Anatomy, ontogeny, and evolutionary history of terrestrial tetrapods

我的研究项目主要集中在陆生脊椎动物的进化史上，特别强调脊椎动物的生物学和进化。羊膜动物门包括所有现存的爬行动物、鸟类和哺乳动物，以及它们的化石亲戚（恐龙、飞行爬行动物和许多其他灭绝的形式）。在陆地脊椎动物漫长的进化史中，早期的脊椎动物代表了第一章。这些古老的动物是所有主要的爬行动物（现存的爬行动物、鸟类和哺乳动物）的基础，在这些生物体中首次看到的进化创新对随后的进化事件产生了级联效应。作为对古脊椎动物起源研究的一部分，我还研究并发表了与古脊椎动物最接近的陆生两栖动物，以及已知最古老的古脊椎动物。我的研究计划主要是基于古脊椎动物学领域的传统方法（野外和实验室工作）来研究它们的解剖学，分类学和系统发育关系。然而，最近，我的研究计划将继续和扩大创新的补充，包括对灭绝分类群保存完好的生长系列的发育和生长的研究，重建进食行为的牙齿超微结构和颅骨结构的研究。不同种类恐龙的后颅骨骼之间的详细比较也将被纳入到灭绝分类群的运动重建中。这将通过使用来自新的内部3D激光扫描仪系统、工业强度CT扫描仪、SEM以及动画程序Maya和Flash的数据来实现。这种经过良好测试的传统方法和创新方法的结合，保证大大扩展了我们对早期脊椎动物及其最接近的陆生脊椎动物亲属的生物学和进化史的理解。

My research program has focused on the evolutionary history of terrestrial vertebrates, with special emphasison the biology and evolution of amniotes. Amniota includes all living reptiles, birds, and mammals, as well astheir fossil relatives (dinosaurs, flying reptiles, and many other extinct forms). Early amniotes represent thefirst chapter in the long evolutionary history of vertebrates on land. These ancient animals are at the base of allmajor groups of amniotes (living reptiles, birds, and mammals), and evolutionary innovations first seen inthese organisms had a cascading effect on subsequent evolutionary events. As part of my research on the originof amniotes, I have also studied and published on those terrestrial amphibians that are closest to amniotes, aswell as on the oldest known amniotes.My research proposal is primarily based on traditional methods in the field of Vertebrate Paleontology (bothfield and laboratory work) to study their anatomy, taxonomy, and phylogenetic relationships. However, recent, innovative additions to my research program that will be continued and expanded include studies ofdevelopment and growth in superbly preserved growth series of extinct taxa, studies of dental ultrastructureand cranial architecture for reconstructing feeding behavior. Detailed comparisons between the postcranialskeletons of various amniotes will also be incorporated into reconstructions of locomotion ofextinct taxa. This will be achieved through the use of data from a new, in house 3D laser scanner system,  industrial strength CT scanner, SEM, and both animation programs Maya and Flash. This combination of well tested, more traditional methods and innovative new approaches is guaranteed to expand dramatically our understanding of the biology and evolutionary history of early amniotes and their closest terrestrial vertebrate relatives.