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dr hab. Kenneth De Baets, prof. ucz.

Research interests (Description)

I am an evolutionary paleobiologist documenting and interpreting the relative contributions of abiotic (e.g., climate) and biotic factors (e.g., parasitism) in driving large-scale ecological and evolutionary patterns in the history of life.

Current research focuses on macroecology, biotic interactions, and biomineralization. For example: How does body size distribution and growth respond to climate warming and related environmental stressors? How does parasitism relate to host biodiversity and disease? How does seawater chemistry affect biomineralization of aquatic ectotherms?

For this purpose, I strive to work across disciplines and find means to test hypotheses with different lines of evidence, ranging from evolutionary ecology, over quantitative and molecular (paleo)biology, to developmental paleobiology, (paleo)parasitology and earth sciences.

I also work in other research areas, principally biogeography, biostatistics and geometric morphometrics, environmental analysis, experimental taphonomy and phylogenetic analysis. I remain active and maintain interest in methods (sample preparation and quantitative analyses) used in all these fields. I would therefore be happy to advise students in these and other areas.

Latest student research includes: diversity and body size dynamics of marine invertebrates, Holocene trends in parasite-host prevalence captured in coprolites and skeletal pathologies, 3D-reconstruction and morphometry as well as experimental taphonomy of invertebrates and vertebrates.

Research interests (Summary)

  • Biomineralization
  • Body size evolution and loss of complexity
  • Conservation and Quantitative Paleobiology
  • Evolution and Fossil Record of Mollusks
  • Evolution and Fossil Record of Parasitism
  • Macroevolution and Ecology of marine invertebrates
  • Molecular paleobiology and divergence dating

Didactic experience

  • Analytical Paleobiology
  • Evolution of Life and Earth System Dynamics
  • General Paleontology
  • Macroevolution and Macroecology
  • Methods in Quantitative Biostratigraphy
  • Morphology, Systematics and Ecology of Invertebrates
  • Paleobiodiversity
  • Paleontological Field Courses
  • Research Project Design and Implementation

Research projects

  • PARADIVE: the integrated study of parasitism, biodiversity and environmental change (IDUB under I.3.4 Action of the Excellence Initiative – Research University Programme)
  • Size reductions during hyperthermal events: early warnings of environmental deterioration or signs of extinction? (DFG 269895748)

Publications

91 entries « 1 of 2 »

2024

De Baets, Kenneth

Evolution: Morphological complexity fuels rapid species turnover Journal Article

In: Current Biology, vol. 34, no. 24, pp. R1235–R1237, 2024, ISSN: 0960-9822.

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De Baets, Kenneth; Dentzien-Dias, Paula; Huntley, John Warren; Vanhove, Maarten P. M.; Łaska, Weronika; Skawina, Aleksandra; Van Steenkiste, Niels W. L.; Vanadzina, Karina

Fossil constraints on the origin and evolution of Platyhelminthes are surprisingly concordant with modern molecular phylogenies Journal Article

In: Zoologia (Curitiba), vol. 41, pp. e24002, 2024, ISSN: 1984-4689.

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Jiménez-Mejías, Pedro; Manzano, Saúl; Gowda, Vinita; Krell, Frank-Thorsten; Lin, Mei-Ying; Martín-Bravo, Santiago; Martín-Torrijos, Laura; Nieto Feliner, Gonzalo; Mosyakin, Sergei L; Naczi, Robert F C; Acedo, Carmen; Álvarez, Inés; Crisci, Jorge V; Luceño Garcés, Modesto; Manning, John; Moreno Saiz, Juan Carlos; Muasya, A Muthama; Riina, Ricarda; Sánchez Meseguer, Andrea; Sánchez-Mata, Daniel; additional 1543 coauthors,

Protecting stable biological nomenclatural systems enables universal communication: A collective international appeal Journal Article

In: BioScience, pp. biae043, 2024.

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Klug, Christian; Schweigert, Günter; Hoffmann, René; Fuchs, Dirk; Pohle, Alexander; Weis, Robert; De Baets, Kenneth

Anatomy and size of Megateuthis, the largest belemnite Journal Article

In: Swiss Journal of Palaeontology, vol. 143, no. 1, pp. 1-19, 2024, ISSN: 1664-2384.

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2023

Klug, Christian; Stevens, Kevin; Hoffmann, René; Zatoń, Michał; Clements, Thomas; Košťák, Martin; Weis, Robert; De Baets, Kenneth; Lehmann, Jens; Vinther, Jakob; Fuchs, Dirk

Revisiting the identification of Syllipsimopodi bideni and timing of the decabrachian-octobrachian divergence Journal Article

In: Nature Communications, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 8094, 2023, ISSN: 2041-1723.

