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

论文研究：阿法南方古猿手长骨干的结构与功能

• 批准号: 9520137
• 负责人: Alan Walker
• 金额: $ 1.2万
• 依托单位: Johns Hopkins University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1995
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1995-08-01 至 1997-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9520137&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Dissertation; Research; Structure; Function; Manual

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.

尽管在过去的20年里发现了许多与人类出现有关的重要的新化石，但围绕着它们的解释仍然存在着很大的争议-例如，像“露西”这样的动物是如何四处走动的-他们像我们一样走路，还是拖着脚走路，或者摆动手臂，或者做一些不同的事情。 本论文将分析从手骨到关于A. afarensis，“露西”物种。 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。 这项研究将检查一些现存的和化石猴子的掌骨和指骨（趾骨），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。 将在掌骨横截面几何特性、掌骨和指骨的中间形状及其曲率之间进行相关性，并将考虑到不同的身体尺寸进行比较。 一项初步研究已经证实了这些测量的有用性，表明手部长骨的结构特征确实与不同的运动能力有关。 这些特征将有助于阐明A. afarensis，并应在确定其他灭绝的人科动物的这种行为有用。 该奖项还将加强对一个充满活力和优秀的专业前景的培训。