My main research focus is on primate evolutionary morphology, at the intersection of morphological variation & phylogeny/taxonomy, and I'm working on four main projects:
1. Macaque Skeletal Variation
This research was primarily conducted for my dissertation, and results have contributed to on-going research questions. Taxonomy is relatively complex, especially since there are no generally agreed upon methods by which to taxonomically assess an organism. Here, I used novel geometric morphometric methods to explore whether the geographically widespread and specious genus, the macaques, could be used to create a dataset by which to compare fossils and other species. My main hypothesis asked whether the macaque skeleton was a reliable taxonomic indicator. In other words, are macaques identifiable to the species level based on their skeletal morphology? Historically, the skull has been thought to be the best taxonomic indicator, but new research suggested that there may be taxonomic signals in other bones, like the shoulder and pelvic girdles. Thus, I further tested whether post-cranial bones were the same, or better than, the cranium for taxonomic assessment. Results consistently demonstrate that the macaque skeleton can assess taxonomy at the species level, and that post-cranial bones are useful for taxonomic assessment. In an effort to determine which factors drive the morphological variation between species, I'm also working to understand whether any of the follow factors confound taxonomic assessment: 1) genetics, 2) climate 3) geography, 4) locomotion, and 5) diet.
Funding sources: National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant (NSF DDRIG #BCS 1945735); Visiting Researcher Fellowship, Field Museum of Natural History; Asian Studies Research Grant, University at Buffalo; Cooperative Research Grant, Primate Research Institute; Mark Diamond Research Fund, Graduate Student Association, University at Buffalo.
2. Revisiting Homo Taxonomy
My dissertation work suggested that there are species-level morphological differences in macaques, but how does this translate to genus Homo? Genus Homo is a morphologically diverse but taxonomically complex genus, as demonstrated by a variety of researchers. When new fossils are discovered, they often comprise a small sample size and are typically taxonomically assessed based on quantitative observations. With this project, I'm working to develop reliable, qualitative methods to assess taxonomy in new fossil. Collaborators for this project include Dr. Chris Walker and the NCSU Hominoid Evolution Research Group and the Churchill Lab at Duke University.
Funding sources: National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biological (Biological Collections Track) (NSF PRFB #DBI 2010844)
3. Primate Skeletal Integration
Previous studies of primate morphological evolution have often compartmentalized the skeleton into isolated components, preventing a comprehensive understanding of how skeletal structures interact and operate as an integrated whole. In conjunction with Dr. Noreen von Cramon-Taubadel and the Buffalo Human Evolutionary Morphology Lab, we're using laser scanning and geometric morphometrics to examine 11 skeletal elements (cranial and post-cranial) in 13 different species from across the order Primates to gain a better understanding of how skeletal components interact, and how varying levels of these interactions can influence the tempo and mode of skeletal evolution.
Funding sources: National Science Foundation (#BCS 1830745)
4. Women Taxonomists
While studying the history of taxonomy, I've noticed a large gap in the literature where women taxonomists are missing. Of course, women being absent in STEM is not new, but this is a particular problem with taxonomy in part because the official language of taxonomy was Latin, which women were not permitted to learn until the end of the nineteenth century. Thus, I'm working on projects relating to highlighting the work of women taxonomists in particular while also researching the intersectionality of feminist theory and taxonomy to shed light on why women taxonomists, particularly, are absent throughout science.
1. Macaque Skeletal Variation
This research was primarily conducted for my dissertation, and results have contributed to on-going research questions. Taxonomy is relatively complex, especially since there are no generally agreed upon methods by which to taxonomically assess an organism. Here, I used novel geometric morphometric methods to explore whether the geographically widespread and specious genus, the macaques, could be used to create a dataset by which to compare fossils and other species. My main hypothesis asked whether the macaque skeleton was a reliable taxonomic indicator. In other words, are macaques identifiable to the species level based on their skeletal morphology? Historically, the skull has been thought to be the best taxonomic indicator, but new research suggested that there may be taxonomic signals in other bones, like the shoulder and pelvic girdles. Thus, I further tested whether post-cranial bones were the same, or better than, the cranium for taxonomic assessment. Results consistently demonstrate that the macaque skeleton can assess taxonomy at the species level, and that post-cranial bones are useful for taxonomic assessment. In an effort to determine which factors drive the morphological variation between species, I'm also working to understand whether any of the follow factors confound taxonomic assessment: 1) genetics, 2) climate 3) geography, 4) locomotion, and 5) diet.
