Research Projects

Advancing 3D Geometric Morphometric approaches applied to appendicular skeleton in cryptic bats species

Supervisors: Dr Julia Galán, Dr Iván Rey-Rodríguez and Dr Juan Manuel López-García

Host Institution: IPHES-CERCA (Spain)

Phd enrolment: Universitat Rovira i Virgili (Spain)

Objectives:

  • To apply new approaches using 3D Geometric Morphometrics methods to bats humeri and radii identification.
  • To build a modern reference micro-CT dataset to be applied to the fossil material.
  • To explore the role played by past climate and environmental shifts shaping the humeri and radii morphology of bats.

Expected results:

  • The development of new tools for the study of fossil bat specimens based on the analysis of the postcranial skeleton by integrating a set of cut-edge techniques.
  • A critical contribution to shed light on the evolutionary history of certain cryptic species complexes of bats (e.g. the large-sized Mouse-eared Bats, the Whiskered Mouse-eared Bats or the Western-European Long-eared Bats), some of which are considered as threatened or endangered species in Europe.
  • To facilitate an open access data set with the 3D data generated during this project, including modern referential and fossil material, stimulating network contacts with museums, and cultural and conservationist organisations.

Planned secondment(s):
CNRS-UBE-EPHE UMR-6282 Biogéosciences, will offer a solid complementary research and training skills in the evolution and local adaptation of other groups of microvertebrates complementing the morphological study planned. Dr. Montuire will act as co-supervisor during a secondment spanning from 2 to 6 months. The secondment period will begin after the third month of the second year of the DC contract. The dates will be subject to changes based on the progress of the IRP.