Dissertation Research: Pattern of Sexual Dimorphism in Limb Joint Surfaces of Catarrhine Primates

灵长类动物化石样本分析中最基本的问题之一是确定它们包含多少物种。 包含不同大小的相似（但不完全相同）形状的个体的样本经常引起古人类学家的争论，即样本是否由两个相关物种（一个大，一个小）组成，或者是单一物种的两种性别（大男性，小女性）。 从理论上讲，当两种性别在大小上有显著差异时（如狒狒和大猩猩），它们的四肢关节在形状上也可能略有不同。 这是由于较大的男性将遇到比女性相对更大的关节应力水平，从而导致关节表面积的差异。 利用视频成像和计算机分析的最新进展，这项研究将研究一些最近的旧世界灵长类动物，包括猴子和猿的肢体关节表面的性别相关的形状差异。 这项研究将揭示男性和女性骨骼的差异，并确定性别相关的形状差异模式是否在物种之间相似，或者取决于动物如何移动等因素。 现代灵长类动物类群中基于性别的差异的这种检查将提供一个重要的背景，以评估目前的化石组合。

One of the most fundamental issues in the analysis of primate fossil samples is the determination of how many species they contain. Samples that contain differently-sized individuals of similar (but not identical) shape often incite debate among paleoanthropologists as to whether the sample is made up of two related species (one large, one small), or two sexes of a single species (large males, small females.) Theoretically, when two sexes differ significantly in size (as in baboons and gorillas), their limb joints may also differ slightly in shape. This is due to the fact that larger males will encounter relatively greater joint stress levels than females, thereby inducing differences in the surface area of the joints. Using video imaging and recent advances in computer analysis, this study will examine sex-related shape differences in the limb joint surfaces of a number of recent Old World primates, including monkeys and apes. This research will reveal exactly how the bones of males and females differ, as well as determine whether or not patterns of sex-related shape differences are similar across species, or depend upon factors such as how the animals move around. This examination of sex-based differences within modern primate taxa will provide a crucial background with which to evaluate current fossil assemblages.