Professor Charles H Wellman

School of Biosciences

Professor of Palaeobiology

A photo of Charles Wellman
Profile picture of A photo of Charles Wellman
c.wellman@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 3689

Full contact details

Professor Charles H Wellman
School of Biosciences
Alfred Denny Building
Western Bank
º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½
S10 2TN
Profile
  • BSc (1987) University of Southampton, UK
  • PhD (1991) Cardiff University, Wales, UK
  • Postdoctoral Research Assistant, The Natural History Museum, London (1991-1992)
  • Postdoctoral Research Assistant, Cardiff University, Wales, UK (1994-1997)
  • Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Reader and Professor, School of Biosciences, University of º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½ (1997-present)
Research interests

My research addresses the origin and early evolution of land plants. My research integrates evidence from both fossil and living plants. Fossil evidence is in the form of early land plant megafossils and dispersed microfossils (spores and fragments). I am currently working on material from the Ordovician-Devonian of China, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Spain and Spitsbergen. I study living plants in order to interpret the earliest land plant fossils through, specifically:

  • cladistic analyses of evolutionary relationships
  • molecular clock analyses of evolutionary divergence times
  • analysis of physiological adaptations required for plants to invade the land (particularly Evo-Devo studies on the molecular genetics of spore/pollen wall development).

I am also exploring the impact of the invasion of the land by plants on global change. This has led to research into developing a novel (and currently only) proxy for past UV-B radiation.

In recent years I have also extended my research back in time to examine a previously neglected research area considering the ¡®algal scum¡¯ that inhabited the land before it was invaded by plants. This has lead to work on microbial remains from the billion year old deposits of the Torridonian and Nonesuch Shale.

Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Journal articles

  • Bonacorsi NK, Gensel PG, Hueber FM, Wellman CH & Leslie AB (2020) . Current Biology, 30(9), R388-R389. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stein WE, Berry CM, Morris JL, Hernick LV, Mannolini F, Ver Straeten C, Landing E, Marshall JEA, Wellman CH, Beerling DJ & Leake JR (2020) . Current Biology, 30(3), 421-431.e2. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Morris JL, Puttick MN, Clark JW, Edwards D, Kenrick P, Pressel S, Wellman CH, Yang Z, Schneider H & Donoghue PCJ (2018) . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 115(10), E2274-E2283. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Puttick MN, Morris JL, Williams TA, Cox CJ, Edwards D, Kenrick P, Pressel S, Wellman CH, Schneider H, Pisani D & Donoghue PCJ (2018) . Current Biology, 28(5), 733-745.e2. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH (2018) . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 373(1739). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Strother PK & Wellman CH (2016) . Palaeontology, 59(1), 89-108. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Morris JL, Leake JR, Stein WE, Berry CM, Marshall JEA, Wellman CH, Milton JA, Hillier S, Mannolini F, Quirk J & Beerling DJ (2015) . Palaeontology, 58(5), 787-801. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH & Strother PK (2015) . Palaeontology, 58(4), 601-627. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wallace S, Chater CC, Kamisugi Y, Cuming AC, Wellman CH, Beerling DJ & Fleming AJ (2015) . New Phytologist, 205(1), 390-401. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH (2014) . New Phytol, 202(1), 1-3. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Strother PK, Battison L, Brasier MD & Wellman CH (2011) Earth's earliest non-marine eukaryotes. Nature. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH (2010) . New Phytol, 188(2), 306-309. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH, Gensel PG & Taylor WA (2009) . AM J BOT, 96(10), 1849-1860. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Steemans P, Le Herisse A, Melvin J, Miller MA, Paris F, Verniers J & Wellman CH (2009) . SCIENCE, 324(5925), 353-353. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Lomax BH, Fraser WT, Sephton MA, Callaghan TV, Self S, Harfoot M, Pyle JA, Wellman CH & Beerling DJ (2008) . NAT GEOSCI, 1(9), 592-596. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH, Osterloff PL & Mohiuddin U (2003) . Nature, 425(6955), 282-285. RIS download Bibtex download

