Dissertation Research: Morphometric and Microwear Analysis of Fossil Primates (Adapidae: Notharctinae): The Relationship Between Tooth Shape and Diet in an Evoling Clad

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ABSTRACT P.I. Kenneth Rose/Maureen O'Leary SBR-9316019 Paleontologists have always hoped the study of fossil teeth would reveal the diet, ecological adaptations, as well as the evolutionary relationships, of living and extinct vertebrates. This study, using SEM molar microwear analysis to infer diet, and also landmark-based and outline-based morphometrics of the teeth, will reveal how dental form and use changed over a substantial time interval in an important extinct primate group. Also, paleosol data from this early Eocene sequence in Wyoming suggests that variation there can be tied to the dental microwear and morphological changes, which would be a break-through. The project will contribute to the study of the tempo and mode of evolutionary change in these primates. It will also train a very competent young researcher in an excellent program. *** P\anthro\jfried\9316019.abs ! ! ! D ( Times New Roman Symbol & Arial S " h e e = Jonathan Friedlaender Jonathan Friedlaender