Dissertation Research: Performance of the Skull of Canidae during Predation and Feeding, and Implications for the Evolution of Craniofacial Form: A Finite Element Approach

形态学和摄食行为之间的关系构成了进化论和生态学教学的经典基础。虽然专门化的喂食装置（头骨，颌骨，牙齿）通常会增加利用给定资源的能力，但它也可能限制可以获取的食物范围。 犬科（例如狐狸，土狼，狼）是研究这种现象的一个很好的群体，因为它们表现出广泛的捕食和进食行为，从大型哺乳动物专家到小型哺乳动物和无脊椎动物专家。有限元分析（FEA）是一种机械工程技术，用于在负载下近似和可视化复杂几何形状的物体中的应力。 与机械工程的同事合作，研究人员将使用FEA来解决犬科动物的生态和狩猎行为与形态变化之间的关系，方法是在模拟不同咬合方式的条件下评估生态上不同的犬科动物头骨的机械性能。这项工作的结果将增加对形态学如何限制生态和行为的理解。 这也将有助于理解食肉动物行会内表型多样性的机械基础。 因此，它将引起生态学家、保护生物学家和古生物学家的广泛兴趣。 有限元分析作为探索脊椎动物生物力学的工具尚处于起步阶段，这项研究将在定义和发展该方法方面发挥重要作用，同时让本科生有机会参与这一令人兴奋的新研究领域。

The relationship between morphology and feeding behavior forms a classical basis for teaching evolution and ecology. Although specialization of the feeding apparatus (skull, jaws, teeth) often increases ability to utilize a given resource, it may also constrain the range of food items that can be taken. The Canidae (e.g. foxes, coyotes, wolves) are an excellent group within which to study such phenomena, as they exhibit a wide array of predatory and feeding behaviors, from large mammal specialists to small mammal and invertebrate specialists. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is a mechanical engineering technique used to approximate and visualize stress in objects of complex geometry, when placed under load. Working with a colleague from mechanical engineering, the researchers will use FEA to address hypotheses relating ecology and hunting behavior in canids to variation in morphology by assessing mechanical performance of skulls of ecologically distinct canids under conditions simulating different biting styles. The results of this work will add to an understanding of how morphology places limits on ecology and behavior. It will also contribute to understanding the mechanical basis for phenotypic diversity within carnivore guilds. As such, it will be of broad interest to ecologists, conservation biologists and paleontologists. Finite element analysis is in its infancy as a tool for exploring vertebrate biomechanics and this study will play an important role in defining and developing the method, while allowing undergraduate students the opportunity to become involved in this exciting new field of study.