DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Evolution of craniodental function in Hyaenidae and Canidae

这个研究项目旨在了解现存和灭绝的食肉动物是如何进化出足够强大的头骨和下颚来消耗猎物最坚硬的部分——骨头的。鬣狗和狗的进化记录被用来记录咬碎骨头所需的牙齿、下颚和头骨的进化。本研究项目采用的方法是四种方法的新颖整合：(1)不同类型鬣狗和狗的头骨形状的几何分析；(2)颅骨开裂咬伤时应力的三维计算机建模；(3)鬣狗和狗牙齿精细结构的微观分析；(4)现存和灭绝的食肉动物在咬伤牙齿时对牙齿表面损伤的记录。这项研究对生态学和进化生物学领域的重要性包括提高我们对大型碎骨食肉动物的生态作用的理解，以及通过更好地管理顶级捕食者来帮助更好地管理地球上剩下的自然食物网的信息。该项目所采用的研究成果和方法的广泛影响包括通过公共宣传计划吸引学生和博物馆游客参与自然科学的兴奋。此外，来自不同学习领域的大学生将在团队项目中合作。最后，非人类系统的研究成果将允许改进人类颅面外科和牙科替代生物材料的设计。

This research project aims to understand how living and extinct carnivores evolved skulls and jaws powerful enough to consume the hardest parts of their prey, the bones. The evolutionary records of hyenas and dogs are used to document the evolution of teeth, jaws and skulls required for crushing bones. The approach used in this research project is a novel integration of four methods: (1) geometric analysis of the skull shapes of different types of hyenas and dogs, (2) 3-D computer modeling of stresses occurring in the skull during bone-cracking bites, (3) microscopic analysis of fine structures of hyena and dog teeth and (4) documentation of surface damage done to the teeth during bone-crushing by those living and extinct carnivores. The importance of this research to the field of ecology and evolutionary biology include an improvement in our understanding of the ecological roles of large bone-crushing carnivores and information to help better manage the natural food webs remaining on Earth through better management of top predators. The broader impacts of the research findings and methods employed in this project include engaging students and museum visitors in the excitement of the natural sciences through public outreach programs. In addition, college students from different fields of study will collaborate in team projects. Lastly, research findings on non-human systems will allow for improved design in human craniofacial surgery and dental replacement biomaterials.