Functional development within the mammalian masticatory apparatus: an investigation into feeding capabilities with changing diets

Mammalian biodiversity is often linked to dietary diversity, with species possessing masticatory
specialisations to help them attain and consume different foods. Whilst adult phenotypes have received
much attention in relation to dietary adaptations, habitat and species ranges, much less work has been
done on juveniles. During development bone grows and adapts, teeth wear and are replaced, and muscle
properties change, but their impact (in isolation and combination) on feeding performance has rarely
been studied, limiting our understanding of the impact of dietary shifts due to environment change.
This project will apply traditional dissection and virtual anatomy techniques (DiceCT, image
segmentation, muscle dissection) to quantify how the hard and soft tissue anatomy of species,
belonging to different dietary categories, changes during development. Using physical testing (universal
materials testing, 3D printing technologies) and biomechanical modelling (multibody dynamic
modelling), the impact of these changes on performance will be assessed.