Bob Cushman, Ph.D., Professor of Paleobiology and Department Chair

Robert (Bob) A. Cushman, Jr., Ph.D.

Professor of Paleobiology and Department Chair. 

Education

Ph.D. in Geology, 1994, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO
M.S. in Geology, 1983, Loma Linda University, Riverside, CA
B.S. in Biology, 1979, Walla Walla College, College Place, WA

Interests

Reconstruction of ancient ecosystems; palynology, paleobiology, and ecology

Current Research

Palynostratigraphy and paleoecology of the Eocene Green River Formation in Fossil Basin and the Greater Green River Basin, southwestern Wyoming

Professional Society Memberships

• American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists (Board of Directors 1998-2000, 2004-2007; President 2006)
• American Association of Petroleum Geologists
• National Association of Geology Teachers
• National Association of Biology Teachers
• Society for Sedimentary Geology
• Geological Society of America
• Botanical Society of America

Selected Publications

Papers

• Leggitt, V.L., Cushman, R.A., Loewen, M., and Buchheim, H.P., 2007, Caddisfly (Insecta: Trichoptera) cases used as unique autochthonous paleoenvironmental indicators: Eocene Lake Gosiute, The Mountain Geologist, v.44, no.2, p.109-117
• Cushman, R.A., Jr., 2006, President's Page, American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists Newsletter (ISSN 0732-6041), v.39, no.2, June 2006, p.3-4
• Cushman, R.A., Jr., 2006, President's Page, American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists Newsletter (ISSN 0732-6041), v.39, no.1, March 2006, p.3-4
• Cushman, R.A., Jr., 2005, President's Page, American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists Newsletter (ISSN 0732-6041), v.38, no.4, December 2005, p.3-4
• Cushman, R.A., Jr., 2005, President's Page, American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists Newsletter (ISSN 0732-6041), v.38, no.3, September 2005, p.3-4
• Leggitt, V.L. and Cushman, R.A., Jr., 2001, Complex caddisfly-dominated bioherms from the Eocene Green River Formation: Journal of Sedimentary Geology, v.135, no.3-4, p.377-396
• Rinehart, L.F., Heckert, A.B., Bryant, G., Lucas, S.G., and Cushman, R., 2001, Protosuchid crocodylomorphs from the Lower Jurassic Navajo Sandstone of North-Central Arizona in McCord, R.D. and Boaz, D., eds, Mesa Southwest Museum and Southwest Paleontological Society: Mesa Southwest Museum Bulletin No. 8, p.25-31
• Cushman, R.A., Jr., 1999, Vegetational history and climatic transition in an Eocene intermontane basin: plant microfossil evidence from the Green River Formation, Wyoming in Santucci, V.L. and McClelland, L., eds, National Park Service Paleontological Research: Geologic Resources Division Technical Report, v.4, NPS/NRGRD/GRDTR-99/03, p.66-71
• Cushman, R.A., Jr., 1998, Palynostratigraphy and age of the Green River Formation in Fossil Basin, Wyoming in Santucci, V.L. and McClelland, L., eds, National Park Service Paleontological Research: Geologic Resources Division Technical Report, NPS/NRGRD/GRDTR-98-01, p.68-72
• Cushman, R.A., Jr., 1997, Vegetational history and climatic transition in an Eocene intermontane basin - plant microfossil evidence from Fossil Butte National Monument, Wyoming in Johnston, M. and McChristal, J., eds, Partners in Paleontology, Proceedings of the Fourth Conference on Fossil Resources: National Park Service, Natural Resources Report, NPS/NRFLFO/NRR-97/01, p.50-52
• Cushman, R.A., Jr., 1995, Palynostratigraphy of the Upper Cretaceous Mancos Shale in western Colorado: American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists Newsletter, v.28, no.4, p.11-14
• Cushman, R.A., Jr., 1994, Palynostratigraphy of the Upper Cretaceous Mancos Shale in western Colorado: Golden, CO, Colorado School of Mines, unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, 686 p.
• Cushman, R.A., Jr., 1993, Palynology of the Laramie and Arapahoe Formations at the Rocky Flats Plant near Boulder, Colorado. Consulting project report for Advanced Sciences, inc. (ASI Project No. 9208-12-02)
• Cushman, R.A., Jr., 1983, Palynology and paleoecology of the Fossil Butte Member of the Eocene Green River Formation in Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming: Riverside, CA, Loma Linda University, unpublished Master's thesis, 88 p.

