The evolution of functional disparity in the avian skull

该项目最初的重点是Aequolitornithes，该项目将使用来自摄影测量、结构光和CT扫描的新的和现有的三维模型来研究鸟类头骨的几个性能指标。这些扫描将用于对现存鸟类的高运动腭结构和铰链[8]进行四杆运动和形态学分析，以研究每个组件的变化如何影响系统的机械灵敏度，并影响整体性能输出[9]。然后，在系统发育框架中，将运动学传输和机械优势等指标与喙形和饮食的现有数据进行比较，以测试结构到功能的多对一映射的程度和性质，并深入了解形态的哪些方面实际上与力学和饮食有关。具体来说，可以假设这些性能指标将比喙形更好地预测饮食和喙的使用，即使形态收敛没有，性能的收敛也会出现。这一数据将为动力学生物结构中的力传递提供更广泛的理解，并为更好地理解干鸟颅骨运动的进化奠定基础。进一步的分析将对不同的喙和腭结构的结构强度进行二次面积矩和有限元分析[10]。再一次，这些数据将被用于测试多对一映射的存在，此外还将提供对控制这些坚固但非常轻的薄壁生物结构的工程原理的见解。该项目将最终评估物种多样性和形态差异在多大程度上反映了饲粮生产性能的差异。在此过程中，它将为我们思考生态系统内生物多样性措施的方式以及获得这种多样性的宏观进化背景提供新的见解。它还将产生并提供数字形态模型b[11]，以及一系列功能形态学家、宏观进化生物学家、生态学家、古生物学家和仿生工程师感兴趣的基本生物力学数据。学生将接受3D扫描和数字形态学重建的培训，在博物馆藏品中工作，计算功能形态学的先进技术，以及在系统发育框架内使用R进行数据分析。

With an initial focus on the Aequolitornithes, this project will investigate several performance metrics present in avian skulls using new and existing three-dimensional models from photogrammetry, structured light, and CT scanning. These scans will be used to conduct four-bar motion and morphological analysis of the highly kinetic palatal architecture and hinges of extant birds[8] to investigate how variation in each component affects the mechanical sensitivity of the system, and influences the overall performance output[9]. Metrics such kinematic transmission and mechanical advantage will then be compared with existing data on beak shape and diet in a phylogenetic framework to test the extent and nature of many-to-one mapping of structure to function, and gain insight into which aspects of morphology are actually connected with mechanics and diet. Specifically, it can be hypothesised that these performance metrics will be a better predictor of diet and beak use than beak shape is, and convergence in performance will show up even when morphological convergence does not.This data will provide a greater understanding of force transmission in kinetic biological structures more generally, as well as laying the groundwork for a greater understanding of the evolution of cranial kinesis in stem birds. Further analysis will be done on the structural strength of different beak and palatal architectures using second moment of area and finite element analysis[10]. Once again, this data will be tested for the presence of many-to-one mapping, and in addition will provide insight into the engineering principles governing these strong but exceptionally lightweight and thin-walled biological structures.This project will ultimately assess the extent to which species biodiversity and morphological disparity are indicative of disparity in dietary performance more generally. In so doing, it will offer new insights into the way in which we think of biodiversity measures within ecosystems, and the macroevolutionary context in which this diversity is acquired. It will also produce and make available digital morphological models[11], and fundamental biomechanical data of interest to a range of functional morphologists, macroevolutionary biologists, ecologists, palaeontologists, and biomimetic engineers. The student will receive training in 3D scanning and reconstruction of digital morphologies, working in museum collections, advanced techniques in computational functional morphology, and the use of R for data analysis within a phylogenetic framework.