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Barido-Sottani, Joëlle; Pohle, Alexander; De Baets, Kenneth; Murdock, Duncan; Warnock, Rachel C. M.

Putting the F into FBD analysis: tree constraints or morphological data? Journal Article

In: Palaeontology, vol. 66, no. 6, pp. e12679, 2023.

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Nätscher, Paulina S.; Gliwa, Jana; De Baets, Kenneth; Ghaderi, Abbas; Korn, Dieter

Exceptions to the temperature–size rule: no Lilliput Effect in end-Permian ostracods (Crustacea) from Aras Valley (northwest Iran) Journal Article

In: Palaeontology, vol. 66, no. 4, pp. e12667, 2023.

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Allaire, Ninon; Ginot, Samuel; De Baets, Kenneth; Korn, Dieter; Goudemand, Nicolas; Monnet, Claude; Crônier, Catherine

Morphological disparity of early ammonoids: A geometric morphometric approach to investigate conch geometry Journal Article

In: Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, vol. 68, no. 2, pp. 193–212, 2023.

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De Baets, Kenneth; Vanadzina, Karina; Schiffbauer, James

Parasitic Relationships: Trapped in time Journal Article

In: eLife, vol. 12, pp. e90008, 2023, ISSN: 2050-084X.

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Vinn, Olev; De Baets, Kenneth; Isakar, Mare; Toom, Ursula

Parasite-induced shell damage in brachiopod Porambonites (Porambonites) laticaudata from the Late Ordovician (Sandbian) of Estonia Journal Article

In: Estonian Journal of Earth Sciences, vol. 72, no. 1, pp. 110–113, 2023.

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2022

De Baets, Kenneth; Jarochowska, Emilia; Buchwald, Stella Zora; Klug, Christian; Korn, Dieter

Lithology controls ammonoid size distributions Journal Article

In: PALAIOS, vol. 37, iss. 12, pp. 744-754, 2022, ISSN: 0883-1351.

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Mulvey, Laura PA; Warnock, Rachel CM; De Baets, Kenneth

Where traditional extinction estimates fall flat: using novel cophylogenetic methods to estimate extinction risk in platyhelminths Journal Article

In: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, vol. 289, no. 1981, pp. 20220432, 2022.

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Okamura, Beth; Gruhl, Alexander; De Baets, Kenneth

Evolutionary Transitions of Parasites between Freshwater and Marine Environments Journal Article

In: Integrative and Comparative Biology, vol. 62, no. 2, pp. 345–356, 2022, ISSN: 1540-7063.

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Klug, Christian; Bonnaud-Ponticelli, Laure; Nabhitabhata, Jaruwat; Fuchs, Dirk; De Baets, Kenneth; Cheng, Ji; Hoffmann, René

Cephalopod palaeobiology: evolution and life history of the most intelligent invertebrates Journal Article

In: Swiss Journal of Palaeontology, vol. 141, no. 1, pp. 1–10, 2022.

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2021

De Baets, Kenneth; Huntley, John Warren; Scarponi, Daniele; Klompmaker, Adiël A; Skawina, Aleksandra

Phanerozoic parasitism and marine metazoan diversity: dilution versus amplification Journal Article

In: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, vol. 376, no. 1837, pp. 20200366, 2021.

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Rita, Patricia; Weis, Robert; Duarte, Luis V; De Baets, Kenneth

Taxonomical diversity and palaeobiogeographical affinity of belemnites from the Pliensbachian--Toarcian GSSP (Lusitanian Basin, Portugal) Journal Article

In: Papers in Palaeontology, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 1321–1349, 2021.

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Hoffmann, René; Slattery, Joshua S; Kruta, Isabelle; Linzmeier, Benjamin J; Lemanis, Robert E; Mironenko, Aleksandr; Goolaerts, Stijn; De Baets, Kenneth; Peterman, David J; Klug, Christian

Recent advances in heteromorph ammonoid palaeobiology Journal Article

In: Biological Reviews, vol. 96, pp. 576–610, 2021.

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Klug, Christian; Schweigert, Günter; Fuchs, Dirk; De Baets, Kenneth

Distraction sinking and fossilized coleoid predatory behaviour from the German Early Jurassic Journal Article

In: Swiss Journal of Palaeontology, vol. 140, no. 7, pp. 1–12, 2021.

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Klug, Christian; Schweigert, Günter; Hoffmann, René; Weis, Robert; De Baets, Kenneth

Fossilized leftover falls as sources of palaeoecological data: a ‘pabulite’comprising a crustacean, a belemnite and a vertebrate from the Early Jurassic Posidonia Shale Journal Article

In: Swiss Journal of Palaeontology, vol. 140, no. 10, pp. 1–10, 2021.

