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

兽脚亚目恐龙（两足掠食性恐龙）的前肢在几个不同的谱系中都大大减少了，每次的结果都大不相同。前肢的功能、发育和进化历史仍然是一个谜。在这个项目中，对关键兽脚亚目物种的形状和骨骼特征（骨学）以及手臂肌肉组织的详细分析将有助于识别高度缩小的前肢进化过程中最重要的特征，以及随着时间的推移，缩小的前肢是如何被使用的。这些信息将被用于研究整个兽脚亚目恐龙家族的骨学、肌肉组织和前肢总体大小的趋势。这项研究为教育公众在退化和肢体减少的过渡阶段（发生在许多脊椎动物群体中）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亚目前肢基本功能结构的理解，并允许进一步研究前肢功能，如抓握，捕食和飞行的起源（和损失）。这项研究对恐龙前肢的进化和功能的新见解将进一步用于兽脚亚目恐龙的重建，以供博物馆展示和教育电视节目使用。

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.