The evolution and biomechanics of body elongation in vertebrates

Body shape is one of the most fundamental and instantly recognizable aspects of animal biology. However, very few studies have looked at the way that body shape has been driven by ecology and behavior over geological timescales. In this project, you will use traditional anatomical approaches, medical imaging, statistical shape analysis and computer simulation to understand the evolution and biomechanics of body elongation.

In the first part of the project, you will quantify relative body length in a large sample of extinct and extant vertebrates and map this data using phylogenetics, testing for patterns in body elongation. You will become familiar with the anatomy of wide diversity of tetrapod groups and you’ll become adept in phylogenetic statistical methods. In the second stage, you’ll explore the functional consequences of body elongation and associated anatomical adaptations. You’ll develop 3D shape analysis to identify anatomical adaptations for elongation and use the latest computational approaches to understand how morphological changes impact upon behavioural performance (e.g. running speed, efficiency). By this stage we’d be expecting you to start to control the direction of the project, depending on the results and your own interests.

You will have a keen interest or background in zoology/palaeontology and skills in quantitative, mechanical and/or 3D digital techniques, but we’ll provide training in all techniques to be used. The team that you will join includes experts in vertebrate anatomy, biomechanics, imaging and computer simulation. You’ll be based primarily with Dr Bates in the Evolutionary Morphology & Biomechanics Group at Liverpool (http://www.liv.ac.uk/ageing-and-chronic-disease/research/evolutionary-morphology-and-biomechanics). The Manchester Museum is a CASE partner on this project and you will spend time at the museum, accessing samples but equally taking part in curatorial and public engagement activities.