All publications

Journal articles

  • van de Schootbrugge B, Koutsodendris A, Taylor W, Weston F, Wellman C & Strother PK (2024) . Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 322, 105043-105043. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Dunlop JA, Wellman CH, Prendini L & Shear WA (2023) . The Journal of Arachnology, 51(3). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Clark JW, Hetherington AJ, Morris JL, Pressel S, Duckett JG, Puttick MN, Schneider H, Kenrick P, Wellman CH & Donoghue PCJ (2023) . NATURE PLANTS. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH, Penn-Clarke CR & Browning C (2023) . Estonian Journal of Earth Sciences, 72(1), 164-164. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH, Steemans P & Lopes G (2023) . Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 310. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH, Cascales-Mi?ana B & Servais T (2023) . Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 532(1). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Owens B, Marshall JEA, Telnova OP & Wellman CH (2022) . Paleontological Journal, 56(9), 1032-1054. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH (2022) . International Journal of Plant Sciences, 000-000. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH, Berry CM, Davies NS, Lindemann F-J, Marshall JEA & Wyatt A (2022) . Nature Plants, 8(1), 104-109. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Strother PK, Brasier MD, Wacey D, Timpe L, Saunders M & Wellman CH (2021) . Current Biology. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Davies NS, Berry CM, Marshall JEA, Wellman CH & Lindemann F-J (2021) . Journal of the Geological Society, 178(5). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Strother PK & Wellman CH (2021) . Journal of the Geological Society, 178(2). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Gibson ME & Wellman CH (2021) . Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 104399-104399. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH & Ball AC (2021) . Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 511. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Strother PK, Taylor WA, van de Schootbrugge B, Leander BS & Wellman CH (2020) . Palynology, 44(3), 461-471. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Bonacorsi NK, Gensel PG, Hueber FM, Wellman CH & Leslie AB (2020) . Current Biology, 30(9), R388-R389. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Riding JB, McLean D & Wellman CH (2020) . Palynology, 44(2), 195-204. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Askew AJ & Wellman CH (2020) . Journal of the Geological Society, 177(2), 315-324. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Stein WE, Berry CM, Morris JL, Hernick LV, Mannolini F, Ver Straeten C, Landing E, Marshall JEA, Wellman CH, Beerling DJ & Leake JR (2020) . Current Biology, 30(3), 421-431.e2. RIS download Bibtex download
  • McLean D, Riding JB & Wellman CH (2020) . Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 276, 104184-104184. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Gibson ME, Taylor WA & Wellman CH (2020) . Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Navidi-Izad N, Hashemi H, Cascales-Mi?ana B, R¨¦gnier S, Wellman CH & Servais T (2019) . Palynology. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH, Graham LE & Lewis LA (2019) . PalZ. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Oktay B & Wellman CH (2019) . Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 263, 28-46. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Owens B, Romano M, Wellman CH & Riding JB (2019) . Palynology, 43(2), 184-187. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH (2019) . Current Biology, 29(3), r93-r95. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Askew AJ & Wellman CH (2018) . Papers in Palaeontology. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Morris JL, Puttick MN, Clark JW, Edwards D, Kenrick P, Pressel S, Wellman CH, Yang Z, Schneider H & Donoghue PCJ (2018) . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115(41), E9512-E9513. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Morris JL, Puttick MN, Clark JW, Edwards D, Kenrick P, Pressel S, Wellman CH, Yang Z, Schneider H & Donoghue PCJ (2018) . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 115(10), E2274-E2283. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Puttick MN, Morris JL, Williams TA, Cox CJ, Edwards D, Kenrick P, Pressel S, Wellman CH, Schneider H, Pisani D & Donoghue PCJ (2018) . Current Biology, 28(5), 733-745.e2. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Slater SM, Wellman CH, Romano M & Vajda V (2018) . Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments, 98(1), 139-151. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH (2018) . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 373(1739). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Baranyi V, Wellman CH & K¨¹rschner WM (2018) . International Journal of Plant Sciences, 179(2), 100-114. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH (2018) . Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 249, 24-49. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Steemans P & Wellman CH (2018) . Palynology. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Abuhmida FH & Wellman CH (2017) . Palynology, 41(sup1), 31-56. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Davies NS, Gibling MR, McMahon WJ, Slater BJ, Long DGF, Bashforth AR, Berry CM, Falcon-Lang HJ, Gupta S, Rygel MC & Wellman CH (2017) . Journal of the Geological Society, 174(5), 947-950. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Le H¨¦riss¨¦ A, Vecoli M, Guidat C, Not F, Breuer P, Wellman C & Steemans P (2017) . Revue de Micropal¨¦ontologie, 60(3), 289-318. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Vecoli M, Wellman C & Al-Hajri S (2017) . Revue de Micropal¨¦ontologie, 60(3), 279-280. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Slater SM, McKie T, Vieira M, Wellman CH & Vajda V (2017) . Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Breuer P, Al-Hajri SI, Le H¨¦riss¨¦ A, Paris F, Steemans P, Verniers J & Wellman CH (2017) . Revue de Micropal¨¦ontologie. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Vecoli M, Wellman CH, Gerrienne P, Le H¨¦riss¨¦ A & Steemans P (2017) . Revue de Micropal¨¦ontologie, 60(3), 319-331. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Marshall JEA, Zhu H, Wellman CH, Berry CM, Wang Y, Xu H & Breuer P (2016) . Revue de Micropal¨¦ontologie. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Strother PK & Wellman CH (2016) . Palaeontology, 59(1), 89-108. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Slater SM & Wellman CH (2016) . Palaeontology, 59(2), 305-328. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Raevskaya E, Dronov A, Servais T & Wellman CH (2016) . Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 224, 4-13. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Slater SM & Wellman CH (2015) . Paleobiology, 41(4), 640-660. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Morris JL, Leake JR, Stein WE, Berry CM, Marshall JEA, Wellman CH, Milton JA, Hillier S, Mannolini F, Quirk J & Beerling DJ (2015) . Palaeontology, 58(5), 787-801. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH & Strother PK (2015) . Palaeontology, 58(4), 601-627. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Slater SM, Taylor WA, Batten DJ, Hill CR & Wellman CH (2015) . Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 216, 33-43. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH, Steemans P & Miller MA (2015) . Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 212, 111-126. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH, Breuer P, Miller MA, Owens B & Al-Hajri S (2015) . Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 212, 1-2. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Paris F, Verniers J, Miller MA, Al-Hajri S, Melvin J & Wellman CH (2015) . Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 212, 60-84. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wallace S, Chater CC, Kamisugi Y, Cuming AC, Wellman CH, Beerling DJ & Fleming AJ (2015) . New Phytologist, 205(1), 390-401. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH (2014) . Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 105(3), 227-238. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Xu H-H, Marshall JEA, Wang Y, Zhu H-C, Berry CM & Wellman CH (2014) . REVIEW OF PALAEOBOTANY AND PALYNOLOGY, 206, 10-22. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH (2014) . New Phytol, 202(1), 1-3. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Graham LE, Knack JJ, Piotrowski MJ, Wilcox LW, Cook ME, Wellman CH, Taylor W, Lewis LA & Arancibia-Avila P (2014) . Journal of Phycology. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Gensel PG, Wellman CH & Taylor WA (2013) . INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PLANT SCIENCES, 174(9), 1302-1313. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Parry SF, Noble SR, Crowley QG & Wellman CH (2013) . Journal of the Geological Society, 170(4), 703-706. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Graham LE, Cook ME, Wilcox LW, Graham J, Taylor W, Wellman CH & Lewis L (2013) . International Journal of Plant Sciences, 174(6), 947-957. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kerp H, Wellman CH, Krings M, Kearney P & Hass H (2013) . International Journal of Plant Sciences, 174(3), 293-308. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH, Steemans P & Vecoli M (2013) . Geological Society Memoir, 38(1), 461-476. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Pendleton JL & Wellman CH (2013) . JOURNAL OF MICROPALAEONTOLOGY, 32, 87-106. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Pendleton JL, Wellman CH & Cleal CJ (2012) . ÈÕ±¾»¨·Ûѧ»á»áÕI, 58(Special), 183. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wallace S, Beerling DJ, Fleming A & Wellman CH (2012) . ÈÕ±¾»¨·Ûѧ»á»áÕI, 58(Special), 249. