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改变头骨形式：从鲸类动物（鲸鱼、海豚和鼠海豚）的化石记录中探索和分享进化见解现存的鲸类动物（鲸鱼、海豚和鼠海豚）显示出头骨形状的非凡多样性，但鲸类动物的头骨与其他哺乳动物的头骨在解剖学上存在很大差距。幸运的是，鲸类动物的化石记录弥补了这一解剖学上的差距，使其成为记录最充分、但最不受重视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的头骨是如何进化的，并测试其形状是否受到大脑大小、摄食行为或回声定位的变化的影响。为了实现这些目标，我们将对400多个新近和化石物种的头骨应用广泛的技术，包括激光扫描仪来生成头骨的3D数字计算机模型，x射线计算机断层扫描（CT扫描）来探测头骨化石内部，以及复杂的计算机应用程序，可以分析我们在进化关系背景下收集的数据。我们还将正式命名四种新的3000万年前的鲸鱼化石，它们记录了鲸类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大学自然历史博物馆展出，它们的内耳和大脑的3D打印模型（通过CT扫描开发）将在该博物馆以及乔治亚南部博物馆展出。在这两个地方，这些物品和标本将被整合到描述鲸鱼和海豚进化的非凡历史的展览中。更多的观众将通过更新的鲸类动物进化网站了解我们的发现。在我们项目的各个阶段，我们都会让学生参与到科学调查中来，从而培养未来的科学家。具体来说，我们将招收查尔斯顿学院和纽约理工学院的本科生以及后者的医科学生。博士后学者是项目团队的一员，通过这个项目，他/她将发展多样化的技能，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.