Felisa Smith

Felisa Smith is an American paleoecologist whose research focuses on the ecological history of mammals. She specializes in analyzing body size trends and geographic ranges to better understand past extinction events and responses to climate change. Her extensive work has helped map the macroecology of Ice Age animals.

She is a professor and researcher at the University of New Mexico (UNM). Her academic home is in the Department of Biology, where she conducts her extensive research on mammalian evolution. UNM is highly regarded for its programs in ecology and evolutionary biology.

Smith has published widely on various mammals, with notable research focusing on Pleistocene megafauna like mammoths and giant ground sloths. She has also heavily studied the evolution, extinction, and body mass trends of prehistoric and modern rodents. Her work often explores why certain species, like the mammoth, went extinct.

Yes, she is a recognized leader in her field and was elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). She has also served as the President of the International Biogeography Society. Her extensive work has significantly advanced the understanding of macroecology.