DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Evolution of craniodental function in Hyaenidae and Canidae

论文研究：鬣狗科和犬科动物颅齿功能的进化

• 批准号: 0909807
• 负责人: Xiaoming Wang
• 金额: $ 1.49万
• 依托单位: Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History Foundation
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-08-01 至 2011-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0909807&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERTATION; RESEARCH; Evolution; craniodental; function

This research project aims to understand how living and extinct carnivores evolved skulls and jaws powerful enough to consume the hardest parts of their prey, the bones. The evolutionary records of hyenas and dogs are used to document the evolution of teeth, jaws and skulls required for crushing bones. The approach used in this research project is a novel integration of four methods: (1) geometric analysis of the skull shapes of different types of hyenas and dogs, (2) 3-D computer modeling of stresses occurring in the skull during bone-cracking bites, (3) microscopic analysis of fine structures of hyena and dog teeth and (4) documentation of surface damage done to the teeth during bone-crushing by those living and extinct carnivores. The importance of this research to the field of ecology and evolutionary biology include an improvement in our understanding of the ecological roles of large bone-crushing carnivores and information to help better manage the natural food webs remaining on Earth through better management of top predators. The broader impacts of the research findings and methods employed in this project include engaging students and museum visitors in the excitement of the natural sciences through public outreach programs. In addition, college students from different fields of study will collaborate in team projects. Lastly, research findings on non-human systems will allow for improved design in human craniofacial surgery and dental replacement biomaterials.

这个研究项目旨在了解现存和灭绝的食肉动物是如何进化出足够强大的头骨和颌骨来吃掉猎物最坚硬的部分，骨头。鬣狗和狗的进化记录被用来记录牙齿、颌骨和头骨的进化，这些都是粉碎骨头所需的。本研究项目中使用的方法是四种方法的新颖集成：（1）不同类型的鬣狗和狗的头骨形状的几何分析，（2）在骨骼破裂咬合期间头骨中发生的应力的三维计算机建模，（3）对鬣狗和狗牙齿的细微结构进行显微镜分析;（4）记录在骨-被现存和已灭绝的食肉动物碾压这项研究对生态学和进化生物学领域的重要性包括提高我们对大型碎骨食肉动物的生态作用的理解，以及通过更好地管理顶级捕食者来帮助更好地管理地球上剩余的天然食物网的信息。该项目中采用的研究结果和方法的更广泛影响包括通过公共宣传计划让学生和博物馆参观者参与自然科学的兴奋。 此外，来自不同研究领域的大学生将在团队项目中合作。 最后，对非人类系统的研究结果将允许改进人类颅面手术和牙科替代生物材料的设计。