Avian Systematics and Evolution
Dr. Storer's current interests have been centered on the biology of grebes, including their behavior, anatomy, fossil history, and parasites and how it can be used to elucidate the evolutionary history of the group. Current projects are a monograph on the metazoan parasites of loons and a comparison with that of grebes, and a study of the spearing mechanism in the necks of the Western and Clark's grebe with J. Vanden Berge and with M. J. Mueller on the European records of the Pied-billed Grebe.
Dr. Storer received the Ph.D. degree from the University of California (Berkeley) in 1949. He has long been active in professional societies.
Present Position:
Professor Emeritus of Zoology and Curator Emeritus of Birds, The University of Michigan.
Personal:
Born, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 20 September 1914.
Education:
B.A. (Chemistry), Princeton University 1936.
M.A. 1942, and
Ph. D. (Zoology), University of California, Berkeley 1949.
Experience:
Instructor, Department of Zoology, and Assistant Curator of Birds,
Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, 1949-1956.
Assistant Professor, 1956-1959.
Associate Professor, 1959-1963.
Professor, 1963-1985.
Curator of Birds, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology,
1956-1985.
Professor Emeritus, University of Michigan, 1985-present.
Curator of Birds Emeritus, University of Michigan, 1985-present.
Acting Director, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan,
1979-1982.
Professional Societies:
American Ornithologists' Union. Member of Council (1953-1957, 1960-1967, 1970-present); Editor (1953-1957) of The Auk; Editor, Ornithological Monographs (1962-1969); President (1970-1972); Committee on the Classification and Nomenclature of North American Birds (1963-1998).
Cooper Ornithological Society. Assistant Editor The Condor (1948-1949); Member, Board of Directors (1969-1972); Vice-president (1970-1971); Honorary Member (1984-present).
International Ornithological Congress. Member International Ornitho-
logical Committee (1958-1982).
Michigan Audubon Society. Member Board of Directors (intermittently, 1958-1982).
Awards:
Recipient of the Loye H. and Alden H. Miller Award 1997.
see the page on Bird Division Ph. D. students
Dr. Storer has published 230 scientific and popular articles.
1952. Storer, R.W. A comparison of variation, behavior and evolution in the sea bird genera Uria and Cepphus Univ. Calif. Publ. Zool. 52:121-222.
1960. Storer, R.W. Evolution in the diving birds. Acta XII Congr. Intl. Ornith. II, pp. 694-707.
1963. Storer, R.W. Courtship and Mating Behavior and the Phylogeny of the Grebes. Proc. XIII Internl. Ornithol. Congr.: 562-569.
1969. Zusi, R.L. and R.W. Storer. Osteology and Myology of the Head and Neck of the Pied-billed Grebes (Podilymbus). Misc. Publ. Mus. Zool. Univ. Mich. 139, 49 pp., 19 figs.
1970. Storer, R.W. Thraupine and Tersininae. In: R. A. Paynter (ed). Check-list of Birds of the World, pp. 246-409.
1982. Nuechterlein, G.L. and R.W. Storer. Pair-formation Displays of the Western Grebe. Condor 84:351-369.
1982. Storer, R.W. Fused Thoracic Vertebrae in Birds: Their occurrence and Possible Significance. J. Yamashina Inst. Ornithol. 14: 86-95.
1983. Storer, R.W. (with 7 co-authors). Check-list of North American Birds, "6th. Ed." xxix + 877 pp. American Ornithologists' Union.
1985. Storer, R.W. and G.L. Nuechterlein. An analysis of plumage and morphological characters of the two color forma of the Western Grebe (Aechmophorus) Auk 102: 102-119.
1985. Storer, R.W. and J.R. Jehl, Jr. Moult Patterns and Moult Migration in the Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis. Ornis Scandinavica 16: 253-260.
1992. Storer, R.W. Intraspecific variation and the identification of Pliocene and Pleistocene grebes. Papers in Avian Paleontology Honoring Pierce Brodkorb. Sci. Ser. 36, Nat. Hist. Mus. Los Angeles Co. 419-422.
1992. Storer, R. W. Least Grebe. In: The Birds of North America, No. 24 (A. Poole, P. Stettenheim, and F. Gill, Eds.), Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, DC: The American Ornithologists' Union.
1992. Storer, R. W. (with G. L. Nuechterlein). Western Grebe / Clark's Grebe. In: The Birds of North America, No. 26 (A. Poole, P. Stettenheim, and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, DC: TheAmerican Ornithologists' Union.
1998. Storer, R. W. (with 7 coauthors). American Ornithologists' Union. 1998. Check-list of North American Birds. 7th edition. American Ornithologists' Union. Washington, D. C.
1999. Storer, R. W. (with M. J. Muller). Pied-billed Grebe. (Podilymbus podiceps). In: The Birds of North America, No. 410 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.) The Birds of North America, Inc. Philadelphia, PA..
2000. Storer, R. W. The Metazoan Parasites of Grebes (Aves: Podicipediformes) and its Relationship to the Birds' Biology. Misc. Publ. Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan, No. 188. (A database file containing individual records for each known parasite of grebes can be downloaded here. It is in Filemaker Pro 3.0 format, and has been compressed for downloading using Binhex.)