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

这一行动资助耶鲁大学的Rachel Racicot于2013年夏天在日本东京和筑波的国家自然科学博物馆/筑波科学中心开展地球科学研究项目。该项目的标题是“从高分辨率CT扫描揭示内耳形态中阐明鼠海豚回声定位的演变”。“主办科学家是Naoki Kohno博士。活着的海豚和鲸鱼（鲸目动物）使用回声定位作为躲避捕食者和寻找猎物的一种手段;这涉及到一套独特的解剖学特征，允许从耳朵，头骨和软组织结构的部分发射和接收声音。鼠海豚及其亲属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。该项目通过从计算机断层扫描（CT）扫描的一些最早的海豚化石中数字提取内耳骨，并将其与现存物种进行比较，来研究鼠海豚及其亲属回声定位的演变。记录从早期分化的鼠海豚到现存物种的内耳形态变化，为它们如何感知周围的三维世界提供了一种感觉。该项目CT扫描日本博物馆收藏的化石和最近的材料，并使用最先进的软件对它们的内耳形态进行数字重建。内耳的形态学有助于重建现代海豚和鼠海豚群体之间的进化关系，这迫切需要更多的形态学证据。EAPSI奖学金的更广泛的影响包括为研究员提供美国以外的第一手研究经验;介绍各自所在地的科学，科学政策和科学基础设施;以及社会，文化和语言的方向。这些活动符合NSF的目标，即在科学家，工程师和教育工作者的职业生涯早期进行国际合作教育，从而确保具有全球意识的美国科学工作者。此外，研究员使用的分析采用了先进的CT扫描和软件，以进行准确的测量和统计分析。这些CT数据是地球和自然科学中日益重要的资源;三维分析允许对内部特征进行非破坏性的数字检查（否则不可能获得），并且是永久的数字记录，可供未来的研究人员，博物馆，和公众通过网站，如www.digimorph.org。这个项目将提交给同行-他回顾了一些科学期刊，如《古脊椎动物学杂志》、《生态学与进化趋势》和《古生物学研究》。海洋哺乳动物的魅力性质为公众宣传提供了极好的机会，包括讲座和编写教育材料。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。研究员还将与日本科学界妇女协会分享她的经验。

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.