Application of modern tomographic imaging methods for the investigation of the internal anatomy of mysticete periotica and the evolution of low frequency hearing in baleen whales

在这个项目中，x射线和中子断层摄影术将被用来调查非破坏性的内部解剖的耳朵（mysticete periotica）在须鲸化石中（与DFG应用程序合作：软须鲸的内部解剖和低频听觉的进化与发展。我们的目标是开发和优化断层扫描方法，以获得有关须鲸耳朵解剖结构的生物特征数据，这些数据将在古生物学家的帮助下进行分析，以获得深入的见解。低频听觉的进化和发展。将使用3D图像识别生物特征参数，这些图像是样本的特征，可用于彻底描述耳朵几何形状。将安装提取复杂生物特征数据的特殊软件。所取得的数据将提供给古生物学家作进一步分析，以中子和X射线为基础的不同成像技术的互补使用将有助于提高图像对比度，并从大样本中获得更多的结构信息，从而可以提取传统断层扫描方法难以获得的相关解剖特征。该项目的总体目标是调查新的成像方法，如分层成像（在大样本的情况下）和相位对比层析成像（在弱对比度的情况下）在古生物学对象研究中的适用性。这些可能会强烈影响这一领域的未来研究，并可能加强柏林自然博物馆和柏林技术大学之间的未来合作。

In this project x-ray and neutron tomography will be used to investigate non-destructively the internal anatomy of ears (mysticete periotica) in fossils of baleen whales (in cooperation with the DFG-application: The internal anatomy of mysticete periotica and the evolution and development of low frequency hearing in baleen whales).Our aim is to develop and optimise tomographic methods in order to obtain biometric data about the baleen whales ear´s anatomy which will be analysed with the help of palaeontologists for getting deep insights into the evolution and development of low-frequency hearing. Biometric parameters will be identified with the 3D images that are characteristic for the specimen and that can be used for a thorough description of the ear geometry. Special software will be implemented that extracts complex biometric data. The obtained data will be provided to palaeontologists for further analysis.The complementary use of different imaging techniques based on neutrons and x-rays will contribute to enhance image contrast and to obtain additional structural information from large samples that allows for the extraction of relevant anatomical features which are hardly accessible by conventional tomographic methods. A general aim of the project is to investigate the applicability of novel imaging methods like laminography (in case of large samples) and phasecontrast tomography (in case of weak contrast) in the research of paleontological objects. These could strongly influence future research on this field and could strength the future collaboration between the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin and the Technical University Berlin.