Correlations between form, function and behaviour: the inner ears of birds and reptiles
Lead Research Organisation:
Natural History Museum
Department Name: Earth Sciences
Abstract
The vertebrate inner ear is a complex structure that incorporates the organs of balance and hearing. Both senses are essential to the normal functioning of an organism: unsurprisingly, the inner ears of living vertebrates have been studied intensively in terms of their soft anatomy and their physiological/neurological mechanisms, and the behavioural and general biological implications of ear function have been investigated thoroughly. The soft tissues are housed in bony structures that form part of the side walls of the braincase at the back of the skull. Few studies have attempted to seek correlations between the properties of the bony structures (e.g. volume, maximum length/width, shape), hearing ability or sense of balance, and the resulting behavioural repertoire of an animal. From a palaeontologist's perspective, this is an unfortunate omission as, in most cases, fossils only yield information on the hard anatomy of an organism. Partly as a result of this situation, the inner ears of many extinct vertebrates have received little attention hitherto and detailed studies have only become possible recently with the advent of non-destructive imaging technology. We propose a proof-of-concept study to investigate the utility of inner ear morphology in assessing the behaviour and auditory performance of extinct reptiles and birds. We will test whether differences in reptile/bird inner ear anatomy can be explained by differences in behaviour, vocalisation, acoustic function and social organisation. This test will be based upon an analysis of the inner ear anatomy of 40 living reptiles and birds, which will be chosen to represent a wide range of vocal and auditory behaviours. Data on inner ear anatomy will be collected using X-ray Computerised Tomography (CT), which will allow us to build detailed 3-D virtual models of the ear's bony structures. Correlations will be sought between the dimensions of the lagena (that part of the inner ear housing the organ of hearing / the basilar papilla), the known auditory abilities of an animal (e.g. range of sound frequencies detectable, sensitivity), and the range of behaviours that the animal exhibits (e.g. those that use vocal communication versus those that do not). Combination of these different data sources (inner ear bony anatomy, ear function and animal behaviour) is a novel approach and will provide a rigorous basis for inferring behaviour in extinct animals. If no correlations exist between ear anatomy, hearing ability and behaviour this will allow us to falsify existing hypotheses of hearing function in extinct reptiles and birds. However, if correlations are identified this project will act as a pilot study for future investigations on hearing and behaviour in a variety of extinct species (including non-avian dinosaurs and early amniotes, for example). In addition, the project will provide a large amount of new anatomical information on the inner ears of living reptiles and birds, which will be of great value to auditory biologists, zoologists and systematists.
Organisations
- Natural History Museum (Collaboration, Lead Research Organisation)
- Stony Brook University (Collaboration)
- Natural History Museum of Basel (Collaboration)
- National Science Foundation (NSF) (Collaboration)
- NATIONAL MUSEUMS SCOTLAND (Collaboration)
- Gulbenkian Institute of Science (Collaboration)
- Canterbury Museum (Collaboration)
- University of Lethbridge (Collaboration)
- Ohio State University (Collaboration)
- Centre for Research in Earth Sciences (CICTERRA) (Collaboration)
- University of Copenhagen (Collaboration)
- HARVARD UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- University of Montpellier (Collaboration)
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Collaboration)
- University of San Diego (Collaboration)
- The University of Texas at San Antonio (Collaboration)
- Natural History Museum, Los Angeles County (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD (Collaboration)
- University of Tokyo (Collaboration)
- Duke University (Collaboration)
- American Museum of Natural History (Collaboration)
- University of Texas at Austin (Collaboration)
- Oklahoma State University (Collaboration)
- Yale University (Collaboration)
- Technical University of Munich (Project Partner)
- Ohio University (Project Partner)
People |
ORCID iD |
Paul Barrett (Principal Investigator) | |
Angela Milner (Co-Investigator) |
Publications
Walsh SA
(2013)
Avian cerebellar floccular fossa size is not a proxy for flying ability in birds.
in PloS one
Benson RBJ
(2017)
Comparative analysis of vestibular ecomorphology in birds.
