How Development and Behavior Interact to Change Skull Form: Exploring and Sharing Evolutionary Insights from the Fossil Record of Cetaceans (Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises)

发育和行为如何相互作用才能改变头骨形状：探索和分享来自鲸目动物(鲸鱼、海豚和海豚)化石记录的进化见解，乔纳森·H·盖斯勒纽约理工学院NSF EAR-1349607现存的鲸目动物(鲸鱼、海豚和江豚)显示出异常多样化的头骨形状，但鲸类动物的头骨与其他哺乳动物的头骨之间存在着巨大的解剖差距。幸运的是，鲸目动物的化石记录弥补了这一解剖鸿沟的大部分，使其成为记录最好但最不受欢迎的大规模进化变化的例子之一。在这个项目中，我们将探索鲸目动物头骨是如何进化的，并测试它的形状是否受到大脑大小、摄食行为或回声定位的出现的影响。为了实现这些目标，我们将对400多个现代物种和化石物种的头骨应用一系列广泛的技术，包括生成头骨3D数字计算机模型的激光扫描仪，探测化石头骨内部的X射线计算机断层扫描(CT扫描)，以及可以分析我们在进化关系背景下收集的数据的复杂计算机应用程序。我们还将正式命名四个新物种，这些新物种有3000万年的历史，记录了鲸目动物进化的关键阶段。我们的项目将使用几种策略来分享和传播我们的发现。我们命名的新化石物种将在查尔斯顿自然历史博物馆学院展出，它们内耳和大脑的3D打印模型(通过CT扫描开发)将在该博物馆和佐治亚州南部博物馆展出。在这两个地方，这些物品和标本将被整合到展品中，描述鲸鱼和海豚进化的非凡历史。更多的观众将通过一个关于鲸目动物进化的更新网站了解我们的发现。在我们项目的所有阶段，我们将让学生参与科学调查的行为，从而培养未来的科学家。具体地说，我们将邀请查尔斯顿学院和纽约理工学院的本科生以及后者的医学生。博士后学者是项目团队的一部分，通过这个项目，他/她将发展各种技能，这些技能应该成为科学事业成功的催化剂。

How Development and Behavior Interact to Change Skull Form: Exploring and Sharing Evolutionary Insights from the Fossil Record of Cetaceans (Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises)By Jonathan H. GeislerNew York Institute of TechnologyNSF EAR-1349607Extant cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) display an extraordinary diversity of skull shapes, yet there is wide anatomical gap between the skulls of cetaceans and those of other mammals. Fortunately the fossil record of cetaceans bridges much of this anatomical gap, making it one of the best documented, but least appreciated, examples of large-scale evolutionary change. In this project we will explore how the cetacean skull evolved and test whether its shape was influenced by changes in brain size, feeding behavior, or the advent of echolocation. To accomplish these aims we will apply a wide array of technology to more than 400 skulls of recent and fossil species, including a laser scanner to generate 3D digital computer models of skulls, X-ray computed tomography (CT scans) to probe inside fossil skulls, and sophisticated computer applications that can analyze the data we collect in the context of evolutionary relationships. We will also formally name four new species of 30 million year old fossil whales that document key stages in the cetacean evolution. Our project will use several strategies to share and disseminate our discoveries. The new fossil species we name will be displayed at the College of Charleston Natural History Museum, and 3D printed models of their inner ears and brains (developed from CT scans) will be displayed at that museum as well as at the Georgia Southern Museum. In both places these objects and specimens will be integrated into exhibits that describe the remarkable history of whale and dolphin evolution. A wider audience will learn of our discoveries through an updated website on cetacean evolution. In all stages of our project, we will involve students in the act of scientific investigation, thus training future scientists. Specifically we will engage undergraduates at the College of Charleston and New York Institute of Technology as well as medical students at the latter institution. A Postdoctoral Scholar is part of the project team, and through this project, he/she will develop a diverse skill set that should serve as a catalyst for a successful career in science.