Environmental changes of the past and the extent to which they have affected evolution and biogeography. Use of paleoecology and originations and extinctions of taxa to identify paleoenvironmental, evolutionary, paleoceanographic, paleoclimatic and tectonic changes through time. Neogene paleontology and paleoecology of tropical – subtropical benthic foraminifera of Central America (Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua), South America (Ecuador) and South Florida (Florida Bay). Published studies of fossil and modern foraminiferal distributions include Limón Basin of Costa Rica; Bocas del Toro Basin, Panama Canal Basin and Chucunaque Basin (Darién) of Panama; Borbón and Manabí basins of Ecuador; Florida Bay (seagrass-associated taxa); Colombian Basin, Caribbean Sea. Fossil collecting and documenting program is part of the Panama Paleontology Project.