Funding sources: National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant (NSF DDRIG #BCS 1945735); Visiting Researcher Fellowship, Field Museum of Natural History; Asian Studies Research Grant, University at Buffalo; Cooperative Research Grant, Primate Research Institute; Mark Diamond Research Fund, Graduate Student Association, University at Buffalo.
2. Revisiting Homo Taxonomy
My dissertation work suggested that there are species-level morphological differences in macaques, but how does this translate to genus Homo? Genus Homo is a morphologically diverse but taxonomically complex genus, as demonstrated by a variety of researchers. When new fossils are discovered, they often comprise a small sample size and are typically taxonomically assessed based on quantitative observations. With this project, I'm working to develop reliable, qualitative methods to assess taxonomy in new fossil. Collaborators for this project include Dr. Chris Walker and the NCSU Hominoid Evolution Research Group and the Churchill Lab at Duke University.
Funding sources: National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biological (Biological Collections Track) (NSF PRFB #DBI 2010844)
3. Primate Skeletal Integration
Previous studies of primate morphological evolution have often compartmentalized the skeleton into isolated components, preventing a comprehensive understanding of how skeletal structures interact and operate as an integrated whole. In conjunction with Dr. Noreen von Cramon-Taubadel and the Buffalo Human Evolutionary Morphology Lab, we're using laser scanning and geometric morphometrics to examine 11 skeletal elements (cranial and post-cranial) in 13 different species from across the order Primates to gain a better understanding of how skeletal components interact, and how varying levels of these interactions can influence the tempo and mode of skeletal evolution.
Funding sources: National Science Foundation (#BCS 1830745)
4. Women Taxonomists
While studying the history of taxonomy, I've noticed a large gap in the literature where women taxonomists are missing. Of course, women being absent in STEM is not new, but this is a particular problem with taxonomy in part because the official language of taxonomy was Latin, which women were not permitted to learn until the end of the nineteenth century. Thus, I'm working on projects relating to highlighting the work of women taxonomists in particular while also researching the intersectionality of feminist theory and taxonomy to shed light on why women taxonomists, particularly, are absent throughout science.
Data Sharing. Data for my dissertation was collected by 3D scanning bones with an HDI-120 structured light scanner. These scans make up a state-of-the-art digital database consisting of over 300 individuals from 9 species of macaque skeletons and their close relatives (Trachypithecus, Cercopithecus, and Lophocebus).
Additionally, metric data for the cranium, mandible, and limb bones was collected for my dissertation, and is published in: Kenyon-Flatt, B. 2020. Taxonomic Efficacy of the Macaque Skeleton: A Geometric Morphometric Analysis of the Crania and Postcrania with Regard to Ecogeography and Behavior. PhD Dissertation, University at Buffalo, State University of New York.
If you'd like access to either the scans or the metric data, please get in touch!
Additionally, metric data for the cranium, mandible, and limb bones was collected for my dissertation, and is published in: Kenyon-Flatt, B. 2020. Taxonomic Efficacy of the Macaque Skeleton: A Geometric Morphometric Analysis of the Crania and Postcrania with Regard to Ecogeography and Behavior. PhD Dissertation, University at Buffalo, State University of New York.
If you'd like access to either the scans or the metric data, please get in touch!
Open access. I am committed to open access science and to increasing access in STEM, and thus have made my funded NSF grant applications available below, via FigShare. These applications, along with funded and unfunded applications from many other scientists are also available on Open Grants.
NSF Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant
NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology
NSF Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant
NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology
