Collections & Research Staff
Burton Lim
Assistant Curator
Mammalogy
B.Sc., Zoology, University of Toronto, 1984
M.Sc., Biology, York University, 1996
Ph.D. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 2007
Burton Lim is Assistant Curator of Mammalogy in the Department of Natural History at the ROM.
Born, raised and educated in Toronto, Burton has been employed at the ROM since completing his undergraduate degree in 1984 and has pursued graduate studies while working full-time. He has travelled to 17 countries (and counting) conducting fieldwork on mammals. His research interests focus on the evolution of bats and the biodiversity of mammals. Currently, he is involved in a 5-year project doing a biotic survey of small mammals as part of a larger project on terrestrial vertebrates and their parasites in China.
His dissertation examines the molecular phylogenetics of New World sheath-tailed bats (Family Emballonuridae), their origin, divergence times, biogeography in Central and South America, and the evolution of morphological and behavioural characters. In addition, Burton has been on many expeditions to the Guiana Shield of northern South America, including Guyana and Suriname. He uses species diversity of small mammals (bats, rats, and opossums) to investigate mammalian systematics, and to compile baseline data on distribution and community structure for monitoring changes in the environment to assess aspects of conservation and sustainable development.
Recent Publications
Please contact Burton Lim for reprints.
| In press | Borisenko, A.V., B.K. Lim, N.V. Ivanova, R.H. Hanner, and P.D.N. Hebert. "DNA barcoding in ecological surveys of small mammal communities: a field study at Bakhuis, Suriname." Molecular Ecology Notes, 8. |
| In press | Lim, B.K. "Historical biogeography of New World emballonurid bats (Tribe Diclidurini): taxon pulse diversification." Journal of Biogeography, 35 |
| In press | Lim, B.K., and J.M. Dunlop. "Evolutionary patterns of morphology and behavior as inferred from a molecular phylogeny of New World emballonurid bats (Tribe Diclidurini)." Journal of Mammalian Evolution, 15 |
| 2008 | Lim, B.K., M.D. Engstrom, J.W. Bickham, and J.C. Patton. "Molecular phylogeny of New World emballonurid bats (Tribe Diclidurini) based on loci from the four genetic transmission systems in mammals. " Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 93: 189-209. |
| 2007 | Clare, E.L., B.K. Lim, M.D. Engstrom, J.L. Eger, and P.D.N. Hebert. "DNA barcoding in Neotropical bats: species identification and discovery within Guyana." Molecular Ecology Notes, 7: 184-190. |
| 2007 | Lim, B.K. "Divergence times and origin of neotropical sheath-tailed bats (Tribe Diclidurini) in South America." Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 45: 777-791. |
| 2006 | Graciolli, G., F.C. Passos, W.A. Pedro, and B.K. Lim. "Bat flies (Diptera, Streblidae) on phyllostomid bats (Mammalia, Chiroptera) from Caetetus Ecological Station, Sao Paulo, Brazil." Revista Brasileira de Zoologia, 23: 298-299. |
| 2006 | Gregorin, R., E. Gonçalves, B.K. Lim, and M.D. Engstrom. "New species of disk-winged bats Thyroptera and range extension of T. discifera." Journal of Mammalogy, 87: 238-246. |
| 2006 | Lim, B.K., M.D. Engstrom, J.C. Patton, and J.W. Bickham. "Systematic relationships of the Guianan brush-tailed rat (Isothrix sinnamariensis) and its first occurrence in Guyana." Mammalia, 70: 120-125 |
Research Projects
Canadian Barcode of Life Initiative
Galleries
Bat Cave
ROM Images
Mammals
Podcasts
Bats!
October 06, 2009
Learn about Burton Lim's, Assistant Curator of Mammalogy, Bat research in Guyana and around the world. Burton is an expert on all types of bats and studies their biodiversity and evolution.
Video Podcast (13.2MB, 1m 54s)
Written Transcript (PDF)
Specimen Preparation
March 01, 2007
Assistant Curator Burton Lim describes the process of preparing specimens collected in the field for research and study.
Video Podcast (4 MB, 1m 38s)
Written Transcript (PDF)
A Day in the Field
January 25, 2007
Assistant Curator Burton Lim describes a typical day of fieldwork in China, from preparing bat and rodent specimens to recording field notes, and of course enjoying camp meals.
Video Podcast (4 MB, 1m 28s)
Written Transcript (PDF)
Other Information:
Photo gallery of mammals collected in China, 2006 (PDF)
Photo gallery of bats collected in Suriname, 2006 (PDF)
Curriculum Vitae (PDF)
Other Links
Checklists of the Mammals of Guyana and the Guiana Shield
Guide to the Mammals of Iwokrama
Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World: Guianan Moist Forests
From Bats to Rats and Other Furry Things: Mammal Discoveries in Guyana
Small Mammals: The Upper Essequibo Concession, Guyana
Assistant Curator of Mammalogy: Career Track Options
Taxa – Mammals: Biotic Surveys and Inventories of Southern China
Field Diaries: Bat Man
Mammal Networked Information System (MaNIS): ROM mammal specimen database
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD): DNH sequences of ROM tissue collection
Contact Information
Royal Ontario Museum
Department of Natural History
100 Queen's Park
Toronto, ON
M5S 2C6
Tel: 416.586.5771
Fax: 416.586.5553
E-mail: burtonl@rom.on.ca
Burton in front of the northern prow of Mount Roraima in Guyana, March 2003. Photo credit: Francis X. Faigal.
First record of the smoky sheath-tailed bat (Cyttarops alecto: ROM 117632) in Suriname, February 2006. Photo credit: Alex Borisenko.
Nian Wei, Guangxi, China, October 2004.
