Collaborative Research: Wings to Flippers-Phylogenetics, Character Acquisition, and Feather Biomechanics in the Evolution of Wing-Propelled Diving

合作研究：从翅膀到鳍状肢——翼推进潜水进化过程中的系统发育学、特征获取和羽毛生物力学

• 批准号: 0949897
• 负责人: Julia Clarke
• 金额: $ 24.13万
• 依托单位: University of Texas at Austin
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-03-01 至 2014-10-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0949897&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Wings; Flippers; Phylogenetics

While transformations to an aquatic lifestyle have been intensely studied in organisms ranging from insects to whales, basic questions remain unanswered for birds: e.g., how many times has 'aquatic flight' been gained and aerial flight lost? A large collaborative team will focus on resolving the controversial evolutionary relationships of wing-propelled diving birds (including new fossils). Phylogenetic comparative methods will be used to investigate musculoskeletal, neurosensory, and feather microstructure changes across aerial to aquatic flight transitions. Techniques such as X-ray computed tomography, histology, and computer modeling will also be utilized.Broader impacts focus on interdisciplinary undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral training in systematics, histology and biomechanics. Highlights include a mentored research experience for undergraduate students from under-represented groups. Public outreach and education activities include co-instruction of a 3 year Geoscience module of the nationally-recognized UTeach secondary school teacher preparation program, Expanding Your Horizons workshops to encourage young women to pursue science careers, web-cast lectures and distribution of curricular materials via university and museum programs, and a dedicated blog. Broad dissemination of research findings is achieved through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and data sharing via online databases.

虽然对从昆虫到鲸鱼的生物进行了深入研究，但对水生生活方式进行了深入的研究，但基本问题仍未得到鸟类的答复：一个大型的合作团队将着重于解决有争议的翼展潜水鸟（包括新化石）的有争议的进化关系。系统发育比较方法将用于研究整个空中飞行到水生飞行过渡的肌肉骨骼，神经感觉和羽毛微观结构的变化。 X射线计算机断层扫描，组织学和计算机建模等技术也将被利用。Broader的影响着重于系统学，组织学和生物力学领域的跨学科本科，研究生和博士后培训。亮点包括来自代表性不足的团体的本科生的指导研究经验。公共推广和教育活动包括共同建设全国认可的UTEACH中学教师准备计划的3年地球科学模块，扩大您的视野研讨会，以鼓励年轻妇女通过大学和博物馆计划以及专门的博客从事科学界的职业，网络播放的讲座，并通过课程材料分发。 通过在线数据库进行同行评审的出版物，会议演示和数据共享，可以广泛传播研究结果。