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

这个合作项目让大学和博物馆的科学家们参与了一项关键的进化新颖性的研究：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，用一盘须来进食，但它们是从有牙齿的祖先进化而来的。对须鲸的结构、骨性相关(上颚血管化)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一组神秘的须鲸化石(鲸目动物)，它们与神秘纲现存谱系的进化有关。将准备和描述新发现的须鲸化石。关于神秘虫进食进化的假设也将得到检验。解剖学、分子和组合数据集将为记录神秘动物的这一重大进化转变提供背景。这项研究将使用来自化石、发育、分子和系统发育的证据来证明一个重大的宏观进化转变，即从追逐个体猎物的有齿神秘动物到以大量捕食为食的长须类神秘动物。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和圣地亚哥自然历史博物馆关于鲸鱼进化的展品。

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.