James (Jim) Gardner's research focuses on palaeoherpetology, the study of fossil amphibians (frogs and salamanders) and reptiles (snakes, lizards, and turtles). As one of the few working experts on fossil amphibians, Jim's expertise is routinely sought by colleagues around the world. The primary goal of Jim's research is to document and interpret the evolutionary history of modern amphibians. His research focuses on the form, diversification, and distribution (both geographically and across time) of amphibians. Since fossil and living amphibians are found worldwide, Jim studies and compares North American fossil amphibians to other specimens around the globe.
Research Interests
- Fossil amphibians (such as frogs and salamanders).
- Fossil reptiles (particularly turtles).
- The evolutionary history of fossil amphibians, specifically from the Mesozoic Era and Tertiary Period.
Professional Highlights
- Associate editor for the Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences.
- Co-organized a collection of papers published as a special issue of the Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Royal Tyrrell Museum in 2015.
- Worked on numerous collaborative international research projects on fossil amphibians around the world.
Education
Ph.D., University of Alberta, 2000
M.Sc., University of Calgary, 1992
B.Sc., University of Saskatchewan, 1989
- Recent Publications
Gardner, J.D. and Roček, Z. 2024. The fossil record of anuran larvae. Pp. 135–248 In: B. Viertel (ed.), Anuran Larvae, Morphology, Anatomy, Development, Function, Ecology, Evolution, Vol. 1. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt.
Oreska, M.P.J., DeMar, D.G., Jr., Gardner, J.D., and Carrano, M.T. 2024. Vertebrate paleontology of the Cloverly Formation (Lower Cretaceous), IV: The oldest, edentulous frog (Salientia) from Laurasia. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 44(1): e2399102.
Gardner, J.D. 2022. A unique dentary suggests a third genus of batrachosauroidid salamander (Lissamphibia, Caudata) existed during the latest Cretaceous in the western USA. Acta Paleontologica Polonica, 67(1): 35–50.
Gardner, J.D., Villa, A., Colombero, S., Venczel, M., and Delfino, M. 2021. A Messinian (latest Miocene) occurrence for Albanerpeton Estes & Hoffstetter, 1976 (Lissamphibia: Albanerpetontidae) at Moncucco Torinese, Piedmont Basin, northwestern Italy, and a review of the European Cenozoic record for albanerpetontids. In: J.-S. Steyer, M.L. Augé, and G. Métais (eds.), Memorial Jean-Claude Rage: A life of paleo-herpetologist. Geodiversitas, 43(14): 391–404.
Venczel, M., Szentesi, Z., and Gardner, J.D. 2021. New material of the frog Hungarobatrachus szukacsi Szentesi & Venczel, 2010, from the Santonian of Hungary, supports its neobatrachian affinities and reveals a Gondwanan influence on the European Late Cretaceous anuran fauna. In: J.-S. Steyer, M.L. Augé, and G. Métais (eds.), Memorial Jean-Claude Rage: A life of paleo-herpetologist. Geodiversitas, 43(7): 187–207.
Gardner, J. D. & Přikryl, T. (2016). Introduction to the special issue “Contributions in honour of Zbyněk Roček”. Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments, 96(1), 1-12.
Gardner, J. D. & Rage, J.-C. (2016). The fossil record of lissamphibians from Africa, Madagascar, and the Arabian Plate. Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments, 96(1), 169-220.
Venczel, M., Gardner, J. D., Codrea, V. A., Csiki-Sava, Z., Vasile, S. & Solomon, A. A. (2016). New insights into Europe’s most diverse Late Cretaceous anuran assemblage from the Maastrichtian of western Romania. Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments, 96(1), 61-95.
Gardner, J. D. (2016). The fossil record of tadpoles. Fossil Imprint, 72(1-2), 17-44.
Gardner, J. D., Redman, C. M. &. Cifelli, R. L. (2016). The hopping dead: Late Cretaceous frogs from the middle – late Campanian (Judithian) of western North America. Fossil Imprint, 72(1-2), 78-107.
- Selected Publications
Gardner, J. D. & Rage, J.-C. (2016). The fossil record of lissamphibians from Africa, Madagascar, and the Arabian Plate. Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments, 96(1), 169-220.
Gardner, J. D. (2016). The fossil record of tadpoles. Fossil Imprint, 72(1-2), 17-44.
Gardner, J. D. & DeMar, Jr., D. G. (2013). Mesozoic and Paleocene lissamphibian assemblages of North America: a comprehensive review. Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments, 93(4), 459-515.
Gardner, J. D., Eaton, J. G. & Cifelli, R. L. (2013). Preliminary report on salamanders (Lissamphibia; Caudata) from the Late Cretaceous (late Cenomanian–late Campanian) of southern Utah, U.S.A. In A. L. Titus & M. A. Loewen (Eds.), At the Top of the Grand Staircase: The Late Cretaceous of Southern Utah (237-272). Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, Bloomington.
Gardner, J. D. & Böhme, M. (2008). Review of the Albanerpetontidae (Lissamphibia), with comments on the paleoecological preferences of European Tertiary albanerpetontids. In J. T. Sankey & S. Baszio (Eds.), Vertebrate Microfossil Assemblages: Their Role in Paleoecology and Paleobiogeography (178-218). Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.