Dissertation Research: Pedal Function in Anthropoid Primates

脚是灵长类解剖学中分析最频繁的元素之一，因为脚的形态与运动力学和栖息地的使用密切相关，而且脚的遗骸在化石记录中很常见。然而，尽管对灵长类足部的形状(形态)进行了大量的研究，但对灵长类足部在现存动物和人类中的功能知之甚少。然而，这对于解释化石足部的功能和理解动物颅后设计因环境条件变化而演变的进化过程是绝对必要的。该项目来自该研究领域的杰出实验室，将应用比较和实验方法研究活人猿和人类的脚设计和进化，这是推断包括最早的人类祖先在内的灭绝物种的功能和行为之前必要的第一步。为了了解人类高度专业化的足部解剖学的发展，我们将对人类、猿类和一些选定的猴子物种进行比较。主要的焦点是脚的“功能轴”，这一特征通常由跖骨或指骨公式或由固有的指展肌的分布来定义。将形态轴(和其他特征)与底物使用和特定行为联系起来的相互竞争的假设将通过同时应用视频、运动和肌肉监测电极方法进行经验性测试。这项研究将首次提供关于活体类人脚功能的全面数据。这里开发的方法还将为灵长类运动的实验研究开辟一条新的途径，可以分析脚元素内以及脚与其底物(地面或分支)界面上的运动和力分布。它还将涉及在杰出的实验室中培训一名年轻的专业人员。

The foot is among the most frequently analyzed elements of the primate anatomy, as foot morphology is closely linked to locomotor mechanics and habitat use, and foot remains are common in the fossil record. However, despite the abundant amount of research on the shape (morphology) of the primate foot, little is known about the function of the primate foot in living animals and humans. Yet this is absolutely necessary for the interpretation of fossil foot function and understanding of the evolutionary processes by which animal postcranial design evolved in response to changing environmental conditions. This project, from the outstanding laboratory in this area of research, will apply comparative and experimental methods to the study of foot design and evolution in living apes and humans, which is the necessary first step before infering function and behavior in extinct species, including the earliest fossil human ancestors. In order to understand the development of the highly specialized foot anatomy of humans, comparisons will be made across humans, apes, and a few selected monkey species. The primary focus is on the `functional axis` of the foot, a feature usually defined morphologically by metatarsal or digital formulae or by the distribution of the intrinsic digital abductor muscles. Competing hypotheses that link morphological axes (and other features) to substrate use and specific behaviors will be tested empirically by application of simultaneous video, kinetic, and muscle monitoring electrode methodologies. This study will provide the first comprehensive data on function of the living anthropoid foot. The methods developed here will also open a new avenue for experimental research in primate locomotion that can analyze movement and force distribution within foot elements and at the interface of the foot and its substrate (ground or branches). It will also involve the training of a young professional in an outstanding laboratory.