in Journal of anatomy
Ferreira-Cardoso S
(2017)
Floccular fossa size is not a reliable proxy of ecology and behaviour in vertebrates.
in Scientific reports
Walsh S
(2011)
Halcyornis toliapicus (Aves: Lower Eocene, England) indicates advanced neuromorphology in Mesozoic Neornithes
in Journal of Systematic Palaeontology
Walsh SA
(2009)
Inner ear anatomy is a proxy for deducing auditory capability and behaviour in reptiles and birds.
in Proceedings. Biological sciences
Koppl, Christine; Manley, Geoffrey A.; Popper, Arthur N.; Fay, Richard R.
(2014)
Insights from Comparative Hearing Research
Walsh S
(2014)
Insights from Comparative Hearing Research
Description | This project was able to demonstrate that it is possible to estimate the hearing capability of fossil reptiles and birds using relatively simple measurements of their inner ear structures. A survey of living birds and reptiles using CT data to examine inner ear structures, showed strong statistically significant correlations between bony anatomy and key sensory measures, such as hearing range. This enabled development of a model that allowed prediction of hearing ranges in extinct birds and reptiles, offering new, rigorous insights into the reconstruction of sensory biology in deep time. |
Exploitation Route | The primary use of this work is academic - it will enable palaeobiologists to examine the behaviour and sensory biology of extinct animals in a much more testable and rigorous way than previously. This work has already had impact beyond the academic community, however, as it was used to estimate the hearing ability of the earliest bird, Archaeopteryx, in a major touring exhibition. |
Sectors | Education Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |
Description | Our findings have already been used by academic peers and the paper has now been cited on 43 occasions. In addition, work arising was incorporated into a major temporary exhibition at the Natural History Museum (Age of the Dinosaur), which has gone on to tour in a number of other UK venues. The data collected also contributed to another NERC project on the evolution of bird brain anatomy and a review of the use of CT-scanning in palaeobiology. |
Sector | Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
Impact Types | Cultural |
Description | A Deeper Look into the Avian Brain: Using Modern Imaging to Unlock Ancient Endocasts |
Organisation | American Museum of Natural History |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Walsh is an invited scientist at a Catalysis meeting involving the main researchers working on avian brain evolution and comparative neurology, funded by The United States National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent). The meeting will be held between May 12th and 16th, and is intended to share data and approaches with a view to shaping the future of avian palaeoneurology. |
Collaborator Contribution | Data, expertise, analysis. |
Impact | None to date - dedicated volume of Journal of Anatomy planned for 2015 (MSS submission January 2015), which will include two papers stemming from NE/H012176/1. Second project co-led by Walsh and Bever (AMNH) will test methods used in micro-CT analysis of brain cavity endocasts to find best practice. This project is underway. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | A Deeper Look into the Avian Brain: Using Modern Imaging to Unlock Ancient Endocasts |
Organisation | Canterbury Museum |
Country | New Zealand |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Walsh is an invited scientist at a Catalysis meeting involving the main researchers working on avian brain evolution and comparative neurology, funded by The United States National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent). The meeting will be held between May 12th and 16th, and is intended to share data and approaches with a view to shaping the future of avian palaeoneurology. |
Collaborator Contribution | Data, expertise, analysis. |
Impact | None to date - dedicated volume of Journal of Anatomy planned for 2015 (MSS submission January 2015), which will include two papers stemming from NE/H012176/1. Second project co-led by Walsh and Bever (AMNH) will test methods used in micro-CT analysis of brain cavity endocasts to find best practice. This project is underway. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | A Deeper Look into the Avian Brain: Using Modern Imaging to Unlock Ancient Endocasts |
Organisation | Centre for Research in Earth Sciences (CICTERRA) |
Country | Argentina |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Walsh is an invited scientist at a Catalysis meeting involving the main researchers working on avian brain evolution and comparative neurology, funded by The United States National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent). The meeting will be held between May 12th and 16th, and is intended to share data and approaches with a view to shaping the future of avian palaeoneurology. |
Collaborator Contribution | Data, expertise, analysis. |
Impact | None to date - dedicated volume of Journal of Anatomy planned for 2015 (MSS submission January 2015), which will include two papers stemming from NE/H012176/1. Second project co-led by Walsh and Bever (AMNH) will test methods used in micro-CT analysis of brain cavity endocasts to find best practice. This project is underway. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | A Deeper Look into the Avian Brain: Using Modern Imaging to Unlock Ancient Endocasts |
Organisation | Duke University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Walsh is an invited scientist at a Catalysis meeting involving the main researchers working on avian brain evolution and comparative neurology, funded by The United States National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent). The meeting will be held between May 12th and 16th, and is intended to share data and approaches with a view to shaping the future of avian palaeoneurology. |
Collaborator Contribution | Data, expertise, analysis. |
Impact | None to date - dedicated volume of Journal of Anatomy planned for 2015 (MSS submission January 2015), which will include two papers stemming from NE/H012176/1. Second project co-led by Walsh and Bever (AMNH) will test methods used in micro-CT analysis of brain cavity endocasts to find best practice. This project is underway. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | A Deeper Look into the Avian Brain: Using Modern Imaging to Unlock Ancient Endocasts |
Organisation | Harvard University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Walsh is an invited scientist at a Catalysis meeting involving the main researchers working on avian brain evolution and comparative neurology, funded by The United States National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent). The meeting will be held between May 12th and 16th, and is intended to share data and approaches with a view to shaping the future of avian palaeoneurology. |
Collaborator Contribution | Data, expertise, analysis. |
Impact | None to date - dedicated volume of Journal of Anatomy planned for 2015 (MSS submission January 2015), which will include two papers stemming from NE/H012176/1. Second project co-led by Walsh and Bever (AMNH) will test methods used in micro-CT analysis of brain cavity endocasts to find best practice. This project is underway. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | A Deeper Look into the Avian Brain: Using Modern Imaging to Unlock Ancient Endocasts |
Organisation | Natural History Museum |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Walsh is an invited scientist at a Catalysis meeting involving the main researchers working on avian brain evolution and comparative neurology, funded by The United States National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent). The meeting will be held between May 12th and 16th, and is intended to share data and approaches with a view to shaping the future of avian palaeoneurology. |
Collaborator Contribution | Data, expertise, analysis. |
Impact | None to date - dedicated volume of Journal of Anatomy planned for 2015 (MSS submission January 2015), which will include two papers stemming from NE/H012176/1. Second project co-led by Walsh and Bever (AMNH) will test methods used in micro-CT analysis of brain cavity endocasts to find best practice. This project is underway. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | A Deeper Look into the Avian Brain: Using Modern Imaging to Unlock Ancient Endocasts |
Organisation | Natural History Museum, Los Angeles County |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Walsh is an invited scientist at a Catalysis meeting involving the main researchers working on avian brain evolution and comparative neurology, funded by The United States National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent). The meeting will be held between May 12th and 16th, and is intended to share data and approaches with a view to shaping the future of avian palaeoneurology. |
Collaborator Contribution | Data, expertise, analysis. |
Impact | None to date - dedicated volume of Journal of Anatomy planned for 2015 (MSS submission January 2015), which will include two papers stemming from NE/H012176/1. Second project co-led by Walsh and Bever (AMNH) will test methods used in micro-CT analysis of brain cavity endocasts to find best practice. This project is underway. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | A Deeper Look into the Avian Brain: Using Modern Imaging to Unlock Ancient Endocasts |
Organisation | Ohio State University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Walsh is an invited scientist at a Catalysis meeting involving the main researchers working on avian brain evolution and comparative neurology, funded by The United States National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent). The meeting will be held between May 12th and 16th, and is intended to share data and approaches with a view to shaping the future of avian palaeoneurology. |
Collaborator Contribution | Data, expertise, analysis. |
Impact | None to date - dedicated volume of Journal of Anatomy planned for 2015 (MSS submission January 2015), which will include two papers stemming from NE/H012176/1. Second project co-led by Walsh and Bever (AMNH) will test methods used in micro-CT analysis of brain cavity endocasts to find best practice. This project is underway. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | A Deeper Look into the Avian Brain: Using Modern Imaging to Unlock Ancient Endocasts |
Organisation | Oklahoma State University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Walsh is an invited scientist at a Catalysis meeting involving the main researchers working on avian brain evolution and comparative neurology, funded by The United States National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent). The meeting will be held between May 12th and 16th, and is intended to share data and approaches with a view to shaping the future of avian palaeoneurology. |
Collaborator Contribution | Data, expertise, analysis. |
Impact | None to date - dedicated volume of Journal of Anatomy planned for 2015 (MSS submission January 2015), which will include two papers stemming from NE/H012176/1. Second project co-led by Walsh and Bever (AMNH) will test methods used in micro-CT analysis of brain cavity endocasts to find best practice. This project is underway. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | A Deeper Look into the Avian Brain: Using Modern Imaging to Unlock Ancient Endocasts |
Organisation | Stony Brook University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Walsh is an invited scientist at a Catalysis meeting involving the main researchers working on avian brain evolution and comparative neurology, funded by The United States National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent). The meeting will be held between May 12th and 16th, and is intended to share data and approaches with a view to shaping the future of avian palaeoneurology. |
Collaborator Contribution | Data, expertise, analysis. |
Impact | None to date - dedicated volume of Journal of Anatomy planned for 2015 (MSS submission January 2015), which will include two papers stemming from NE/H012176/1. Second project co-led by Walsh and Bever (AMNH) will test methods used in micro-CT analysis of brain cavity endocasts to find best practice. This project is underway. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | A Deeper Look into the Avian Brain: Using Modern Imaging to Unlock Ancient Endocasts |
Organisation | University of Copenhagen |
Country | Denmark |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Walsh is an invited scientist at a Catalysis meeting involving the main researchers working on avian brain evolution and comparative neurology, funded by The United States National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent). The meeting will be held between May 12th and 16th, and is intended to share data and approaches with a view to shaping the future of avian palaeoneurology. |
Collaborator Contribution | Data, expertise, analysis. |
Impact | None to date - dedicated volume of Journal of Anatomy planned for 2015 (MSS submission January 2015), which will include two papers stemming from NE/H012176/1. Second project co-led by Walsh and Bever (AMNH) will test methods used in micro-CT analysis of brain cavity endocasts to find best practice. This project is underway. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | A Deeper Look into the Avian Brain: Using Modern Imaging to Unlock Ancient Endocasts |
Organisation | University of Lethbridge |
Country | Canada |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Walsh is an invited scientist at a Catalysis meeting involving the main researchers working on avian brain evolution and comparative neurology, funded by The United States National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent). The meeting will be held between May 12th and 16th, and is intended to share data and approaches with a view to shaping the future of avian palaeoneurology. |
Collaborator Contribution | Data, expertise, analysis. |
Impact | None to date - dedicated volume of Journal of Anatomy planned for 2015 (MSS submission January 2015), which will include two papers stemming from NE/H012176/1. Second project co-led by Walsh and Bever (AMNH) will test methods used in micro-CT analysis of brain cavity endocasts to find best practice. This project is underway. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | A Deeper Look into the Avian Brain: Using Modern Imaging to Unlock Ancient Endocasts |
Organisation | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Walsh is an invited scientist at a Catalysis meeting involving the main researchers working on avian brain evolution and comparative neurology, funded by The United States National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent). The meeting will be held between May 12th and 16th, and is intended to share data and approaches with a view to shaping the future of avian palaeoneurology. |
Collaborator Contribution | Data, expertise, analysis. |
Impact | None to date - dedicated volume of Journal of Anatomy planned for 2015 (MSS submission January 2015), which will include two papers stemming from NE/H012176/1. Second project co-led by Walsh and Bever (AMNH) will test methods used in micro-CT analysis of brain cavity endocasts to find best practice. This project is underway. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | A Deeper Look into the Avian Brain: Using Modern Imaging to Unlock Ancient Endocasts |
Organisation | University of San Diego |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Walsh is an invited scientist at a Catalysis meeting involving the main researchers working on avian brain evolution and comparative neurology, funded by The United States National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent). The meeting will be held between May 12th and 16th, and is intended to share data and approaches with a view to shaping the future of avian palaeoneurology. |
