Dissertation Research: Structure and Function of the Manual Long Bone Shafts of Australopithecus afarensis

尽管在过去的二十年里发现了许多与人类出现有关的重要化石，但围绕它们的解释仍然存在很多争议——例如，像“露西”这样的动物是如何四处走动的——它们是像我们一样走路，还是拖着脚步，还是摆动手臂，还是做着不同的事情？本论文项目将分析从手骨到关于南方古猿“露西”物种运动的争论的证据。与所有其他灵长类动物的手不同，我们的手在运动中几乎没有作用。本研究将检查一些现存和化石猴子的掌骨和指骨（指骨），以确定运动差异的结构相关性。数据将从x射线、成型和测量原始标本和铸件中获得。将掌骨的横截面几何特性、掌骨和指骨的中轴形状及其曲率进行关联，并在考虑到不同体型的情况下进行比较。一项初步研究已经证实了这些测量的有效性，表明手长骨的结构特征确实与不同的运动技能有关。这些特征将有助于阐明南方古猿阿法种的运动行为，并有助于确定其他已灭绝的类人猿的运动行为。此奖项亦有助培养充满活力及优秀的专业人才。

Although a number of important new fossil finds relating to the emergence of humans have been discovered in the past twenty years, there remains a great deal of controversy surrounding their interpretation - for example, how the animals such as the `Lucy` finds got around - did they walk like us, or shuffle, or arm-swing, or do something different. This dissertation project will analyze the evidence from hand bones to the debate about the locomotion of A. afarensis, the `Lucy` species. Unlike the hands of all other primates, our hands have little or not role in locomotion. This research will examine the metacarpals and finger bones (phalanges) of a number of extant and fossil monkeys in order to determine the structural correlates of locomotor differences. Data will be obtained from x-rays, molding, and measuring original specimens and casts. Correlations will be made betwen metacarpal cross-secional geometric properties, mid-shpft shape of metacarpals and phalanges, and their curvatures, and a comparison will be performed, taking into account the different body sizes. A pilot study has already confirmed the usefullness of these measurements, showing that there are structural features of the long bones of the hand which do correlate with different locomotor repertoires. These features will in turn help to elucidate the locomotor behaviors of A. afarensis, and should be useful in determining such behaviors in other extinct hominoids. This award will also enhance the training of an energetic and excellent professional prospect.