Collaborative Research: Wings to Flippers-Phylogenetics, Character Acquisition, and Feather Biomechanics in the Evolution of Wing-Propelled Diving

虽然从昆虫到鲸鱼的生物体都在深入研究向水生生活方式的转变，但鸟类的基本问题仍然没有答案：例如，有多少次获得了“水上飞行”，失去了空中飞行？一个大型的合作团队将专注于解决有争议的翼推动潜水鸟（包括新化石）的进化关系。系统发育的比较方法将被用来调查肌肉骨骼，神经感觉，和羽毛微观结构的变化，在空中到水生飞行过渡。还将利用X射线计算机断层扫描、组织学和计算机建模等技术。更广泛的影响集中在系统学、组织学和生物力学的跨学科本科生、研究生和博士后培训上。亮点包括来自代表性不足群体的本科生的指导研究经验。公共宣传和教育活动包括国家认可的“UTeach”中学教师准备计划的3年地球科学模块的共同指导，“扩大你的视野”讲习班，以鼓励年轻女性追求科学事业，网络广播讲座和通过大学和博物馆计划分发课程材料，以及专门的博客。 研究成果的广泛传播是通过同行评审的出版物，会议演示和通过在线数据库共享数据来实现的。

While transformations to an aquatic lifestyle have been intensely studied in organisms ranging from insects to whales, basic questions remain unanswered for birds: e.g., how many times has 'aquatic flight' been gained and aerial flight lost? A large collaborative team will focus on resolving the controversial evolutionary relationships of wing-propelled diving birds (including new fossils). Phylogenetic comparative methods will be used to investigate musculoskeletal, neurosensory, and feather microstructure changes across aerial to aquatic flight transitions. Techniques such as X-ray computed tomography, histology, and computer modeling will also be utilized.Broader impacts focus on interdisciplinary undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral training in systematics, histology and biomechanics. Highlights include a mentored research experience for undergraduate students from under-represented groups. Public outreach and education activities include co-instruction of a 3 year Geoscience module of the nationally-recognized 'UTeach' secondary school teacher preparation program, 'Expanding Your Horizons' workshops to encourage young women to pursue science careers, web-cast lectures and distribution of curricular materials via university and museum programs, and a dedicated blog. Broad dissemination of research findings is achieved through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and data sharing via online databases.