Collaborative Research: Uncovering the adaptive origins of fossil apes through the application of a transdisciplinary approach

人类及其近亲的进化史植根于灵长类动物的化石形式，这需要进一步的研究。为了打破这一知识缺口，本项目旨在通过调查、挖掘和分析一个尚未得到充分研究的中中新世遗址，揭示类人猿化石的适应性起源。这个项目汇集了一个国际性的跨学科团队，他们将利用最新的方法收集和分析古生物学、古生态学和地质学数据。该项目通过在美国和研究地点附近的学校开展外展活动，提高公众对科学的参与度。该项目还通过古人类学和地质学方面的培训和指导机会扩大研究参与。到目前为止，可以追溯到中新世中晚期的大型猿类化石是罕见的，需要更多的化石来充分推断出早期人属物种直接适应的类型。该项目通过对最近发现类人猿化石的地点进行全面的古生物学实地研究，扩大了我们对中新世中期灵长类动物化石记录的了解。该项目有四个主要目标：1)通过全面的地面调查、采集和挖掘，收集灵长类动物化石和其他动物标本；(2)确定该遗址发现的灵长类化石的系统发育位置；3)通过岩石地层学、磁地层学、地表地层学和火山地层的放射性测年，确定层序的精确年代学；4)通过稳定同位素分析、古植物学和古植物学重建中新世猿类的古环境和古生态；5)分析相关哺乳动物群的适应性（如饮食）、群落结构和生物地理亲缘关系。这项研究的结果为灵长类化石的适应性起源提供了信息，并为解释伴随非洲猿和人类起源的环境和生态变化提供了重要的背景。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The evolutionary history of humans and their closest living relatives is rooted in fossil primate forms that require further study. To breach this knowledge gap, this project aims to uncover the adaptive origins of fossil apes by surveying, excavating and analyzing a Middle Miocene understudied site. This project brings together an international, interdisciplinary team that will utilize the latest methods in collecting and analyzing paleontological, paleoecological and geological data. The project increases public engagement in science through outreach activities at schools in the U.S. and near the study site. The project also expands research participation through training and mentoring opportunities in paleoanthropology and geology. To date, large ape fossils dated to the Middle and Late Miocene are rare and more are needed to adequately infer the type of adaptations that directly preceded the ones found among early Homo species. This project expands our knowledge of the Middle Miocene primate fossil record by conducting a comprehensive paleontological field study on a site that has recently yielded ape-like fossils. The project has four main aims: 1) collecting fossil primate, and other fauna specimens via thorough surface survey, collection, and excavation; (2) establishing the phylogenetic position of fossil primate forms found at the site; 3) establishing a precise geochronology for the sequence through lithostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy, tephrostratigraphy and radiometric dating of volcanic strata; 4) reconstructing the paleoenvironment and paleoecology of Miocene apes through stable isotope analysis, paleopedology, and paleobotany; and 5) analyzing the adaptations (e.g., diet), community structure, and biogeographic affinities of the associated mammalian fauna. Results from this study inform the adaptive origins of fossil primates and provide critical context for interpreting the environmental and ecological shifts that accompanied the origins of the African apes and humans.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.