Vertical Clingers and Leapers - A Biomechanical and Allometric Analysis

这项研究的主要目的是更好地了解一组高度濒危的灵长类动物的运动行为、身体大小和肌肉骨骼系统的结构适应之间的关系。研究人员将研究原猴的一种独特的位置行为，即“垂直紧贴和跳跃”。它的特点是以紧贴的姿势和从垂直的底物上跳跃而来。多年来，在运动型动物类别中表现出了巨大的形态多样性--其中大部分似乎与大小有关。相应的行为差异仍有待探索，这在很大程度上是因为没有关于较大身体的代表的足够数据。这个项目将分析较大身体的垂直爬行者和跳跃者的运动和姿势。数据收集将包括对起飞和着陆力量的录像带和“力杆”记录。一个理论生物力学框架将有助于阐明形式-功能界面，并产生关于不同大小动物对这种运动模式的形态适应的可检验假说。我们期望这项研究有助于更好地理解运动类的形态多样性，包括运动设计的化石记录。

The primary goal of this research is to better understand the relationships between locomotor behavior, body size and the structural adaptations of the musculoskeletal system in a group of highly endangered primates. The investigators will study a unique positional behavior of prosimians, "vertical clinging and leaping." It is characterized by clinging postures on and progression by leaps from vertical substrates. Over the years, a great morphological diversity has been demonstrated within the locomotor category -- much of which appears to be size related. Corresponding behavioral differences remain to be explored, in large part because adequate data on the larger-bodied representatives are not available. This project will analyze locomotion and postures of larger-bodied vertical clingers and leapers. Data collection will include videotaping and "force pole" recordings of take-off and landing forces. A theoretical biomechanical framework will serve to elucidate the form-function interface and generate testable hypotheses about morphological adaptations of different-sized animals to this locomotor mode. We expect the study to contribute to a better understanding of the morphological diversity within the locomotor category, including the fossil record of locomotor design.