Dissertation Research: Masticatory System Configuration and Diet in Anthropoid Primates

这一博士论文改进奖的主要目的是探索饮食专业化与灵长类牙列结构和咀嚼肌肉结构的关系。了解咀嚼的机制是人类学研究的一个中心问题，因为它可以更好地理解动物与环境的关系。此外，这样的理解可以对灵长类和人类进化的化石记录做出更清晰的解释；这种记录通常由牙齿组成。这项研究将通过测量一些灵长类动物沿牙弓不同位置的咬合力来测试灵长类动物牙列的形式和功能之间的关系。此外，还将收集许多灵长类动物的三维坐标数据，以确定生物力学重要维度之间的协变。在饮食专业化上不同的密切相关物种将被测试。这将允许检验有关饮食与解剖学关系的假说。

The primary purpose of this doctoral dissertation improvement award is to explore the relationship between dietary specia lization and the structure of primate dentition and masticatory musculature. Understanding the mechanics of mastication is a central issue of anthropological research for it allows a better appreciation of the relationships of animals to their environments. Additionally, such understanding can lead to clearer interpretations of the fossil record of primate and human evolution; a record which often consists of teeth. This study will test the relationships between form and function of primate dentition by measuring bite forces at a variety of positions along the dental arcade in a number of primate taxa. Additionally, three-dimensional coordinate data will be collected for numerous primates in order to determine the covariation among biomechanically important dimensions. Closely related species which differ in dietary specialization will be tested. This will allow the testing of hypotheses regarding the relationship of diet to anatomy.