World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Michael Westerman

Michael Westerman

D-Index & Metrics

Ecology and Evolution

D-Index
34
Citations
5429
World Ranking
7557
National Ranking
584

Overview

Michael Westerman is a researcher affiliated with La Trobe University in Australia, with a focus on environmental science, earth and planetary sciences, and biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology. Their work spans a range of subfields including paleontology, ecology, genetics, ecology, evolution, behavior and systematics, and molecular biology.

Their research topics mainly cover evolution and paleontology studies, wildlife ecology and conservation, genetic diversity and population structure, bat biology and ecology studies, genomics and phylogenetic studies, species distribution and climate change, and amphibian and reptile biology.

Michael Westerman has contributed to multiple scientific publications, with frequent publication venues including the Australian Journal of Zoology, Scientific Reports, Australian Mammalogy, Ecology and Evolution, and the Journal of Biogeography.

  • The geography of speciation in dasyurid marsupials (2020) - Journal of Biogeography
  • Mitogenome of the extinct Desert 'rat-kangaroo' times the adaptation to aridity in macropodoids (2022) - Scientific Reports
  • Phylogeography of southern brown and golden bandicoots: implications for the taxonomy and distribution of endangered subspecies and species (2020) - Australian Journal of Zoology
  • On the composition of Antechinomys (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae): how many species? (2023) - Australian Journal of Zoology
  • Hiding in plain sight: two new species of diminutive marsupial (Dasyuridae: Planigale) from the Pilbara, Australia (2023) - Zootaxa

Westerman has collaborated frequently with co-authors including Linette S. Umbrello, Benjamin P. Kear, Stella Loke, Mun Hua Tan, and P. A. Woolley, reflecting ongoing partnerships in various research projects.

In addition to journal articles, Michael Westerman has authored a book published by CSIRO Publishing titled The Evolution of Dasyurid Marsupials (2024), which has contributed to the scientific literature on marsupial evolution.

Best Publications

  • Impacts of the Cretaceous Terrestrial Revolution and KPg Extinction on Mammal Diversification

    Robert W. Meredith;Jan E. Janečka;John Gatesy;Oliver A. Ryder

  • Conflict among individual mitochondrial proteins in resolving the phylogeny of eutherian orders.

    Ying Cao;Axel Janke;Peter J. Waddell;Michael Westerman

  • A Phylogeny and Timescale for Marsupial Evolution Based on Sequences for Five Nuclear Genes

    Robert W. Meredith;Michael Westerman;Judd A. Case;Mark S. Springer

  • Nuclear gene sequences provide evidence for the monophyly of australidelphian marsupials.

    Heather Amrine-Madsen;Mark Scally;Mark Scally;Michael Westerman;Michael J Stanhope;Michael J Stanhope

  • A phylogeny and timescale for the living genera of kangaroos and kin (Macropodiformes : Marsupialia) based on nuclear DNA sequences

    Robert W. Meredith;Michael Westerman;Mark S. Springer

  • A phylogeny of Diprotodontia (Marsupialia) based on sequences for five nuclear genes

    Robert W. Meredith;Michael Westerman;Mark S. Springer

  • The origin of the Australasian marsupial fauna and the phylogenetic affinities of the enigmatic monito del monte and marsupial mole.

    Mark S. Springer;Michael Westerman;John R. Kavanagh;Angela Burk

  • Molecular evidence for the pattern and timing of cladogenesis in dasyurid marsupials

    Carey Krajewski;Carey Krajewski;Stephen Wroe;Michael Westerman

  • Phylogenetic Analysis of 18S rRNA and the Mitochondrial Genomes of the Wombat, Vombatus ursinus, and the Spiny Anteater, Tachyglossus aculeatus: Increased Support for the Marsupionta Hypothesis

    Axel Janke;Ola Magnell;Georg Wieczorek;Michael Westerman

  • Molecular phylogeny and evolution of marsupial protamine P1 genes.