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Graham LE, Lewis LA, Wellman CH, Taylor WA & Cook ME (2012) ACETOLYSIS AS A SCREEN FOR DEGRADATION-RESISTANT MODERN ALGAL STRUCTURES FOR PALEONTOLOGICAL COMPARISONS. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, 48, S33-S34. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Kenrick P, Wellman CH, Schneider H & Edgecombe GD (2012) . PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, 367(1588), 519-536. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Xu HH, Marshall JEA, Berry CM, Wang Y, Zhu HC & Wellman CH (2012) . Palaeoworld, 21(1), 11-19. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Pendleton JL, Cleal CJ, Falcon-Lang HJ, Wagner RH & Wellman CH (2012) . Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 179, 17-43. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH, Zhu H, Marshall JEA, Wang Y, Berry CM & Xu H (2012) . Palaeontology, 55(3), 583-611. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Falcon-Lang HJ, Cleal CJ, Pendleton JL & Wellman CH (2012) . Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 173, 23-45. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Parry SF, Noble SR, Crowley QG & Wellman CH (2011) . J GEOL SOC LONDON, 168(4), 863-872. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wallace S, Fleming A, Wellman CH & Beerling DJ (2011) . AoB Plants, 2011, plr027. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Fraser WT, Sephton MA, Watson JS, Self S, Lomax BH, James DI, Wellman CH, Callaghan TV & Beerling DJ (2011) . POLAR RESEARCH, 30. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Strother PK, Battison L, Brasier MD & Wellman CH (2011) Earth's earliest non-marine eukaryotes. Nature. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Falcon-Lang HJ, Pendleton JL & Wellman CH (2011) . Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 166(3-4), 268-285. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH (2010) . New Phytol, 188(2), 306-309. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH (2010) . EARTH ENV SCI T R SO, 100, 391-397. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Steemans P, Wellman CH & Gerrienne P (2010) . Geological Society Special Publication, 339, 49-58. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Taylor WA, Gensel PG & Wellman CH (2010) Wall ultrastructure in three species of the dispersed spore Emphanisporites from the Early Devonian. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH, Gensel PG & Taylor WA (2009) . AM J BOT, 96(10), 1849-1860. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH, Arioli C, Spinner EG & Vecoli M (2009) . REV PALAEOBOT PALYNO, 156(1-2), 51-61. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Grauvogel-Stamm L, Guignard G & Wellman CH (2009) . REV PALAEOBOT PALYNO, 156(1-2), 1-1. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH, Stamm LG & Guignard G (2009) . REV PALAEOBOT PALYNO, 156(1-2), 2-6. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Steemans P, Le Herisse A, Melvin J, Miller MA, Paris F, Verniers J & Wellman CH (2009) . SCIENCE, 324(5925), 353-353. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Taylor WA & Wellman CH (2009) . PALAIOS, 24(3-4), 167-180. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH (2009) . PALAEONTOLOGY, 52, 139-167. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman C (2008) When scum ruled the Earth. Planet Earth(WINTER), 12-13. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Lomax BH, Fraser WT, Sephton MA, Callaghan TV, Self S, Harfoot M, Pyle JA, Wellman CH & Beerling DJ (2008) . NAT GEOSCI, 1(9), 592-596. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Steemans P, Wellman CH & Filatoff J (2007) . PALAEOGEOGR PALAEOCL, 250(1-4), 237-254. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Watson JS, Sephton MA, Sephton SV, Self S, Fraser WT, Lomax BH, Gilmour I, Wellman CH & Beerling DJ (2007) . Photochem Photobiol Sci, 6(6), 689-694. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Arioli C, Wellman CH, Lugardon B & Servais T (2007) . REV PALAEOBOT PALYNO, 144(3-4), 231-248. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Breuer P, Al-Ghazi A, Al-Ruwaili M, Higgs KT, Steemans P & Wellman CH (2007) . Revue de Micropaleontologie, 50(1), 27-57. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH, Kerp H & Hass H (2006) . REV PALAEOBOT PALYNO, 142(3-4), 229-250. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH (2006) Spore assemblages from the Lower Devonian 'Lower Old Red Sandstone' deposits of the Rhynie outlier, Scotland. T ROY SOC EDIN-EARTH, 97, 167-211. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH (2006) The origin and early evolution of land plants: Palynological evidence. PALYNOLOGY, 30, 230-231. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH (2005) . Geological Society Special Publication, 241, 259-279. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Servais T & Wellman C (2004) . Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 130(1-4), 1-15. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH (2004) . Proc Biol Sci, 271(1542), 985-992. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH, Osterloff PL & Mohiuddin U (2003) . Nature, 425(6955), 282-285. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH (2002) Morphology and wall ultrastructure in Devonian spores with bifurcate-tipped processes. INT J PLANT SCI, 163(3), 451-474. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Lavender K & Wellman CH (2002) Lower Devonian spore assemblages from the Arbuthnott Group at Canterland Den in the Midland Valley of Scotland. REV PALAEOBOT PALYNO, 118(1-4), 157-180. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Steemans P, Higgs KT & Wellman CH (2000) Cryptospores and trilete spores from the Llandovery, Nuayyim-2 borehole, Saudi Arabia. GeoArabia Special Publication, 1, 92-115. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH, Higgs KT & Steemans P (2000) Spore assemblages from a Silurian sequence in borehole Hawiyah-151 from saudi Arabia. GeoArabia Special Publication, 1, 116-133. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH & Gray J (2000) . Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 355(1398), 717-731. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH, Habgood K, Jenkins G & Richardson JB (2000) . Rev Palaeobot Palynol, 109(3-4), 161-196. RIS download Bibtex download
  • EDWARDS D (1999) . Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 130(2), 111-156. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Edwards D, Wellman CH & Axe L (1999) Tetrads in sporangia and spore masses from the upper Silurian and Lower Devonian of the Welsh Borderland. BOT J LINN SOC, 130(2), 111-156. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH (1999) Sporangia containing Scylaspora from the lower Devonian of the Welsh Borderland. PALAEONTOLOGY, 42, 67-81. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wetherall PM, Dorning KJ & Wellman CH (1999) Palynology, biostratigraphy, and depositional environments around the Ludlow-Pridoli boundary at Woodbury Quarry, Herefordshire, England. Bollettino della Societa Paleontologica Italiana, 38(2-3), 397-404. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH (1999) Ordovician land plants: Evidence and interpretation. Acta Universitatis Carolinae, Geologica, 43(1-2), 275-277. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH, Edwards D & Axe L (1998) Ultrastructure of laevigate hilate spores in sporangia and spore masses from the Upper Silurian and Lower Devonian of the Welsh Borderland. PHILOS T ROY SOC B, 353(1378), 1983-2004. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH, Thomas RG, Edwards D & Kenrick P (1998) The Cosheston Group (Lower Old Red Sandstone) in southwest Wales: age, correlation and palaeobotanical significance. GEOL MAG, 135(3), 397-412. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH, Edwards D & Axe L (1998) . Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 127(2), 117-147. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH, Edwards D & Axe L (1996) Curation of exceptionally preserved early land plant microfossils: problems and solutions. Curator, 39(3), 209-216. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Edwards D, Davies KL, Richardson JB, Wellman CH & Axe L (1996) Ultrastructure of Synorisporites downtonensis and Retusotriletes cf. coronadus in spore masses from the P?¨ªdoli of the Welsh Borderland. Palaeontology, 39(3), 783-800. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH (1996) Cryptospores from the type area of the Caradoc Series in southern Britain. Special Papers in Palaeontology, 55, 103-136. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH & Richardson JB (1996) Sporomorph assemblages from the 'lower old red sandstone' of Lorne, Scotland. Special Papers in Palaeontology, 55, 41-101. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH (1995) . Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 84(3-4), 255-279. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH (1994) . Geological Magazine, 131(4), 563-566. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH (1993) . Journal of Micropalaeontology, 12(1), 47-66. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH & Richardson JB (1993) Terrestrial plant microfossils from Silurian inliers of the Midland Valley of Scotland. Palaeontology, 36(1), 155-193. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH (1993) . Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh: Earth Sciences, 84(2), 117-136. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH, Lopes G, McKellar Z & Hartley A () . Journal of the Geological Society. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Slotznick SP, Swanson-Hysell NL, Zhang Y, Clayton KE, Wellman CH, Tosca NJ & Strother PK () . Geological Society of America Bulletin. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH & Riding JB () . Palynology. RIS download Bibtex download

