Dr. Jeffrey Thomason is a leading investigator into the functional characteristics of the skull and jaw complex in mammals. He has hypothesized that the shape of cranial bones has evolved, in large part, to resist the tendency to bend when chewing forces are applied. By measuring the biting forces exerted during chewing, and approximating the strength of the bones using engineering principles based on structural beams, Dr. Thomason has been able to learn how closely the strength counters the stress applied to each bone. This study will be extended to carnivores with very different body sizes, and to a sample of ungulate species. The generality and precision of Dr. Thomason's hypothesis will be tested using these results. The proposed research will find a wide audience among mammalogists, functional morphologists, evolutionary biologists, and even medical engineers and orthopedic surgeons. This research will expand our knowledge of the functional performance of the mammal skull, and will test a fascinating proposal for how evolution might be guided.

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Environmental Biology (DEB)
Type
Standard Grant (Standard)
Application #
9006374
Program Officer
Scott L. Collins
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
1990-10-15
Budget End
1994-03-31
Support Year
Fiscal Year
1990
Total Cost
$37,208
Indirect Cost
Name
Ohio University
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Athens
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
45701