Understanding the functional evolution of the mammalian middle ear and jaw joint across the cynodont-mammaliaform transition

Project Description

The overall aims of the project are to characterise and understand the functional evolution of the jaw joint and middle ear across the cynodont to mammal transition, with a view to determine the influence of jaw mechanics and function on the evolution of the definitive mammalian middle ear. We seek to resolve the long standing debate over the plausibility and functionality of the ‘dual jaw joint’. In particular, we wish to determine, at what point the apomorphic mammalian dentarysquamosal jaw becomes operational, how dual jaw joint function facilitates this transition, and whether homoplasies exist in jaw and joint morphology and function at this crucial stage in mammalian evolution. This will be achieved by utilizing recently available computed tomography data and exploiting a range of new techniques that we as a team have pioneered: computed tomography (CT) reconstruction, multibody dynamics analysis (MDA) and finite element analysis (FEA). We are ideally placed to address this question with internationally-leading expertise in functional analysis, computational mechanobiology and mammalian palaeobiology. Lead PI Emily Rayfieldis a Reader in Palaeobiology at the University of Bristol.