Dissertation Research: Climatic Effects on the Nasal Complex in Macaca fascicularis and Macaca mulatta

本研究计划旨在通过检查生活在不同环境中的两种相似的非人灵长类动物——麻头猴（Macaca fascicularis）和猕猴（Macaca mulatta）的颅骨，了解气候对鼻腔复合体结构的影响。深入了解鼻腔复合体（鼻、鼻腔和副鼻窦）对于验证灵长类动物的功能适应和进化假说至关重要。以前对气候影响的研究通常局限于颅面外标志。本研究通过评估来自内部维度和体积的数据与更传统的外部测量相结合来解决这个问题。假设不同气候环境下的猕猴鼻复合体形态存在显著的骨学差异。这些差异可能反映了呼吸粘膜的调节，这是吸入空气的主要调节剂。使用的方法将包括：1)使用传统人类学技术进行线性测量；2)一种种子填充法，允许对上颌窦和鼻腔进行体积评估，以产生呼吸粘膜面积的估计；3)在ct成像方面的新进展的应用，这将允许精确可视化内部鼻成分，并允许测量其表面面积。这项研究将为理解灵长类动物鼻腔复合体的功能适应提供新的见解，特别是在气候和呼吸需求之间的相互作用方面。使用评估鼻容积的新方法和ct扫描来确定内表面面积，再加上传统的颅测量方法，将提供比以前尝试的更深入，多维度的方法。

This research proposal seeks to understand the effects of climate on the structure of the nasal complex by examining the crania of two similar non-human primate groups, Macaca fascicularis and Macaca mulatta, that inhabit different environments. A deeper understanding of the nasal complex (nose, nasal cavity, and paranasal sinuses) is essential for the testing of hypotheses regarding its functional adaptation and evolution in primates. Previous studies on the effects of climate have usually been limited to external craniofacial landmarks. This study approaches the question by assessing data from both internal dimensions and volumes in combination with more traditional external measures. It is hypothesized that there will be significant osteological differences in nasal complex morphology for macaques inhabiting different climates. These differences may reflect the accommodation of respiratory mucosa, the primary modifier of inspired air. Methods to be used will include: 1) linear measurements using traditional anthropological techniques; 2) a seed-filling method that permits volumetric assessment of the maxillary sinus and nasal cavity to yield estimates of the respiratory mucosal area; and 3) the application of new advances in CT-imaging which will allow both for precise visualizations of internal nasal components, and permit measurements of their surface areas. This study will provide new insight for understanding the functional adaptations of the nasal complex in primates, especially in regard to interactions between climate and respiratory demands. The use of new methodologies for assessing nasal volume and CT-scanning for determining internal surface areas, coupled with traditional craniometric measures, will provide a more in depth, multidimensional approach than attempted previously.