Collaborative Research: Uncovering the adaptive origins of fossil apes through the application of a transdisciplinary approach

人类及其现存近亲的进化史植根于灵长类化石，需要进一步研究。为了打破这一知识鸿沟，该项目旨在通过调查、挖掘和分析一处中中新世未研究的遗址来揭示化石猿的适应起源。该项目汇集了一个跨学科的国际团队，他们将利用最新的方法收集和分析古生物、古生态和地质数据。该项目通过在美国学校和研究地点附近开展外联活动，增加公众对科学的参与。该项目还通过古人类学和地质学方面的培训和指导机会扩大研究参与度。到目前为止，可以追溯到中新世中期和晚期的大型猿类化石还很少见，需要更多的化石来充分推断在早期人类物种中发现的适应类型之前的直接类型。该项目通过在最近发现类人猿化石的地点进行全面的古生物野外研究，扩大了我们对中中新世灵长类化石记录的了解。该项目有四个主要目标：1)通过彻底的地面调查、收集和挖掘收集灵长类化石和其他动物标本；(2)建立在该地点发现的灵长类化石的系统发育位置；3)通过岩石地层学、磁性地层学、化石地层学和火山岩地层的放射性测年建立准确的序列年代学；4)通过稳定同位素分析、古地理学和古植物学重建中新世猿类的古环境和古生态；以及5)分析相关哺乳动物动物群的适应性(例如，食物)、群落结构和生物地理亲缘关系。这项研究的结果为灵长类化石的适应性起源提供了信息，并为解释伴随非洲猿类和人类起源而来的环境和生态变化提供了关键背景。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The evolutionary history of humans and their closest living relatives is rooted in fossil primate forms that require further study. To breach this knowledge gap, this project aims to uncover the adaptive origins of fossil apes by surveying, excavating and analyzing a Middle Miocene understudied site. This project brings together an international, interdisciplinary team that will utilize the latest methods in collecting and analyzing paleontological, paleoecological and geological data. The project increases public engagement in science through outreach activities at schools in the U.S. and near the study site. The project also expands research participation through training and mentoring opportunities in paleoanthropology and geology. To date, large ape fossils dated to the Middle and Late Miocene are rare and more are needed to adequately infer the type of adaptations that directly preceded the ones found among early Homo species. This project expands our knowledge of the Middle Miocene primate fossil record by conducting a comprehensive paleontological field study on a site that has recently yielded ape-like fossils. The project has four main aims: 1) collecting fossil primate, and other fauna specimens via thorough surface survey, collection, and excavation; (2) establishing the phylogenetic position of fossil primate forms found at the site; 3) establishing a precise geochronology for the sequence through lithostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy, tephrostratigraphy and radiometric dating of volcanic strata; 4) reconstructing the paleoenvironment and paleoecology of Miocene apes through stable isotope analysis, paleopedology, and paleobotany; and 5) analyzing the adaptations (e.g., diet), community structure, and biogeographic affinities of the associated mammalian fauna. Results from this study inform the adaptive origins of fossil primates and provide critical context for interpreting the environmental and ecological shifts that accompanied the origins of the African apes and humans.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.