Dissertation Research: Masticatory System Configuration and Diet in Anthropoid Primates

本次博士论文进修奖的主要目的是探索饮食特化与灵长类齿列结构和咀嚼肌肉组织之间的关系。理解咀嚼的机制是人类学研究的一个核心问题，因为它可以更好地理解动物与其环境的关系。此外，这样的理解可以更清楚地解释灵长类动物和人类进化的化石记录；牙齿记录：通常由牙齿组成的记录本研究将测试灵长类动物牙列的形式和功能之间的关系，通过测量咬合力在各种位置沿牙拱廊在一些灵长类动物类群。此外，将收集许多灵长类动物的三维坐标数据，以确定生物力学重要维度之间的共变。将对在饮食专门化上不同的近亲物种进行测试。这将允许测试关于饮食与解剖学关系的假设。

The primary purpose of this doctoral dissertation improvement award is to explore the relationship between dietary specia lization and the structure of primate dentition and masticatory musculature. Understanding the mechanics of mastication is a central issue of anthropological research for it allows a better appreciation of the relationships of animals to their environments. Additionally, such understanding can lead to clearer interpretations of the fossil record of primate and human evolution; a record which often consists of teeth. This study will test the relationships between form and function of primate dentition by measuring bite forces at a variety of positions along the dental arcade in a number of primate taxa. Additionally, three-dimensional coordinate data will be collected for numerous primates in order to determine the covariation among biomechanically important dimensions. Closely related species which differ in dietary specialization will be tested. This will allow the testing of hypotheses regarding the relationship of diet to anatomy.