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Functional Morphology

Functional Morphology. What is it?. Analyzing function of structures in living organisms Inferring function from structure in extinct organisms Getting past “Just-So” stories. Methodologies. Analogy to living organisms Assumes the analogy is valid Biomechanical analysis

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Functional Morphology

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  1. Functional Morphology

  2. What is it? • Analyzing function of structures in living organisms • Inferring function from structure in extinct organisms • Getting past “Just-So” stories

  3. Methodologies • Analogy to living organisms • Assumes the analogy is valid • Biomechanical analysis • Building physical models • Building mathematical models

  4. Case Study: Archeocyathids • Hypothesis: archeocyathids used Bernoulli’s principle to move water through the pores • Method: Build models of archeocyathids with different combinations of pores and septa • Results: the model most like an actual archeocyathid most effectively created smooth flow of water

  5. Case: Horseshoe crab spines • Question: Are the spines important in settling through the water? • Method: Build models with varying spines and drop them in water. • Results: No spines and very long spines create turbulent movement; moderate spines allow smooth downward motion (presumably less attractive to predators)

  6. Case: Pterosaur flight • Question: flapping or gliding? • Method #1: calculate wing loading • Method #2: compare wing structure to albatrosses • Method #3: plot wing loading v. wing shape and plot for many modern flyers • Method #4: build a model • Result: ???

  7. Case: Robot clams • Question: how does the structure and ornamentation of shell affect burrowing ability? • Method: build robot clams, vary the shell shape and ribs, vary the sediment • Result: the little dent behind the beak turns out to be important. So do ribs parallel to the shell edge.

  8. Case: Saber-tooth cats • Question: function? Slash? Pierce? • Method #1: compare to the gape of modern cats, calculate bite force • Method #2: look at tooth edge (relatively dull), compare to modern Komodo dragon • Results:???

  9. Sauropod necks • Possible functions of very long necks: • Underwater grazing/breathing • Tree-top browsing

  10. Underwater sauropods • Problems: • Water pressure preventing breathing • Biomechanics of legs • Capable of supporting dinosaur on land • Shape of thorax • Hippopotamus has rounded thorax • Rhinos and elephants are slab-sided • Sauropods are slab-sided

  11. Tree-top browsing • Evidence: • Range of motion of vertebrae in apatosaurs • Computer modeling put together all the vertebrae on Apatosaurus, found 2-3m of reach • Evidence of strong ligamental system – head held itself up and required effort to pull it down. • Blood pressure issue • Brachiosaur computed to require 600+ mmHg (giraffe is 320) • Tripod position for brachiosaurs – biomechanically possible

  12. Your task • Read/Skim your paper • Be prepared to present the case, answering these questions: • What’s the question/hypothesis? • What’s the methodology? • Results? • Do you think it’s a valid method and/or conclusion?

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