Carlie Pietsch

Carlie Pietsch in the field My research focuses on paleontology and deep time marine biology. The 91ÁÔÆæ Paleontology lab group combines geologic observations with marine ecology and evolution to interpret the history of life on Earth with a focus on mollusks (clams and snails) and extreme climate change events. I am particularly interested in the disconnect between recovery pace and progress at local and global scales following mass extinction events. My research on extreme climate events serves as both an approximation of what we might expect as a result of modern climate change and as a window into the role of climate on evolutionary trajectories. My students and I conduct fieldwork to document environmental changes and collect fossil samples. We also delve into museum collections and fossil databases. We reconstruct paleoenvironmental changes using microscopic changes in sediments and fossils, stable isotope geochemistry, as well as physical and chemical variations in mollusk shell growth. Learn more about how to get involved and meet the lab members here:

Associate Professor: Paleontology

Phone: (408) 924-5279
Office: DH 201
Office Hours: By appointment
E-mail: carlie.pietsch @ sjsu.edu


Education

  • Ph.D. 2015, University of Southern California

Research Interests

  • As a paleontologist, I study changes in fossil assemblages, sediments, and geochemistry to determine how extreme climate intervals in Earth's history effect the paleoecology and evolution of marine communities.

Recent Classes

  • Paleontology (GEOL/BIOL 142)
  • Earth, Time, and Life (GEOL 007)

Recent Activity (2014-2017)

Published Papers

  • Petsios, E., Thompson, J.R., Pietsch, C., and Bottjer, D.J., 2019. Biotic impacts of temperature before, during, and after the end-Permian extinction: A multi-metric and multi-scale approach to modeling extinction and recovery dynamics. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 513: 86-99.
  • Pietsch, C., Ritterbush, K.A., Thompson, J.R., Petsios, E., and Bottjer, D.J., 2019, Evolutionary models in the Early Triassic marine realm: Paleogeography, Paleoclimatology, Paleoecology. 513: 65-85.
  • Ivany, L., Pietsch, C., Handley, J., Lockwood, R., Allmon, W., and Sessa, J., 2018. Little lasting impact of the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum on shallow marine faunas. Science Advances 4(9) eaat5528.
  • Pietsch, C., Harrison, H.C., and Allmon, W.D., 2016, Whence the Gosport Sand (upper Middle Eocene, Alabama)? The Origin of Glauconitic Shell Beds in the Paleogene of the U.S. Gulf Coastal Plain: Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 86(11), p. 1249-1268.
  • Pietsch, C., Petsios, E., and Bottjer, D.J., 2016, Sudden and extreme hyperthermals, low-oxygen, and sediment influx drove community phase shifts following the end-Permian mass extinction: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, v. 451, p. 183-196.
  • Corsetti, F.A., Ritterbush, K.A., Bottjer, D.J., Greene, S.E., Ibarra, Y., Yager, J.A., West, A.J., Berelson, W.M., Rosas, S., Becker, T.W., Levine, N.M., Loyd, S.J., Martindale, R.C., Petryshyn, V.A., Carroll, N.R., Petsios, E., Pietsch, C., Stellmann, J.L., Thompson, J.R., Washington, K.A., Wilmeth, D.T., 2015, Investigating the paleoecological consequences of supercontinent breakup: Sponges clean up in the Early Jurassic: The Sedimentary Record, v. 13, no. 2, p. 4-10.
  • Pietsch, C., Mata, S.A., and Bottjer, D.J., 2014, High temperature and low oxygen perturbations drive contrasting benthic recovery dynamics following the end-Permian mass extinction: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, v. 399, p. 98-113.
  • Pietsch, C., and Bottjer, D.J., 2014, The importance of oxygen for the disparate recovery patterns of the benthic macrofauna in the Early Triassic: Earth-Science Reviews, v. 137, p. 65-84.

Grants

  • Pietsch, C., Paleontological Society Kenneth E. and Annie Caster Student Research Grant Spring 2012
  • Pietsch, C., Society for Sedimentary Geology (SEPM) Student Research Grant Spring 2012
  • Pietsch, C., American Association of Petroleum Geologists Raymond C. Moore Memorial Grant Spring 2011
  • Pietsch, C., American Museum of Natural History Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Fund Grant Spring 2011
  • Pietsch, C., Geological Society of America Grant Recipient Spring 2010: Gretchen L. Blechschmidt Award Winner, Geological Society of America. Fall 2010 For women pursuing research in biostratigraphy or paleoceanography

