviewer

Summary

I am interested in baleen whale evolution. My work/interest mainly focuses on describing fossil baleen whales (Cetacea: Mysticeti) and also trying to develop and/or apply some evolutionary theories/ideas to baleen whale evolution. After securing a tenure-track position in Taiwan, I am also developing vertebrate paleontology in Taiwan, where this field has been neglected for decades.

Biodiversity Evolutionary Studies Marine Biology Paleontology Taxonomy Zoology

Past or current institution affiliations

National Taiwan University

Work details

Associate Professor

National Taiwan University
August 2022
Department of Life Science

JSPS Postdoctoral Research Fellow

National Museum of Nature and Science
October 2015 - September 2017
Department of Geology and Paleontology

Assistant Professor

National Taiwan University
February 2018 - July 2022
Department of Life Science
There are two life-long projects of this lab: 1, To understand and explore the evolutionary history of marine mammals worldwide (especially on large whales, such as baleen whales – Mysticeti). Basically, the remains of fossil marine mammals only preserve bones, so part of the research would involve or use the skeletal specimens of extant species to discuss the morphological evolution. 2, To uncover the diversity of fossil vertebrates in Taiwan and its surrounding areas from different geological times (such as Miocene, Pliocene, and Pleistocene). Aim to fully reconstruct the evolutionary history or faunal succession of vertebrate diversity in Taiwan so that we could start to figure out the origin and timing of modern vertebrate diversity in Taiwan. In addition, apart from conducting the first-hand research, this lab would also as much as possible promote and disseminate the knowledge of related research by ceaselessly writing up the popular science articles, delivering public talks, and/or organizing exhibitions to introduce fossils and evolution of cetaceans (whales and dolphins) and other vertebrates.

PhD student

University of Otago, New Zealand
May 2012 - August 2015
Geology
Pattern, process, and early radiation in baleen whale evolution: Late Oligocene Mysticeti from New Zealand. Baleen whales (Cetacea: Mysticeti) are the largest animals to have ever lived on Earth; thus, they play critical ecological roles and have important implications for understanding evolution. In this thesis, I consider their phylogenetic patterns and evolutionary processes based on extant mysticete species; describe three Oligocene mysticetes (26–28 Ma) from New Zealand; and discuss some problematic issues (ancestor-descendant relationships, emergence of the living baleen whales, and character selection in phylogeny) in baleen whale evolution. Developmental trajectories reveal that disparate heterochronic processes occur in different baleen whale lineages: paedomorphic neoteny in the pygmy right whales, Caperea marginata and peramorphic acceleration in balaenopterids (Balaenoptera borealis and Megaptera novaeangliae). Juvenile specimens as separate operational taxonomic units show that juvenile morphology would result in tantalising phylogenetic patterns: juvenile Caperea marginata is closely placed with its adult morphology whereas juvenile Balaenoptera borealis is distantly related to its adult morphology. †Horopeta umarere, †Whakakai koroke, and †Rikoriko horapa (all newly described and named in this thesis) from New Zealand have ecological and evolutionary significance. †Horopeta umarere represents the earliest gulp feeder; †Whakakai koroke indicates the diverse niches in Oligocene mysticetes; and †Rikoriko horapa is the oldest described baleen-bearing Mysticeti. Their phylogenetic placements are problematic but in turn show potential roles revealing the emergence of the crown Mysticeti. Phylogenetic tests propose the first example of ancestor-descendant relationships with implications of punctuated equilibrium in Mysticeti: Miocaperea pulchra is the direct ancestor of the extant pygmy right whale, Caperea marginata. Philosophical consideration of character selection based on empirical experiments suggests that more morphological characters are not necessary giving better phylogenetic resolution in terms of reconstructing baleen whale phylogeny. Overall, this thesis flourishes our understanding and knowledge of baleen whale evolution both on the empirical and theoretical bases. https://otago.ourarchive.ac.nz/handle/10523/5757

Identities

@TSAI_NTU508

Websites

  • Google Scholar
  • ORCID
  • Tsai Lab

PeerJ Contributions

  • Articles 1
  • Reviewed 2
August 22, 2017
A Miocene breeding ground of an extinct baleen whale (Cetacea: Mysticeti)
Cheng-Hsiu Tsai
https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3711 PubMed 28848691

Signed reviews submitted for articles published in PeerJ Note that some articles may not have the review itself made public unless authors have made them open as well.

April 14, 2023
New specimens and species of the Oligocene toothed baleen whale Coronodon from South Carolina and the origin of Neoceti
Robert W. Boessenecker, Brian L. Beatty, Jonathan H. Geisler
https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14795
June 22, 2018
A Miocene pygmy right whale fossil from Australia
Felix G. Marx, Travis Park, Erich M.G. Fitzgerald, Alistair R. Evans
https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.5025 PubMed 29942692