Chapters

  • Wellman CH & Ball AC (2021) , Geological Society Special Publication (pp. 309-320). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Graham L, Lewis LA, Taylor W, Wellman C & Cook M (2014) , Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration (pp. 9-28). Springer Netherlands RIS download Bibtex download
  • Steemans P & Wellman CH (2004) Miospores and the emergence of land plants In Webby BD, Paris F, Droser ML & Percival IG (Ed.), The Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event (pp. 361-366). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH (2004) , The Evolution of Plant Physiology (pp. 43-63). Elsevier RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH (2004) , The Evolution of Plant Physiology (pp. 43-63). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Edwards D & Wellman CH (2001) Embryophytes on land: The Ordovician to Lochkovian (Lower Devonian) record In Gensel PG & Edwards D (Ed.), Plants invade the land: Evolutionary and environmental perspectives (pp. 3-28). RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH & Axe L (1998) Extracting plant mesofossils and megafossils by bulk acid maceration In Jones TP & Rowe NP (Ed.), Fossil plants and spores: modern techniques (pp. 11-14). Geological Society, London RIS download Bibtex download
  • Edwards D & Wellman CH (1998) The fossil record of early land plants and interrelationships between primitive embryophytes: too little and too late? In Bates JW, Ashton NW & Duckett JG (Ed.), Bryology for the Twenty-first Century (pp. 15-43). British Bryological Society RIS download Bibtex download
  • Edwards D & Wellman CH (1996) Older plant macerals (excluding spores) In Jansonius J & McGregor DC (Ed.), Palynology: principals and applications (pp. 383-387). AASP Foundation RIS download Bibtex download
  • Puttick MN, Morris JL, Williams TA, Edwards D, Kenrick P, Pressel S, Wellman CH, Schneider H, Pisani D & Donoghue PCJ () (pp. 1-11). Wiley RIS download Bibtex download

Conference proceedings papers

  • Guizar-Sicairos M, Holler M, Diaz A, da Silva JC, Tsai EHR, Bunk O, Martinez-Perez C, Donoghue PCJ, Wellman CH & Menzel A (2015) . X-Ray Nanoimaging: Instruments and Methods II RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH & Gensel PG (2004) . REVIEW OF PALAEOBOTANY AND PALYNOLOGY, Vol. 130(1-4) (pp 269-295) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH, Kerp H & Hass H (2004) Spores of the Rhynie chert plant Horneophyton lignieri (Kidston & Lang) Barghoorn & Darrah, 1938. TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH-EARTH SCIENCES, Vol. 94 (pp 429-443) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH (2003) Dating the origin of land plants. TELLING THE EVOLUTIONARY TIME: MOLECULAR CLOCKS AND THE FOSSIL RECORD(66) (pp 119-141) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Wellman CH (2001) Morphology and ultrastructure of Devonian spores: Samarisporites (Cristatisporites) orcadensis (Richardson) Richardson, 1965. REVIEW OF PALAEOBOTANY AND PALYNOLOGY, Vol. 116(1-2) (pp 87-107) RIS download Bibtex download
Research group

Current research students

Alexander Ball (2018-)

Silurian-Devonian early land plant spores and megafossils from the Anglo-Welsh Basin. Funded by a NERC ACCE award that is a CASE Studentship with the Natural History Museum, London.


Martha Gibson (2016-)

Palynology of the Permian Zechstein deposits of the UK (in association with Sirius Minerals). Funded by a NERC ACCE award.


Past students

Dr Alexander Askew (Ph.D. 2018)

Palynology of the Middle Devonian of Spain. Funded by a NERC ACCE award.


Dr David Carpenter (Ph.D. 2017)

Charcoal, forests and Earth¡¯s Palaeozoic geochemical oxygen-cycle. Funded by NERC.


Dr Stephanie Wood (Ph.D. 2016)

Jurassic-Cretaceous palynology of the Gulf of Mexico. Funded by a NERC Open CASE award with Shell. Currently working for the British Geological Survey as a Palynology Lab Manager.


Dr Sam Slater (Ph.D. 2015)

Spore assemblages from the Yorkshire Jurassic. Funded by a NERC CASE Award with Shell Oil. Currently working as a postdoc in Sweden.


Dr Simon Wallace (Ph.D. 2013)

Evo-Devo studies of spore wall development in the extant moss Physcomitrella. Funded by a NERC award. Currently working as a postdoc in the USA.


Dr Faisal Abuhmida (PhD 2013)

Ordovician-Silurian palynology of Libya. Funded by the Libyan Petroleum Institute.
Currently working as a Stratigrapher/Palynologist for the Lybian Petroleum Institute.


Dr Janine Pendleton (PhD 2012)

Carboniferous plants and spores from the Bristol Coalfield. Funded by a NERC CASE Award with National Museum Wales, Cardiff.
Currently working as a Stratigrapher/Palynologist for PetroStrat, UK.


Dr Brian Pedder (PhD 2012)

Cambrian acritarchs from North America. Funded by a NERC Open CASE Award with the Natural History Museum, London.
Currently working as a Stratigrapher/Palynologist for Robertson, UK.


