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

尽管在过去20年里发现了许多与人类起源有关的重要新化石，但围绕它们的解释仍然存在很大争议--例如，像“幸运”发现这样的动物是如何四处走动的--它们是像我们一样走路，还是拖着脚走，或者挥舞手臂，或者做一些不同的事情。本论文项目将分析从手骨到“幸运”物种阿法罗非鱼运动的争论的证据。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或根本没有作用。这项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。数据将通过X光、模制和测量原始样品和铸件获得。对掌骨的横断面几何特征、掌骨和指骨的中指形态及其曲率进行相关分析，并结合不同的体型进行比较。一项初步研究已经证实了这些测量的有效性，表明手部长骨的结构特征确实与不同的运动技能有关。这些特征反过来将有助于阐明阿法尔人的运动行为，并将有助于确定其他已灭绝的类人猿的此类行为。该奖项还将加强对充满活力和优秀职业前景的培训。

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.