Abstracts

• Leggitt, V.L., Buchheim, H.P., and Cushman, R.A., Jr., 2006, Crocodilian eggshell fragments encased in stromatolites from the Laney Member of the Green River Formation: Eocene Lake Gosiute: Second International Paleontological Conference, Beijing, China
• Leggitt, V.L., Buchheim, H.P., and Cushman, R.A., Jr., 2005, Turtle shells as nuclei for caddisfly-dominated microbial carbonate mounds: Wilkins Peak Member, Eocene Green River Formation: Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Abstracts of 65th Annual Meeting, 7 Sept. 2005, Mesa, Arizona, v.25, no.3, p.83A
• Buchheim, H.P., Biaggi, R.E., and Cushman, R.A., Jr., 2004, Evolution of Fossil Lake during deposition of the Eocene Green River Formation: Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, Abstracts with Programs, v.36, no.5, p.35
• Leggitt, V.L., Cushman, R.A., Jr., and Loewen, M.A., 2004, Caddisfly (Insecta: Trichoptera) pupal cases used as unique autochthonous paleoenvironmental indicators - Eocene Lake Gosiute: Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, Abstracts with Programs, v.36, no.5, p.65
• Bryant, G.C. and Cushman, R.A., Jr., 2003, Intradunal deformation features from the Jurassic Navajo Sandstone: Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington, Abstracts with Programs, v.35, no.6, p.601
• Leggitt, V.L. and Cushman, R.A., Jr., 2003, Flamingo nest mounds from a crocodilian nesting site in the Eocene Wasatch Formation, Lincoln County, Wyoming: Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Abstracts of 63rd Annual Meeting, St. Paul, Minnesota, v.23, no.3, p.71A
• Loewen, M.A., Hynek, S.A., and Cushman, R.A., Jr., 2003, False indicators of a climatic shift in the Green River Formation of Fossil Basin and the importance of recognizing stream capture in regional correlation of kerogen-rich lacustrine sediments: Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington, Abstracts with Programs, p.105
• Leggitt, V.L., Cushman, R.A., Jr., and Buchheim, H.P., 2003, Preliminary analysis of the sedimentologic context of caddisfly-dominated bioherms from the Eocene Green River and Wasatch formations of Wyoming: International Association of Limnogeology, 3rd International Limnogeology Congress, Tucson, AZ, Abstract Volume, p.154
• Cushman, R.A., Jr., 2002, Vegetational history and age of the Green River Formation in Fossil Basin, Wyoming: Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, Abstracts with Programs, p.480
• Scott, J.D., and Cushman, R.A., Jr., 2002, Comparison of plant macro- and microfossil assemblages from the Middle Eocene Bitter Creek Delta, Wyoming: Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, Abstracts with Programs, p.556
• Amato, T.J., Buchheim, H.P., Cushman, R.A., Jr., and Biaggi, R.E., 2002, Climate change, salinity gradient or marginal freshwater lagoon? The story behind a unique fossiliferous unit of the Green River Formation in Fossil Basin, Wyoming: Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, Abstracts with Programs, p.555
• Biaggi, R.E., Buchheim, H.P., and Cushman, R.A., Jr., 2002, Paleoecology and depositional environments during the early depositional phase of Fossil Lake, Green River Formation, Wyoming: Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, Abstracts with Programs, p.557
• Buchheim, H.P., Loewen, M.A., Cushman, R.A., Jr., and Biaggi, R.E., 2002, Stratigraphic revision of the Green River Formation in Fossil Basin, Wyoming - Three distinct phases of Fossil Lake: Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, Abstracts with Programs, p.479
• Cushman, R.A., Jr., 2001, Tectonics and climate as controlling factors on deposition of saline lacustrine sediments in the Eocene Green River Formation of Fossil Basin, Wyoming: 34th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists, Program with Abstracts, p.15-16
• Cushman, R.A., Jr., 2001, Controlling factors on deposition of saline lacustrine sediments in the Eocene Green River Formation of Fossil Basin, Wyoming: Cordilleran Section, Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Universal City, CA, Abstracts with Programs, p.A-69
• Cushman, R.A., Jr., 2000, Tectonics and Climate - Controlling factors on deposition of saline lacustrine sediments in the Eocene Green River Formation of Fossil Basin, Wyoming: Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Reno, NV, Abstracts with Programs, p.A-388
