Miss Angharad Jones

Interests

I am interested in mammals during the Quaternary, particularly their responses to the changing environmental conditions during this time. I enjoyed my Masters dissertation, which involved identifying many small mammals teeth. I also have a fondness for carnivores, particularly hyaenas. I am also interested in looking at the bones and teeth of modern specimens in order to aid interpretation of mammals from the Pleistocene. 

Current PhD research

The palaeodietary and ecomorphic responses of Pleistocene spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta Erxleben 1777) in Europe.

Whilst spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) are currently restricted to sub-Saharan Africa (Hofer & Mills 1998), during the Pleistocene they inhabited much of Europe and Asia, with dates in Europe ranging from 800 ka (thousand years ago) to 30 ka (Stuart & Lister 2014). This study will investigate the responses of C. crocuta to the fluctuating environmental conditions of Pleistocene Europe by integrating a detailed study of the rich fossil evidence from Britain with evidence from Late Pleistocene continental Europe, and comparing these to modern comparative datasets. Presence/absence information, coupled with local palaeoenvironmental reconstructions will allow determination of the range of conditions C. crocuta were able to tolerate. Reconstructions of body mass and palaeodiet (combining morphometrical and dental microwear evidence) will allow determination of C. crocuta responses to changing temperatures and prey resources through time. The results will allow a better understanding of the reasons for the extirpation of C. crocuta from Europe.

Masters dissertation

The mammalian assemblages of The Crypt, Creswell Crags, Nottinghamshire.

This involved the identification of many remains of small and large mammals. An attempt was made to understand and interpret the taphonomic history of these remains. Based on the mammalian species identified, the environmental conditions of the area during the time the fauna was alive was reconstructed. Additionally, the age of the deposits was inferred from the mammalian species composition. 

2014  -      : PhD Geography, Royal Holloway, University of London; Zoological Society of London; under the London NERC DTP

2012 - 2013: MSc Quaternary Science, Royal Holloway, University of London

2007 - 2010: BSc Geography, University of Leeds

Visiting Teacher and Marker

Teaching

1st year physical geography tutorial fellow  (2017/18)

Marking

GG1011A - 1st year fieldwork reports (2015/16 and 2016/17)

GG1011D - 1st year statistics posters (2015/16 and 2016/17)

GG2001 - 2nd year statistics reports (2015/16 and 2016/17)

July 2016 - present: STEM Ambassador with STEM Learning

Jan - Sept 2014: Laboratory Assistant (Quaternary Mammals) - Royal Holloway, University of London

I identified a great number of small and large mammal remains from a Late Pleistocene site in the UK.