Dissertation Research: Dental Variation in Hominoids: Its Implications for Fossil Species Recognition

这个项目将研究四组现存的类人猿的牙齿变异：大猩猩、黑猩猩、猩猩和长臂猿。新的图像分析技术将被用来准确地测量这些猿的牙齿表面的形态特征。将对来自各博物馆的大量标本进行研究，以便对所有地理种群进行抽样。这项研究是重要的，原因有几个：（1）它将对化石物种的歧视。牙齿特征一直被用来区分化石物种，但由于样本量有限，物种区分特征的变化性质和模式无法研究。本研究将提供一个详尽的比较数据库的变化模式，在生活的人科动物，对化石人科动物物种的相似特征的变化可以进行比较。 (2)这将有助于理解人类在自然界中的地位。对牙齿变异的程度和模式的研究将有助于理解类人猿的组内和组间关系。这是一组与人类关系最密切的灵长类动物，它将有助于理解人类的系统和进化关系。 (3)这将有助于了解类人猿的保护状况。几个类人猿物种和亚种在它们的自然栖息地面临灭绝的威胁，许多国际努力都在试图拯救它们。本文提出的牙齿变异的研究将有助于理解人科动物的不同种群、亚种和种的分类和相互关系。这对于形成关于保护类人猿的必要性的明智意见至关重要。

This project will study dental variation in four groups of living hominoids: gorillas, chimpanzees, orang-utans, and gibbons. Novel image-analysis techniques will be used to accurately measure morphological features on the dental surface of these apes. A large number of specimens from various museums will be studied, so as to sample all geographical populations. This study is important for several reasons: (1) It will have implications for fossil species discrimination. Dental characters are consistently used to differentiate fossil species, but because of limited sample sizes, the nature and patterns of variation in species differentiating characters cannot be studied. The present study will provide an exhaustive comparative database of patterns of variation in living hominoids against which variation in similar characters in fossil hominoid species can be compared. (2) It will help in understanding the place of humans in nature. A study of the degree and pattern of dental variation will help in understanding the within- and between-grouprelationships of the hominoids. This being the group of primates most closely related to humans, it will help in understanding of the systematic and evolutionary relationships of humans. (3) It will help in understanding the conservation status of the hominoids. Several species and subspecies of hominoids are threatened with extinction in their natural habitat, and much international effort is expended in trying to save them. The study of dental variation as proposed here will help in understanding the taxonomy and interrelationships of the various populations, subspecies and species of hominoids. This is critical for forming informed opinions on the need for conservation in the hominoids.