Dissertation Research: The Influence of Body Size and Body Proportions on Primate Quadrupedal Locomotion

生物力学假说已经被开发出来，表明身体大小和身体比例都应该导致四足动物运动的可预测变化。这些建议已被用于重建灵长类化石的运动模式。然而，这些假说还没有得到充分的实验验证。使用高速3D运动分析系统和测力平台相结合，这项研究将量化一组密切相关的东半球猴子的运动模式和力学行为，这些猴子习惯性地在地面上四足行走(马鞭猴、帕塔斯猴、狒狒、猪尾猴)。主要目标是测量身体大小和身体比例对运动性能变量的影响。将进行三种不同类型的比较：每一物种的雄性和雌性之间的种内比较，因为它们的体型不同，但具有相似的身体比例；具有相似体重但身体比例不同的个体之间的狭义种间比较；以及整个样本的广泛的种间比较。这些数据将有助于评估将身体大小和身体比例与运动联系起来的机械假说。此外，在实验中建立的运动行为和形态之间的关系将增加对化石灵长类运动形态的功能解释的信心水平。

Biomechanical hypotheses have been developed to suggest that both body size and body proportions should cause predictable changes in the locomotion of quadrupedal animals. These suggestions have been used to reconstruct locomotor modes of fossil primates. However, these hypotheses have not been adequately tested experimentally. Using a high-speed 3D motion analysis system in conjuction with a force platform, this study will quantify the locomotor patterns and mechanics of a closely related group of Old World monkeys that habitually move quadrupedally on the ground (vervets, patas monkeys, baboons, pig-tailed macaques). The primary goal is to measure the effects of both body size and body proportions on locomotor performance variables. Three different types of comparisons will be made: intraspecific comparisons between males and females of each species since they differ in body size but have similar body proportions; narrow interspecific comparisons between individuals that have similar body mass, but differ in body proportions; and broad interspecific comparisons across the entire sample. These data will be useful for evaluating the mechanical hypotheses that relate body size and body proportions to locomotion. In addition, experimentally established relationships between locomotor behavior and morphology will increase the level of confidence that is placed in the functional interpretations of the locomotor morphology of fossil primates.