Macroevolutionary patterns in the evolution of the skull in theropod dinosaurs: a morphogenetic approach

兽脚类恐龙是中生代最引人注目的陆生脊椎动物之一，即使在今天，以鸟类的形式也是如此。尽管它们的进化史对于理解当今最多样化的脊椎动物之一的起源和进化具有极其重要的意义，但对兽脚类动物的宏观进化模式的研究仍然很少，特别是对于这个类群中头骨的进化。然而，最近关于兽脚类头骨个体发育和生物力学的工作为这类研究提供了良好的基础。在目前的项目中，我们将使用几何形态计量学方法研究非鸟类兽脚亚目动物和基础鸟类头骨的进化。因此，我们将建立兽脚类头骨占据的形态空间，并分析兽脚类进化过程中形态空间的变化。通过将这些形态计量学研究与兽脚类头骨个体发育和生物力学分析的结果相结合，我们将进一步研究异时性和功能性方面对兽脚类头骨进化的影响。因此，该项目将使人们更好地理解兽脚类头骨向鸟类进化的宏观进化模式。

Theropod dinosaurs were one of the most conspicuous groups of terrestrial vertebrates during the Mesozoic, and, in the form of birds, this is true even today. Although their evolutionary history is thus of greatest importance for understanding the origin and evolution of one of the most diverse vertebrate groups today, studies of macroevolutionary patterns in theropods are still rare, especially for the evolution of the skull in this group. However, recent works on theropod skull ontogeny and biomechanics provide a good base for such studies. In the current project, we will investigate the evolution of the skull in non-avian theropods and basal birds, using a geometric morphometric approach. We will thus establish the morphospace occupied by theropod skulls and analyse shifts in morphospace during theropod evolution. By integrating these morphometric studies with results from analyses of theropod skull ontogeny and biomechanics, we will further investigate the influence of heterochrony and functional aspects on the evolution of the theropod skull. The project will thus lead to a much better understanding of macroevolutionary patterns in the evolution of theropod skulls on the lineage towards birds.