DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Osteological, Myological, and Phylogenetic Trends of Forelimb Reduction in Theropod Dinosaurs

兽脚类(两足食肉恐龙)的前肢在几个不同的谱系中都大大减少了，每次的结果都截然不同。减少的前肢的功能、发展和进化史仍然是一个谜。在这个项目中，对关键兽脚类物种的形状和骨骼特征(骨学)和手臂肌肉结构的详细分析将有助于识别高度缩小的前肢进化中最重要的特征，以及随着时间的推移如何使用缩小的前肢。这些信息将被用来研究整个兽脚亚科树上前肢的骨学、肌肉结构和整体大小的趋势。这项研究为教育公众在退化和肢体减少的过渡阶段(在许多脊椎动物群体中发生的事情)的进化提供了一个引人入胜的背景。此外，该项目将促进对兽脚类前肢的基本功能结构的理解，并允许进一步研究前肢的功能，如抓取、捕食和飞行的起源(和损失)。这项研究产生的对恐龙前肢进化和功能的新见解将进一步用于博物馆展示和教育电视节目中的兽脚类动物足类的重建。

The forelimbs of theropods (bipedal, predatory dinosaurs) have become greatly reduced in several different lineages, each time with vastly different results. The function, development, and evolutionary history of reduced forelimbs remains a mystery. In this project, detailed analysis of the shape and bony features (osteology) and the musculature of the arms of key theropod species will allow for identification of the most important features in the evolution of highly reduced forelimbs and how reduced forelimbs were used over time. This information will be used to examine the trends in the osteology, musculature, and overall size of the forelimb across the entire theropod family tree.This study provides an engaging backdrop for educating the public about evolution in the context of vestigialization and the transitional stages of limb reduction (something that has happened in numerous vertebrate groups). Moreover, this project will advance understanding of the fundamental functional structure of the theropod forelimb and allows for further studies of forelimb function, such as grasping, predation, and the origin (and loss) of flight. New insights into the evolution and function of dinosaur forelimbs generated by this study will be further used for reconstructions of theropods for museum displays and educational television programs.