Published Abstracts

  • Petsios, E., Thompson, J.R., Pietsch, C., and Bottjer, D.R., 2017, Biotic impacts of temperature before, during, and after the end-Permian mass extinction: A multi-metric and multiscale approach to modeling extinction and recovery dynamics: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 49, no. 6.
  • Pietsch, C., Brendan, A.M., Maistros, L.M., Aglevis, M., and Allmon, W.D., 2017, Evaluating ecological function and convergent evolution of extreme parietal callus in marine gastropods: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 49, no. 6.
  • Pietsch, C., and Bottjer, D.J., 2014, The dynamic response of marine life to extreme temperature and low oxygen events following the end-Permian mass extinction: American Geophysical Union, Abstract PP11A-1335.
  • Pietsch, C., and Bottjer, D.J., 2014, Rebounds and resets in the Early Triassic recovery from the end-Permian mass extinction: Geological Society of American Abstracts with Programs, v. 46, no.6.
  • Pietsch, C., Petsios, E., and Bottjer, D.J., 2014, Low oxygen and extreme temperatures disturb the ecological recovery of the Tethyan benthic fauna following the end-Permian mass extinction: Geological Society of American Abstracts with Programs, v. 46, no.6.
  • Petsios, E., and Pietsch, C., 2014, Redox conditions and community evenness following the end-Permian mass extinction: Geological Society of American Abstracts with Programs, v. 46, no. 6.
  • Bottjer, D.J., Pietsch, C., Ritterbush, K.A., Petsios, E., and Thompson, J.R., 2014, Evolution in the Early Triassic: Geological Society of American Abstracts with Programs, Vol.46, No. 6.
  • Pietsch, C., and Bottjer, D.J., 2013. Pinpointing the ecological effects of discrete high temperature and low oxygen events for the benthic recovery following the end-Permian mass extinction: Geological Society of American Abstracts with Programs, v. 45, no. 7, p. 231.
  • Pietsch, C., and Bottjer, D.J., 2010, Comparison of changes in ocean chemistry in the Early Triassic with trends in diversity and ecology: Journal of Earth Sciences, v. 21 (Suppl 1), p. 147-150.

Technical Presentations

  • Pietsch, C., Ritterbush, K.A., and Bottjer, D.J., 2013, Early Triassic recovery of benthic and pelagic taxa in response to high temperature and low oxygen perturbations: Paleontological Research Institute Summer Symposium, Ithaca NY.
  • Pietsch, C., Ritterbush, K.A., and Bottjer, D.J., 2013, High temperature events and low oxygen conditions effect benthic and pelagic recovery dynamics differently during the Early Triassic: Abstract for the International Geological Correlation Program (IGCP) 572: Restoration of Marine Ecosystems following the Permian-Triassic Mass Extinction, Wuhan, Peoples Republic of China.
  • Pietsch, C., and Bottjer, D.J., 2012, A global comparison of depositional environments impacting the timing of recovery from the end-Permian mass extinction: Abstract for the International Geological Correlation Program 572: Restoration of Marine Ecosystems following the Permian-Triassic Mass Extinction, Eger, Hungary.
  • Pietsch, C., Ritterbush, K.A., and Bottjer, D.J., 2012, Contrasting trends in the Early Triassic ecological recovery of benthic and pelagic fauna: Geological Society of American Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 44, No. 7, pg 165.
  • Pietsch, C., Ritterbush, K.A., Bottjer, D.J., 2012, A comparison of benthic and pelagic ecology during the Early Triassic recovery from the end-Permian mass extinction: Geoclub Seminar at the California Institute of Technology.
  • Pietsch, C., Mata, S.A., and Bottjer, D.J., 2012, Benthic marine invertebrate recovery from the end-Permian mass extinction; Testing the importance of the Habitable Zone through space and time: Abstract for the Midwest Geobiology Symposium, Washington University in St. Louis.
  • Pietsch, C., Mata, S.A., and Bottjer, D.J., 2011, Comparing Early Triassic patterns of benthic ecological recovery following the end-Permian mass extinction: a test of the habitable zone hypothesis in disparate shoreface environments: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 43, No. 5, pg 507.
  • Pietsch, C., and Bottjer, D.J., 2010, Understanding Early Triassic benthic invertebrate diversity and ecology and corresponding carbon isotope excursions: Geological Society of America, Pacific Section Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 42, No. 4, pg 45.
  • Pietsch, C., Mata, S.A., and Bottjer, D.J., 2010, Testing the Habitable Zone Hypothesis for the Early Triassic Benthic Fauna of Western Pangaea: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 42, No. 5, p. 481.
  • Pietsch, C., Dietl, G., and Herbert, G., 2009, The Plio-Pleistocene extinctions in Florida and the ecology of durophagous predator-prey interactions: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 41, No. 7, p. 391.
  • Pietsch, C., Dietl, G., and Herbert, G., 2009, Size vs. Age standardization of predation frequency in the fossil record: A first look. Geological Society of American Abstracts with Programs, v. 41, mo. 7, p. 265.
  • Pietsch, C., Herbert, G., Harries, P., Dietl, G., Oches, E., and Portell, R., 2008, Escalatory increase in durophagous predation during an extinction event: Geological Society of America, Southeastern Section Abstracts with Programs, v. 40, no. 4, p. 59.

Reviewing and Editorial Service

  • Pietsch, C., Peer reviewer for:Geology
    • National Science Foundation Panel Review
    • Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology