Evolution of unique skull morphology and function in Lagomorphs: a combined effect of locomotion and mastication?

Background: Mammals have evolved diverse craniofacial morphology to adapt to a wide range of ecological niches. However, the factors driving skull evolution and the mechanisms of evolutionary change are not fully understood.
The skull of modern leporid lagomorphs (rabbits and hares) is highly modified from other mammals as it is structurally specialised for providing intracranial movement, or cranial kinesis. While cranial kinesis is common in vertebrates such as reptiles, leporids are the only mammals to have evolved this specialised cranial modification. Early studies have suggested that cranial kinesis functions as a shock-absorbing mechanism to dissipate kinetic energy during impacts associated with locomotion. However, this has not been tested. In this project, we will examine intrinsic and extrinsic factors impacting the evolution of the highly modified leporid skull, encompassing aspects of function (biomechanics), ecology, and environmental factors (climate) and focusing on macroevolutionary-scale processes, to get a better understanding of one of the most unusual and successful mammal groups.
Objectives: Our objective is to explore how diet, locomotion, evolutionary history, and other factors (e.g. climate) influence the evolution of lagomorph skull shape and function, through the application of sophisticated computational methods such as finite element analysis, x-ray biplanar analysis (kinematics) and geometric morphometrics.
Novelty: The ability to examine and quantify, rather than purely qualify, morphology and function across taxa has greatly increased as a result of computational analyses. We will combine cutting edge technology to understand the evolution of a highly modified and unique cranial feature in one of the most common and successful mammal groups.
Timeliness: Recent recognitions of the value of biodiversity require analysis of the morphological diversity which informs our understanding of ecology, conservation and evolution. This is an ideal time to bring together advanced methods to consider how the various influences on skull evolution, such as ecology, phylogenetic constraint and function, have shaped the diversification of mammals, and the success of lagomorphs in particular.