Collaborative Research: Uncovering the adaptive origins of fossil apes through the application of a transdisciplinary approach

合作研究：通过应用跨学科方法揭示类人猿化石的适应性起源

• 批准号: 2316612
• 负责人: James Rossie
• 金额: $ 23.03万
• 依托单位: SUNY at Stony Brook
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2024-04-01 至 2027-03-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2316612&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Uncovering; adaptive; origins

The evolutionary history of humans and their closest living relatives is rooted in fossil primate forms that require further study. To breach this knowledge gap, this project aims to uncover the adaptive origins of fossil apes by surveying, excavating and analyzing a Middle Miocene understudied site. This project brings together an international, interdisciplinary team that will utilize the latest methods in collecting and analyzing paleontological, paleoecological and geological data. The project increases public engagement in science through outreach activities at schools in the U.S. and near the study site. The project also expands research participation through training and mentoring opportunities in paleoanthropology and geology. To date, large ape fossils dated to the Middle and Late Miocene are rare and more are needed to adequately infer the type of adaptations that directly preceded the ones found among early Homo species. This project expands our knowledge of the Middle Miocene primate fossil record by conducting a comprehensive paleontological field study on a site that has recently yielded ape-like fossils. The project has four main aims: 1) collecting fossil primate, and other fauna specimens via thorough surface survey, collection, and excavation; (2) establishing the phylogenetic position of fossil primate forms found at the site; 3) establishing a precise geochronology for the sequence through lithostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy, tephrostratigraphy and radiometric dating of volcanic strata; 4) reconstructing the paleoenvironment and paleoecology of Miocene apes through stable isotope analysis, paleopedology, and paleobotany; and 5) analyzing the adaptations (e.g., diet), community structure, and biogeographic affinities of the associated mammalian fauna. Results from this study inform the adaptive origins of fossil primates and provide critical context for interpreting the environmental and ecological shifts that accompanied the origins of the African apes and humans.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

人类及其现存近亲的进化史植根于需要进一步研究的灵长类化石。为了弥补这一知识差距，该项目旨在通过调查、挖掘和分析中中新世待研究地点来揭示类人猿化石的适应性起源。该项目汇集了一个国际跨学科团队，将利用最新的方法收集和分析古生物学、古生态和地质数据。该项目通过在美国学校和研究地点附近的外展活动来增加公众对科学的参与。该项目还通过古人类学和地质学方面的培训和指导机会扩大研究参与。迄今为止，中新世中后期的大型猿类化石非常罕见，需要更多化石才能充分推断早期人属物种之前的适应类型。该项目通过对最近出土类猿化石的地点进行全面的古生物学实地研究，扩展了我们对中新世灵长类化石记录的了解。该项目有四个主要目标：1）通过彻底的表面调查、收集和挖掘来收集灵长类动物化石和其他动物标本； (2) 确定现场发现的灵长类化石的系统发育位置； 3）通过岩石地层学、磁性地层学、火山地层学和火山地层放射性测年，建立该层序的精确年代学； 4）通过稳定同位素分析、古土壤学、古植物学重建中新世猿类的古环境和古生态； 5) 分析相关哺乳动物动物群的适应性（例如饮食）、群落结构和生物地理亲缘关系。这项研究的结果揭示了化石灵长类动物的适应性起源，并为解释伴随非洲猿和人类起源的环境和生态变化提供了关键背景。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准。