• Biaggi, R.E., Buchheim, H.P., and Cushman, R.A., Jr., 2000, Deposition of a laminated, fossil rich facies in a nearshore oxic paleoenvironment, Eocene Lake Gosiute, Wyoming: Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Reno, NV, Abstracts with Programs, p.A-415
• Rinehart, L.F., Heckert, A.B., Bryant, G., Cushman, R., and Lucas, S.G., 2000, Probable protosuchid crocodylomorph from the Early Jurassic Navajo Sandstone of north-central Arizona: Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Reno, NV, Abstracts with Programs, p.A-14
• Leggitt, V. Leroy, and Cushman, R.A., Jr., 1999, Massive caddisfly bioherms from the Eocene Green River Formation: Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, Abstracts with Programs, p.A-242
• Bryant, Gerald C., Cushman, Robert, Buccheim, Paul, Nick, Kevin, and Brand, Leonard, 1999, Sedimentology of an interdune deposit in the Jurassic Navajo Sandstone: Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, Abstracts with Programs, p.A-281
• Loewen, Mark A., Leggit, V. Leroy, Biaggi, Roberto E., Buchheim, H. Paul, and Cushman, Robert A., Jr., 1999, Morphologic variation in caddisfly (Trichoptera) larval case architecture from the Eocene Green River and Wasatch formations of Wyoming: Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, Abstracts with Programs, p.A-470
• Cushman, R.A., Jr., 1996, Tectonics vs. eustasy - plant microfossils tell the story: Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, Abstracts with Programs, p.A-104
• Cushman, R.A., Jr., 1996, Palynostratigraphy of the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian - Campanian) Mancos Shale in western Colorado: Ninth International Palynological Congress, Houston, TX, Program and Abstracts, p.27
• Cushman, R.A., Jr., 1996, Tectonics vs. eustasy - A tug o' war reflected in the terrestrial to marine palynomorph ratios of the Upper Cretaceous Mancos Shale in western Colorado: Ninth International Palynological Congress, Houston, TX, Program and Abstracts, p.27
• Cushman, R.A., Jr., 1994, Vegetational history and climatic transition in an Eocene intermontane basin - plant microfossil evidence from Fossil Butte National Monument, Wyoming: Partners in Paleontology, The Fourth Conference on Fossil Resources, convened by the National Park Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and Bureau of Land Management, Program with Abstracts
• Cushman, R.A., Jr., 1992, Palynostratigraphy of the Mid-Cretaceous Mancos Shale, western Colorado: Mesozoic of the Western Interior, 1992 Theme Meeting, Society of Economic Paleontology and Mineralogy, Program with Abstracts, p.21
• Cushman, R.A., Jr., 1992, Palynostratigraphy of the Mid-Cretaceous Mancos Shale, western Colorado: Abstracts of the U.S. Geological Survey, Central Region, Poster Review, in Barker, C.E., and Coury, A.B., U.S.G.S. Open-File OF 92-0391, p.24
• Cushman, R.A., Jr., and Nichols, D.J., 1992, Triprojectate pollen from the Mancos Shale, western Colorado: 8th International Palynological Congress, Program with Abstracts, Aix-en-Provence, France
• Cushman, R.A., Jr., 1991, Palynostratigraphy of the Upper Cretaceous Mancos Shale, western Colorado: American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists, 23rd Annual Meeting, Banff, Alberta, Canada, Palynology, v.15, p.239
• Martin, L.G., and Cushman, R.A., Jr., 1987, Biostratigraphy of the Smoky Hill Chalk Member of the Niobrara Chalk (Coniacian-Campanian) in the type area, west-central Kansas: Geological Society of America, Rocky Mountain Section Meeting, Program with Abstracts, v.19, no.5
• Newman, K.R., and Cushman, R.A., Jr., 1987, Cretaceous Palynology of the southern Colorado Plateau region, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico: Geological Society of America, Annual Meeting, Program with Abstracts, v.19, no.7
• Cushman, R.A., Jr., Buchheim, H.P., and Fisk, L.H., 1984, Palynology and oil shale genesis in the Fossil Butte Member of the Eocene Green River Formation, Wyoming: American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Annual Meeting Program with Abstracts
• Jensen, R.E., Cushman, R.A., Jr., and Fisk, L.H., 1984, Palynostratigraphy of Eocene marine rocks, southwestern Washington: American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists, Annual Meeting, Program with Abstracts
• Cushman, R.A., Jr., 1983, Palynology and paleoecology of the Fossil Butte Member of the Eocene Green River Formation in Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming: Palynology of Tertiary Floras in Western North America, Harry D. MacGinitie Symposium, Program with Abstracts