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，研究一个关键的进化新颖性：须鲸的遗传起源和形态进化以及须鲸（神秘鲸）的滤食。活着的须鲸没有牙齿，它们用成片的须鲸来觅食，但它们是从有牙齿的祖先进化而来的。对鲸须结构、其骨骼相关性（腭血管形成）和其他与鲸鱼摄食机制相关的解剖学特征的研究将集中在与现存神秘动物谱系进化有关的一组神秘的鲸须化石（“鲸头鲸”）。准备和介绍新发现的须鲸化石。关于神秘动物捕食进化的假设也将得到检验。解剖、分子和综合数据集将为记录这一神秘生物的主要进化转变提供背景。这项研究将使用来自化石、发育、分子和系统发育的证据来记录一个主要的宏观进化转变，从追逐单个猎物的有齿神秘动物到大量捕食者的有须神秘动物。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的进化。

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.