Dr Doreen Mkuu (MPhil 2012)

Tertiary palynology of Tanzania. Funded by the Tanzanian Petroleum Development Corporation.
Currently working as a Stratigrapher/Palynologist for the Tanzanian Petroleum Development Corporation.


Dr Mutusam Al-Ghammari (Ph.D. 2010)

Ordovician-Silurian acritarchs, chitinozoans and spore assemblages from Oman. Funded by Petroleum Development Oman. Currently working as a Stratigrapher/Palynologist for PDO in Oman.


Dr Khaled Gaddah (PhD 2009)

Cretaceous palynology of the Nubian Sandstone of Libya. Funded by the Libyan Education Ministry.
Currently working as a Stratigrapher/Palynologist for Waha Oil, Lybia.


Dr Issam Al-Barram (PhD 2009)

Carboniferous-Permian spore assemlages from Oman. Funded by Petroleum Development Oman.
Currently working as a Stratigrapher/Palynologist for PDO in Oman.


Dr Wesley Fraser (PhD 2008)

Development of a novel proxy for measuring past UV-B radiation.
Currently working as a Lecturer in Physical Geography at Oxford Brookes University.


Mr Abdullah Al-Ghazi (MPhil 2005)

Devonian spore assemblages of Saudi Arabia. Funded by Saudi Aramco.
Currently working as a Stratigrapher/Palynologist for Saudi Aramco in Saudi Arabia.


Dr Waleed Abusham (PhD 2001)

Carboniferous spore assemblages from Scotland. Self Funded.
Currently working as a Stratigrapher/Palynologist in Sudan.


Dr Craig Harvey (PhD 2001)

Devonian spore assemblages from Venezuela. Funded by a Hussain Farmy University of º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½ Scholarship.
Currently working as a Principal Exploration Geologist for Qatar Shell Upstream International.

Teaching activities

I teach across all levels within APS.

I am APS Level 3 tutor. In 2008 I received the Departmental Teacher of Year award.

At Level 1 I am module coordinator for APS121 (Evolution) and APS122 (Biodiversity).

At Level 2 I am module coordinator for APS269 (Palaeobiology). This module aims to instil within biology undergraduates a basic understanding of palaeontological principles¡ªwhy understanding past life enhances our understanding of the living world.

At Level 3 I am module coordinator for APS341 (Evolution of Terrestrial Ecosystems). This module explores my personal research specialism and provides an up to date and in depth exploration of how terrestrial ecosystems have evolved through time and the nature of the scientific enquiry that enables us to understand this.

My Level 3 Projects (APS345) generally involve a palaeobiological investigation of fossils (usually plant fossils) that are collected and prepared by the students. These studies may concern analysis of evolutionary trends, palaeoecological investigation or palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. My Level 3 Dissertations (APS331) cover any topical area of palaeobiology (human evolution, dinosaur palaeobiology, mass extinctions etc.).

Level 4 Projects (APS406) cover aspects of palaeobiology that are currently interesting me. They have included investigation of sexual dimorphism in stegosaur dinosaurs, reconstruction of Cretaceous palaeogeography, analysis of Silurian lake palaeoecology, assessing the impact of the end Devonian mass extinction on various organisms etc.

Professional activities and memberships

Editorial boards

  • Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology (2006-present)
  • Palaontologische Zeitscrift (2005-present)
  • Palynos (2004-2008)
  • Palaeontology (2000-2006 & 2012-2016)

Societal roles

  • Commission Internationale de Microflora du Paleozoic (Secretary-Treasurer of the CIMP/Saudi Aramco joint project)
  • International Federation of Palynological Societies (Past President 2016-present; President 2012-2016; Secretary-Treasurer 2008-2012; Newsletter Editor 2004-2008; Councillor 2000-2004)
  • Palaeontological Association (President 2018-present)

Research council activities

  • NERC Peer Review College (2007-2011)

Recent invited lectures

  • European Palaeobotany & Palynology Conference (Dublin, Ireland 2018)
  • XXV Congresso Brasileiro de Paleontologia (Ribeirao Preto, Brazil 2017)
  • Royal Society Discussion Meeting: Rhynie Chert (London, UK 2017)
  • International Palynological Congress/International Organization of Palaeobotany Conference (Salvador, Brazil 2016)
  • International Palaeontological Congress (Mendoza, Argentina 2014)