Collaborator Contribution | Data, expertise, analysis. |
Impact | None to date - dedicated volume of Journal of Anatomy planned for 2015 (MSS submission January 2015), which will include two papers stemming from NE/H012176/1. Second project co-led by Walsh and Bever (AMNH) will test methods used in micro-CT analysis of brain cavity endocasts to find best practice. This project is underway. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | A Deeper Look into the Avian Brain: Using Modern Imaging to Unlock Ancient Endocasts |
Organisation | University of Texas at Austin |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Walsh is an invited scientist at a Catalysis meeting involving the main researchers working on avian brain evolution and comparative neurology, funded by The United States National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent). The meeting will be held between May 12th and 16th, and is intended to share data and approaches with a view to shaping the future of avian palaeoneurology. |
Collaborator Contribution | Data, expertise, analysis. |
Impact | None to date - dedicated volume of Journal of Anatomy planned for 2015 (MSS submission January 2015), which will include two papers stemming from NE/H012176/1. Second project co-led by Walsh and Bever (AMNH) will test methods used in micro-CT analysis of brain cavity endocasts to find best practice. This project is underway. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | A Deeper Look into the Avian Brain: Using Modern Imaging to Unlock Ancient Endocasts |
Organisation | Yale University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Walsh is an invited scientist at a Catalysis meeting involving the main researchers working on avian brain evolution and comparative neurology, funded by The United States National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent). The meeting will be held between May 12th and 16th, and is intended to share data and approaches with a view to shaping the future of avian palaeoneurology. |
Collaborator Contribution | Data, expertise, analysis. |
Impact | None to date - dedicated volume of Journal of Anatomy planned for 2015 (MSS submission January 2015), which will include two papers stemming from NE/H012176/1. Second project co-led by Walsh and Bever (AMNH) will test methods used in micro-CT analysis of brain cavity endocasts to find best practice. This project is underway. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Charadriiform brain evolution |
Organisation | Canterbury Museum |
Country | New Zealand |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Brain cavity endocast data generated from NE/H012176/1 is being used as part of a wide international collaboration investigating brain form in the diverse avian clade Charadriiformes. |
Collaborator Contribution | Extra micro-CT and brain cavity endocast data; analysis. |
Impact | None so far: deaddline for MS in special volume January 15th, 2015. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Charadriiform brain evolution |
Organisation | National Science Foundation (NSF) |
Department | National Evolutionary Synthesis Center |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Brain cavity endocast data generated from NE/H012176/1 is being used as part of a wide international collaboration investigating brain form in the diverse avian clade Charadriiformes. |
Collaborator Contribution | Extra micro-CT and brain cavity endocast data; analysis. |
Impact | None so far: deaddline for MS in special volume January 15th, 2015. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Charadriiform brain evolution |
Organisation | Natural History Museum of Basel |
Country | Switzerland |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Brain cavity endocast data generated from NE/H012176/1 is being used as part of a wide international collaboration investigating brain form in the diverse avian clade Charadriiformes. |
Collaborator Contribution | Extra micro-CT and brain cavity endocast data; analysis. |
Impact | None so far: deaddline for MS in special volume January 15th, 2015. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Charadriiform brain evolution |
Organisation | University of Copenhagen |
Department | Natural History Museum of Denmark |
Country | Denmark |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Brain cavity endocast data generated from NE/H012176/1 is being used as part of a wide international collaboration investigating brain form in the diverse avian clade Charadriiformes. |
Collaborator Contribution | Extra micro-CT and brain cavity endocast data; analysis. |
Impact | None so far: deaddline for MS in special volume January 15th, 2015. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Charadriiform brain evolution |
Organisation | University of Texas |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Brain cavity endocast data generated from NE/H012176/1 is being used as part of a wide international collaboration investigating brain form in the diverse avian clade Charadriiformes. |
Collaborator Contribution | Extra micro-CT and brain cavity endocast data; analysis. |
Impact | None so far: deaddline for MS in special volume January 15th, 2015. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Charadriiform brain evolution |
