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The Evolution of Auditory Adaptations for Aquatic Life in Pinnipeds

鳍足类水生生物听觉适应的进化

基本信息

批准号：
EP/X021238/1
负责人：
James Rule
金额：
$ 24.26万
依托单位：
Natural History Museum
依托单位国家：
英国
项目类别：
Fellowship
财政年份：
2022
资助国家：
英国
起止时间：
2022 至无数据
项目状态：
未结题

来源：
https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FX021238%2F1
关键词：
Evolution Auditory Adaptations Aquatic Life

项目摘要

Pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, and walruses) are key top predators of marine ecosystems that share a remarkable adaptation: the ability to hear in-air and underwater. This amphibious hearing ability, unique in mammals, is a result of their evolutionary transition from land to life underwater. Pinniped amphibious hearing is possible thanks to an organ in their ear called the cavernous sinus, which led to a diverse array of adaptations in the bony ear of pinnipeds during their evolution. The bioacoustics of pinnipeds has been the subject of many recent studies. However, none of this research has been linked to their auditory anatomy, which has barely been explored. In this project I will explore the evolution of the highly specialised auditory anatomy of pinnipeds by: (1) digitising and visualising the bony ear regions of pinnipeds (both living and extinct) and their close relatives (ursids and mustelids) via high-resolution micro-CT scanning; (2) reviewing the diversity of auditory adaptations in pinnipeds linked to underwater hearing; (3) quantitatively analysing pinniped inner ears via 3D geometric morphometrics; (4) identifying convergent evolution among pinnipeds towards the ability to hear ultrasonic sounds; (5) investigating the origin of amphibious hearing in pinnipeds using phylogenetic comparative methods. This project will result in the most comprehensive 3D digital dataset of the bony ear anatomy of pinnipeds. This project will establish a foundational link between morphological and bioacoustic studies in pinnipeds, providing profound insights into how their unique amphibious hearing evolved. During this project I will gain expertise in 3D geometric morphometrics and phylogenetic comparative methods, and experience in open science practices, mentorship, teaching, natural history collection management, and other transferable skills that will substantially improve my future career prospects, firmly establishing me as an independent researcher.

鳍足动物(海豹、海狮和海象)是海洋生态系统的主要顶级捕食者，它们有一种非凡的适应能力：在空中和水下都能听到声音。这种两栖听觉能力在哺乳动物中是独一无二的，是它们从陆地进化到水下生命的结果。鳍足两栖动物的两栖听力是可能的，这要归功于他们耳朵中的一个叫做海绵窦的器官，它导致了鳍脚类动物在进化过程中骨耳朵的一系列不同的适应。鳍脚类的生物声学一直是最近许多研究的主题。然而，这些研究都没有与它们的听觉解剖学联系起来，而听觉解剖学几乎没有被探索过。在这个项目中，我将通过以下方式探索鳍足类高度专业化的听觉解剖学的进化：(1)通过高分辨率的Micro-CT扫描数字化和可视化鳍脚类动物(包括现存的和已灭绝的)及其近亲(Ursids和芥虫)的骨耳区域；(2)回顾与水下听力有关的鳍脚类动物听觉适应的多样性；(3)通过3D几何形态计量学对鳍足类内耳进行定量分析；(4)确定鳍脚类动物向听到超声波的能力方面的趋同进化；(5)利用系统发育比较的方法研究鳍脚类动物两栖听力的起源。该项目将产生最全面的鳍脚类骨骼耳朵解剖的3D数字数据集。该项目将在鳍脚类动物的形态和生物声学研究之间建立基础联系，为了解它们独特的两栖听力是如何进化的提供深刻的见解。在这个项目中，我将获得3D几何形态测量学和系统发育比较方法方面的专业知识，以及开放科学实践、导师、教学、自然历史收集管理和其他可转让技能的经验，这些技能将极大地改善我未来的职业前景，确立我作为独立研究人员的地位。