    Jacques D. Retief;Carey Krajewski;Michael Westerman;Robert J. Winkfein

  • DNA phylogeny of the marsupial wolf resolved

    Carey Krajewski;Larry Buckley;Michael Westerman

  • The phylogenetic position of the musky rat-kangaroo and the evolution of bipedal hopping in kangaroos (Macropodidae: Diprotodontia).

    Angela Burk;Michael Westerman;Mark Springer

  • Relationships among orders and families of marsupials based on 12S ribosomal DNA sequences and the timing of the marsupial radiation

    Mark S. Springer;Michael Westerman;John A. W. Kirsch

  • A Multigene Assessment of Phylogenetic Relationships within the Dasyurid Marsupial Subfamily Sminthopsinae

    Carey Krajewski;Carey Krajewski;Mark Blacket;Larry Buckley;Michael Westerman

  • Marsupial genetics and genomics

    Jennifer A.Marshall Graves;Michael Westerman

  • Phylogenetic relationships of living and recently extinct bandicoots based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences

    M. Westerman;Benjamin P. Kear;Benjamin P. Kear;K. Aplin;R. W. Meredith

  • RNA:DNA ratio during the critical period and early larval growth of the red drum Sciaenops ocellatus

    Unknown

  • Feathers from museum bird skins-A good source of DNA for phylogenetic studies

    Peter Leeton;Leslie Christidis;Michael Westerman

  • Molecular Data Confirms the Species Status of the Christmas Island Hawk-Owl Ninox natalis

    Janette A. Norman;Les Christidis;Mike Westerman;F.A. Richard Hill

  • Phylogenetic relationships of dasyuromorphian marsupials revisited

    Michael Westerman;Carey Krajewski;Benjamin P. Kear;Lucy Meehan

  • Evolution of the Monotremes: Phylogenetic Relationship to Marsupials and Eutherians, and Estimation of Divergence Dates Based on α-Lactalbumin Amino Acid Sequences

    Michael Messer;Anthony S. Weiss;Denis C. Shaw;Michael Westerman

  • Regular ArticleMolecular evidence for the pattern and timing of cladogenesis in dasyurid marsupials

    Carey Krajewski;Stephen Wroe;Michael Westerman

Frequent Co-Authors

Mark S. Springer
Mark S. Springer University of California, Riverside
Robert W. Meredith
Robert W. Meredith Montclair State University
Jennifer A. Marshall Graves
Jennifer A. Marshall Graves La Trobe University
Leslie Christidis
Leslie Christidis Southern Cross University
Steven J. B. Cooper
Steven J. B. Cooper University of Adelaide
Jodie N. Painter
Jodie N. Painter QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Gordon H. Dixon
Gordon H. Dixon University of Calgary
Ian E. Alexander
Ian E. Alexander University of Sydney
Eugene V. Koonin
Eugene V. Koonin National Institutes of Health
Jan Fang Cheng
Jan Fang Cheng Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Report an issue

We appreciate your kind effort to assist us to improve this page, it would be helpful providing us with as much detail as possible in the text box below:

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Exploring Ecology and Evolution in the USA can open doors to various interdisciplinary career pathways, including roles in environmental science, public health, and advanced nursing. Many students turn to health sciences because of the growing demand for professionals who understand both environmental and human health.

Biology or environmental science graduates often consider streamlined nursing education to shift their focus or expand their expertise. Popular options include fast track nurse practitioner programs and choosing the fastest rn to bsn program for those wanting a quick transition.

For those holding an Associate Degree in Nursing, the adn to fnp bridge programs provide a streamlined route into family nurse practitioner positions. Meanwhile, science graduates from non-nursing backgrounds can pursue msn direct entry programs online to fast-track their careers.

These accelerated, flexible online degrees allow students with an Ecology or Evolution background to expand their career options in the health and science sectors, responding quickly to evolving workforce demands.

Best Scientists Citing Michael Westerman

Trending Scientists