Organisation | University of Texas at Austin |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Brain cavity endocast data generated from NE/H012176/1 is being used as part of a wide international collaboration investigating brain form in the diverse avian clade Charadriiformes. |
Collaborator Contribution | Extra micro-CT and brain cavity endocast data; analysis. |
Impact | None so far: deaddline for MS in special volume January 15th, 2015. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Charadriiform brain evolution |
Organisation | University of Tokyo |
Country | Japan |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Brain cavity endocast data generated from NE/H012176/1 is being used as part of a wide international collaboration investigating brain form in the diverse avian clade Charadriiformes. |
Collaborator Contribution | Extra micro-CT and brain cavity endocast data; analysis. |
Impact | None so far: deaddline for MS in special volume January 15th, 2015. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Combining comparative data from avian and mammal CT datasets |
Organisation | Gulbenkian Institute of Science |
Country | Portugal |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Walsh was invited to collaborate on a project that uses Walsh's approaches on fossil cynodonts (extinct mammal relatives). Endocasts generated as part of NE/H012176/1 have been sent as part of this collaboration in STL format. |
Collaborator Contribution | Data collection and analysis. |
Impact | So far one conference proceeding abstract (see publications). Collaboration is multidisciplinary (avian palaeontology and palaeoneurology; mammal palaeontology and palaeoneurology and evolutionary and developmental biology). |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Determing bird flight capability from brain endocasts |
Organisation | National Museums Scotland |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Data collected during this grant has been contributed to a new project to assess whether it is possible to determine flight ability in birds on the basis of flocculus size. This work has now led to a multi-authored manuscript that is currently being considered for publication. |
Collaborator Contribution | Additional data and analysis of the data |
Impact | This collaboration resulted in the following paper: Walsh, S. A., Iwaniuk, A. N., Knoll, M. A., Bourdon, E., Barrett, P. M., Milner, A. C., Nudds, R. L., Abel, R. L. & Dello Sterpiao, P. 2013. The avian cerebellar floccular fossa as a proxy for flying ability in extinct birds. PLoS ONE 8(6):e67176 (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0067176) |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Review of use of CT in work on sensory evolution |
Organisation | National Museums Scotland |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | This work led to a new collaboration reviewing the use of CT data from fossils in reconstructing the sensory abilities of extinct taxa. A MS has been submitted for publication. |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Ricardo Araujo (2017-) |
Organisation | University of Montpellier |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Our CT scan data on reptiles and birds is being reused for a new broad scale project on ear evolution in amniotes. We are also providing expert input on reptile ear anatomy. |
Collaborator Contribution | They are providing additional scan data and are also performing many of the statistical analuses on the dataset. |
Impact | Paper in preparation. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Roger Benson |
Organisation | University of Oxford |
Department | Department of Earth Sciences |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Sharing of the micro-CT dataset generated as part of the original NERC project. Data have been analysed by a final year project student and will be published. |
Collaborator Contribution | Authorship. |
Impact | Manuscript is preparation. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Dorset Naturalists Talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Talk on the advances in dinosaur biology drawing on NERC work related to dinosaur hearing and breathing. Around 200 people in the audience, comprising members of the general public. Numerous questions followed. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
Description | Student Talk (UCL) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Talk on the evolution of archosaur respiration to UCLs LERN centre. Around 30 students attended, with numerous questions afterward. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | Ulster Museum talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | A talk on advances in dinosaur biology drawing on advances from NERC projects on dinosaur hearing and breathing. Lengthy discussion followed, with impact on museum and educational professionals attempting to communicate science in museums. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
Description | World Museum Talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Talk on advances in dinosaur biology drawing on NERC funded projects on hearing and respiration. Numerous questions from both the public and professionals. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |