DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Biochemical and Neuromuscular Basis of Prey Capture Behavior in Flatfishes

9623627兰黛自然选择被认为保持了脊椎动物下巴的对称性，因为任何偏离对称性的行为都会对获取食物的能力产生负面影响。然而，作为成鱼，比目鱼的下巴形态不对称，可能会表现出不对称的猎物捕获。该项目将使用高速视频分析、形态描述、肌电图和颌部机制的三维建模来确定两个比目鱼物种是否以及如何产生功能不对称。初步结果表明，一种比目鱼在捕获猎物时会产生不对称的张口和下巴从中线向外弯曲。然而，另一个物种没有下巴弯曲或不对称的张口。该项目将专注于修改现有的二维模型，以产生能够准确预测功能不对称的三维模型。所生成的模型将在未来用于预测其他比目鱼的捕食行为，并应用于对称鱼类，以更好地了解猎物捕获机制的三维性质。这个项目将增加我们对形态多样性的理解，以及在捕获猎物时的相关多样性，这些多样性可能存在于一个重要的生物群中。

9623627 Lauder Natural selection is believed to maintain symmetry in vertebrate jaws because any deviation from symmetry would negatively affect the ability to acquire food. Yet, as adults, flatfish have morphologically asymmetrical jaws and might exhibit asymmetrical prey capture. This project will determine if and how functional asymmetry is produced in two flatfish species using high-speed video analysis, morphological description, electromyography, and three- dimensional modeling of jaw mechanisms. Preliminary results indicate that one flatfish species produces asymmetrical gape and bending of the jaws out of the midline during prey capture. However, another species does not experience jaw bending or asymmetrical gape. This project will focus on modifying current two-dimensional models to produce three- dimensional models which can accurately predict functional asymmetry. Models generated will be used in the future to predict prey capture behavior in other flatfishes and applied to symmetrical fishes to gain a better understanding of the three-dimensional nature of prey capture mechanisms. This project will add to our understanding of morphological diversity, and related diversity in the capture of prey, that can exist in an important group of organisms.