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De Baets, Kenneth; Dentzien-Dias, Paula; Harrison, G. William M; Littlewood, D Timothy J; Parry, Luke A

Fossil Constraints on the Timescale of Parasitic Helminth Evolution Book Section

In: The Evolution and Fossil Record of Parasitism: Identification and Macroevolution of Parasites. Topics in Geobiology, vol. 49, pp. 231–271, Springer, 2021.

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De Baets, Kenneth; Huntley, John Warren

The Evolution and Fossil Record of Parasitism: Identification and Macroevolution of Parasites Miscellaneous

2021.

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Dijk, J; De Baets, K

Biodiversity and Host--Parasite (Co)Extinction Book Section

In: The Evolution and Fossil Record of Parasitism: Coevolution and Paleoparasitological Techniques. Topics in Geobiology, vol. 50, pp. 75–97, Springer, 2021.

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De Baets, K; Huntley, JW; Klompmaker, AA; Schiffbauer, JD; Muscente, AD

The Fossil Record of Parasitism: Its Extent and Taphonomic Constraints Book Section

In: The Evolution and Fossil Record of Parasitism: Coevolution and Paleoparasitological techniques. Topics in Geobiology, vol. 50, pp. 1–50, Springer, 2021.

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Huntley, JW; De Baets, K; Scarponi, D; Linehan, LC; Epa, YR; Jacobs, GS; Todd, JA

Bivalve Mollusks as Hosts in the Fossil Record Book Section

In: The Evolution and Fossil Record of Parasitism: Coevolution and Paleoparasitological techniques. Topics in Geobiology, vol. 50, pp. 251–287, Springer, 2021.

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De Baets, Kenneth; Hoffmann, Rene; Mironenko, Aleksandr

Evolutionary History of Cephalopod Pathologies Linked with Parasitism Book Section

In: The Evolution and Fossil Record of Parasitism: Coevolution and Paleoparasitological Techniques. Topics in Geobiology, vol. 50, pp. 203–249, Springer, 2021.

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De Baets, Kenneth; Budil, Petr; Fatka, Oldřich; Geyer, Gerd

Trilobites as Hosts for Parasites: From Paleopathologies to Etiologies Book Section

In: The Evolution and Fossil Record of Parasitism: Coevolution and Paleoparasitological Techniques. Topics in Geobiology, vol. 50, pp. 173–201, Springer, 2021.

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Nätscher, Paulina S; Dera, Guillaume; Reddin, Carl J; Rita, Patricia; De Baets, Kenneth

Morphological response accompanying size reduction of belemnites during an Early Jurassic hyperthermal event modulated by life history Journal Article

In: Scientific Reports, vol. 11, pp. 14480, 2021.

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Beck, Sophie Marie; De Baets, Kenneth; Klug, Christian; Korn, Dieter

Analysis of septal spacing and septal crowding in Devonian and Carboniferous ammonoids Journal Article

In: Swiss Journal of Palaeontology, vol. 140, pp. 1–21, 2021.

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De Baets, Kenneth

Performance of machine-learning approaches in identifying ammonoid species based on conch properties Journal Article

In: Peer Community in Paleontology, vol. 1, pp. 100010, 2021.

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De Baets, Kenneth; Nätscher, Paulina S; Rita, Patricia; Fara, Emmanuel; Neige, Pascal; Bardin, Jérémie; Dera, Guillaume; Duarte, Lu'is V'itor; Hughes, Zoe; Laschinger, Peter; others,

The impact of the Pliensbachian--Toarcian crisis on belemnite assemblages and size distribution Journal Article

In: Swiss Journal of Palaeontology, vol. 140, no. 1, pp. 25, 2021.

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De Baets, Kenneth; Huntley, John Warren

The Evolution and Fossil Record of Parasitism: Coevolution and Paleoparasitological Techniques Miscellaneous

2021.

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2020

Klug, Christian; Etter, Walter; Hoffmann, René; Fuchs, Dirk; De Baets, Kenneth

Jaws of a large belemnite and an ammonite from the Aalenian (Middle Jurassic) of Switzerland Journal Article

In: Swiss Journal of Palaeontology, vol. 139, no. 1, pp. 1–11, 2020.

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Petryshen, W; Henderson, CM; De Baets, K; Jarochowska, E

Evidence of parallel evolution in the dental elements of Sweetognathus conodonts Journal Article

In: Proceedings of the Royal Society B, vol. 287, no. 1939, pp. 20201922, 2020.

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2019

Hoffmann, René; Weinkauf, Manuel FG; Wiedenroth, Kurt; Goeddertz, Peter; De Baets, Kenneth

Morphological disparity and ontogeny of the endemic heteromorph ammonite genus Aegocrioceras (Early Cretaceous, Hauterivian, NW-Germany) Journal Article

In: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, vol. 520, pp. 1–17, 2019.

