Collaborative Research: Evolution of the Mysticete Feeding Apparatus: Fossil "Cetotheres," Dental Genes, and the Genetic Basis of Baleen

这个合作项目涉及大学和博物馆的科学家对一个关键的进化新奇的研究：须鲸的遗传起源和形态进化以及须鲸（mysticete）的滤食。活着的须鲸没有牙齿，用鲸须板来进食，但它们是从有牙齿的祖先进化而来的。鲸须结构的研究，其骨相关（腭血管化）和其他解剖学特征有关的鲸鱼喂养机制将集中在一个神秘的化石须鲸（'cetotheres'）涉及现存的神秘血统的进化。新发现的须鲸化石将被准备和描述。关于神秘动物进食进化的假设也将得到验证。解剖学、分子学和综合数据集将为记录神秘学中的这一重大进化转变提供背景。这项研究将使用来自化石，发展，分子和进化的证据来记录一个主要的宏观进化过渡，从牙齿的神秘主义者，追求个人的猎物项目，以baleen-bearing神秘主义者，是批量喂养的捕食者。该项目将为本科生和研究生提供培训。这项研究的结果将被纳入一个项目网站，并在圣地亚哥自然历史博物馆展出鲸鱼进化。

This collaborative project involves university and museum scientists in research on a key evolutionary novelty: the genetic origin and morphological evolution of baleen and filter feeding in baleen (mysticete) whales. Living baleen whales lack teeth, and use plates of baleen to feed, but they evolved from ancestors that had teeth. Study of baleen structure, its bony correlate (palate vascularization) and other anatomical characters related to whale feeding mechanisms will focus on an enigmatic group of fossil baleen whales ('cetotheres') implicated in the evolution of extant lineages of mysticetes. Newly discovered baleen whale fossils will be prepared and described. Hypotheses on the evolution of feeding in mysticetes also will be tested. Anatomical, molecular, and combined datasets will provide context for documenting this major evolutionary transition in mysticetes. This research will use evidence from fossils, development, molecules, and phylogeny to document a major macroevolutionary transition from toothed mysticetes that pursued individual prey items to baleen-bearing mysticetes that are bulk-feeding predators. This project will provide training for both undergraduate and graduate students. Results of this study will be incorporated into a project website and exhibits on whale evolution at the San Diego Natural History Museum.