Dissertation Research: Biomechanics and Ontogeny of Phalangeal Curvature in Catarrhine Primates

这项研究的目的是调查导致高等灵长类动物趾骨（手指和脚趾的骨头）弯曲的因素。 在运动中经常抓住树枝的灵长类动物似乎比那些在地面上行走的灵长类动物有更多弯曲的趾骨。 因此，指骨在历史上对于解释化石物种的行为非常有用，包括早期人类祖先。然而，我们不明白1）树栖运动的力学机制的哪些方面导致指骨弯曲，以及2）弯曲如何发展。 这项研究将纳入新的分析（即，有限元分析）和数据采集（即，压力传感器垫，尸体上的应变计）技术，通过比较现存的树栖和陆生灵长类动物在运动过程中如何使用手来测试现有的关于指骨弯曲的假设。 最后，讨论如何解释原始形态，重要的是所有古生物学家感兴趣的行为重建化石形态，将通过检查是否指骨曲率发展在响应增长过程中经历的负载或曲率是否仅仅是“系统发育的行李”。

The goal of this research is to investigate the factors responsible for curvature in the phalanges (the bones of the fingers and toes) in higher primates. Primates that regularly grip branches during movement appear to have more curved phalanges than those that walk on the ground. As such, finger bones have historically been very useful for interpreting behavior in fossil species, including early human ancestors. However, we do not understand 1) what aspects of the mechanics of arboreal locomotion lead to phalangeal curvature and 2) how curvature develops. This research will incorporate new analytical (i.e., finite element analysis) and data acquisition (i.e., pressure sensor pads, strain gauges on cadavers) techniques to test existing hypotheses regarding phalangeal curvature by comparing how living arboreal and terrestrial primates use their hands during locomotion. Finally, the debate over how to interpret primitive morphology, important to all paleontologists interested in the reconstruction of behavior from fossil morphology, will be addressed by examining whether or not phalangeal curvature develops in response to loads experienced during growth or whether curvature is merely `phylogenetic baggage`.