NSF East Asia and Pacific Summer Institute (EAPSI) for FY 2013 in Japan

这项行动资助耶鲁大学的Rachel Racicot于2013年夏天在东京和日本筑波的国立自然科学博物馆/筑波科学中心开展一项地球科学研究项目。该项目的标题是“从高分辨率CT扫描揭示内耳形态来阐明鼠海豚和海豚回声定位的进化”。主持会议的科学家是野直树博士。活着的海豚和鲸鱼（鲸目动物）利用回声定位作为躲避捕食者和寻找猎物的手段；这涉及到一套独特的解剖特征，允许声音从耳朵、头骨和软组织结构的部分发射和接收。江豚及其近亲如何进化回声定位是一个重要的研究领域，对于制定更有效的保护策略至关重要。特别是，这些动物的内耳在空间感和声音接收方面起着关键作用。本项目通过对一些最早的海豚化石的计算机断层扫描（CT）中提取内耳迷路，并将其与现存物种进行比较，来研究海豚及其近亲回声定位的进化。记录从早期分化的鼠海豚到现存物种的内耳形态变化，可以让我们了解它们如何感知周围的三维世界。该项目对日本博物馆收藏的化石和近期材料进行CT扫描，并使用最先进的软件对其内耳的形态进行数字重建。内耳的形态学有助于重建现代海豚群和鼠海豚群之间的进化关系，对此，迫切需要额外的形态学证据。EAPSI奖学金的广泛影响包括为研究员提供美国以外的第一手研究经验；介绍该地区的科学、科学政策和科学基础设施；以及对社会、文化和语言的了解。这些活动符合美国国家科学基金会的目标，即在其科学家、工程师和教育工作者的职业生涯早期培养国际合作，从而确保美国科学劳动力具有全球意识。此外，研究员使用的分析采用尖端的CT扫描和软件进行精确的测量和统计分析。这些CT数据代表了地球和自然科学中越来越重要的资源；三维分析允许对内部特征进行无损的数字检查（否则是不可能获得的），并且是永久的数字记录，未来的研究人员，博物馆和公众可以通过www.digimorph.org等网站获得。该项目将提交给同行评审的科学期刊，如脊椎动物古生物学杂志，生态学和进化趋势，古生物学研究。海洋哺乳动物的魅力为公众宣传提供了难得的机会，包括讲座和教育材料的开发。在日本的这项研究将加强耶鲁大学本科生在CT扫描的使用和解释方面的持续指导。该研究员还将与日本科学女性协会分享她的经验。

This action funds Rachel Racicot of Yale University to conduct a research project in Geosciences during the summer of 2013 at The National Museum of Nature and Science/Tsukuba Science Center in Tokyo and Tsukuba, Japan. The project title is "Evolution of Echolocation in Porpoises and Dolphins Elucidated from High-Resolution CT Scans Revealing Inner Ear Morphology." The host scientist is Dr. Naoki Kohno.Living dolphins and whales (cetaceans) employ echolocation as a means of avoiding predators and finding prey; this involves a unique suite of anatomical features that allows the emission and reception of sound from parts of the ear, skull, and soft tissue structures. How porpoises and their relatives evolved echolocation is an important area of research crucial to developing more effective conservation strategies. In particular, the inner ears of these animals perform a pivotal role in both sense of space and sound reception. This project examines the evolution of echolocation in porpoises and their relatives by digitally extracting the inner ear labyrinths from computed tomographic (CT) scans of some of the earliest fossil delphinoids, and comparing them with extant species. Documenting the changing morphology of inner ears from early-diverging porpoises to extant species provides a sense for how they perceive the three-dimensional world around them. This project CT scans Fossils and recent material from museum collections in Japan and the morphology of their inner ears is digitally reconstructed using state-of-the-art software. The morphology of inner ears helps reconstruct the evolutionary relationships between modern groups of dolphins and porpoises, for which additional morphological evidence is sorely needed. Broader impacts of an EAPSI fellowship include providing the Fellow a first-hand research experience outside the U.S.; an introduction to the science, science policy, and scientific infrastructure of the respective location; and an orientation to the society, culture and language. These activities meet the NSF goal to educate for international collaborations early in the career of its scientists, engineers, and educators, thus ensuring a globally aware U.S. scientific workforce. Furthermore, the analyses used by the Fellow employ cutting-edge CT scans and software for accurate measurement and statistical analyses. These CT data represent an increasingly important resource in the earth and natural sciences; three-dimensional analyses allow for non-destructive digital examination of internal features (which are otherwise impossible to obtain), and are permanent digital records available to future researchers, museums, and the general public via websites such as www.digimorph.org. This project will be submitted to peer-reviewed scientific journals such as the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, and Paleontological Research. The charismatic nature of marine mammals affords exceptional opportunities for public outreach, including lectures and development of educational materials. Ongoing mentorship of undergraduates at Yale in the use and interpretation of CT scans will be enhanced by this research in Japan. The Fellow will also share her experiences with the Japanese Society for Women in Science.