Dissertation Research: Masticatory System Configuration and Diet in Anthropoid Primates

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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.