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Functional Morphology

Learn about inferring organism functions from structures through case studies like archeocyathids, horseshoe crabs, and Pterosaur flight, with methodologies such as biomechanical analysis and model building. Dive into topics like robot clams and sauropod necks to understand how form influences function in living organisms.

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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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