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Naglik, Carole; De Baets, Kenneth; Klug, Christian

Early Devonian ammonoid faunas in the Zeravshan Mountains (Uzbekistan and Tadjikistan) and the transition from a carbonate platform setting to pelagic sedimentation Journal Article

In: Bulletin of Geosciences, vol. 94, no. 3, pp. 337–368, 2019.

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Rita, Patricia; Nätscher, Paulina; Duarte, Luis V; Weis, Robert; De Baets, Kenneth

Mechanisms and drivers of belemnite body-size dynamics across the Pliensbachian--Toarcian crisis Journal Article

In: Royal Society Open Science, vol. 6, no. 12, pp. 190494, 2019.

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2018

De Baets, Kenneth; Munnecke, Axel

Evidence for Palaeozoic orthoconic cephalopods with bimineralic shells Journal Article

In: Palaeontology, vol. 61, no. 2, pp. 173–181, 2018.

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Meyer, Mike B; Ganis, G Robert; Wittmer, Jacalyn M; Zalasiewicz, Jan A; De Baets, Kenneth

A Late Ordovician planktic assemblage with exceptionally preserved soft-bodied Problematica from the Martinsburg Formation, Pennsylvania Journal Article

In: PALAIOS, vol. 33, no. 1, pp. 36–46, 2018.

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Rita, Patricia; De Baets, Kenneth; Schlott, Martina

Rostrum size differences between Toarcian belemnite battlefields Journal Article

In: Fossil Record, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 171, 2018.

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Wegerer, Michael; De Baets, Kenneth; Korn, Dieter

Quantitative analysis of suture lines in Carboniferous ammonoids Journal Article

In: Fossil Record, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 223–236, 2018.

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Rita, Patricia; De Baets, Kenneth; Duarte, Lu'is Vitor

The effect of the Pliensbachian-Toarcian crisis on body size: the case of Peniche section belemnites (Lusitanian Basin, Portugal) Proceedings Article

In: 2018.

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Weinkauf, Manuel FG; Hoffmann, René; Wiedenroth, Kurt; Goeddertz, Peter; De Baets, Kenneth

Morphological disparity and ontogeny of the endemic heteromorph ammonite genus Aegocrioceras Proceedings Article

In: Abstract Volume, 16th Swiss Geoscience Meeting: 5. Palaeontology, pp. 184–185, 2018.

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Klug, Christian; Samankassou, Elias; Pohle, Alexander; De Baets, Kenneth; Franchi, Fulvio; Korn, Dieter

Oases of biodiversity: Early Devonian palaeoecology at Hamar Laghdad, Morocco Journal Article

In: Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie-Abhandlungen, vol. 290, no. 1-3, pp. 9–48, 2018.

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Cronier, Catherine; Oudot, Morgane; Klug, Christian; De Baets, Kenneth

Trilobites from the Red Fauna (latest Emsian, Devonian) of Hamar Laghdad, Morocco and their biodiversity Journal Article

In: Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Abhandlungen, vol. 290, pp. 241–76, 2018.

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2017

Clements, Thomas; Colleary, Caitlin; De Baets, Kenneth; Vinther, Jakob

Buoyancy mechanisms limit preservation of coleoid cephalopod soft tissues in Mesozoic Lagerstätten Journal Article

In: Palaeontology, vol. 60, no. 1, pp. 1–14, 2017.

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Gügel, Benjamin; De Baets, Kenneth; Jerjen, Iwan; Schuetz, Philipp; Klug, Christian

A new subdisarticulated machaeridian from the Middle Devonian of China: Insights into taphonomy and taxonomy using X-ray microtomography and 3D-analysis Journal Article

In: Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, pp. 237–247, 2017.

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Stilkerich, Julia; Smrecak, Trisha A.; De Baets, Kenneth

3D-Analysis of a non-planispiral ammonoid from the Hunsrück Slate: natural or pathological variation? Journal Article

In: PeerJ, vol. 5, pp. e3526, 2017.

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Klug, Christian; Frey, Linda; Pohle, Alexander; De Baets, Kenneth; Korn, Dieter

Palaeozoic evolution of animal mouthparts Journal Article

In: Bulletin of Geosciences, vol. 92, no. 4, pp. 511–524, 2017.

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2016

Klug, Christian; De Baets, Kenneth; Korn, Dieter

Exploring the limits of morphospace: Ontogeny and ecology of late Viséan ammonoids from the Tafilalt, Morocco Journal Article

In: Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, vol. 61, no. 1, pp. 1–14, 2016.

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Dera, Guillaume; Toumoulin, Agathe; De Baets, Kenneth

Diversity and morphological evolution of Jurassic belemnites from South Germany Journal Article

In: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, vol. 457, pp. 80–97, 2016.

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91 entries « 1 of 2 »