Special issue: Comparative Functional Morphology in Primates

Hamada, Y., Hirasaki, E., Rae, T.C.（編集）

機能形態学は、ヒトを含む霊長類の進化を探る最も有効なツールのひとつであり、過去100年以上に渡って多くの研究が機能形態学の手法でなされてきた。その長い歴史故に、機能形態学はもはや生物科学の最前線とは言えない時代遅れな学問領域とする見方も、近年なされるようになってきた。しかし、本当にそうであろうか。最近の機器・研究手法の発達により、機能形態学は新しい局面へと進みつつある。microCTやMRIなどによってこれまで見ることができなかった身体あるいは骨の内部構造、組成等を観察することが可能になった。動作分析法の進歩は、より自然な状態での動きの正確かつ手軽な計測を可能にした。さらに精緻なシミュレーションの開発は運動中の身体内力の推定や仮想的な動物の動きの生成をも実現させた。つまり、「機能分析」と「形態学」の両面で進歩があり、それらが融合することによって、機能形態学研究はパラダイムの転換と言ってもよい大きな変革期を迎えている。そうした最近の研究成果について議論を交換し、機能形態学の方向性について討論するために、我々は「霊長類の比較機能形態学」と題するシンポジウムを企画した。このシンポジウムは、第22回国際霊長類学会大会（英国エジンバラ市）のポストコングレスシンポジウムとして英国ダラム大学において開催され、アメリカ合衆国、英国、ドイツ、日本、タイ、フランス、ベルギーから50名を越える参加者が参集した。参加研究者は、22の口頭発表と６つのポスター発表で提供された方法論、研究成果、霊長類リソースの情報等を題材に、霊長類の進化と適応、およびその中での機能形態学の役割と方向性について２日間に渡って討論を繰り広げた。この特集号では、28編の発表の内10編について、シンポジウムでの討論結果を取り込んだ論文として紹介する。

International Journal of Primatlogy 31(2)

Functional Morphology (FM) has been one of the most effective tools in the study of human and non-human primate evolution. Investigations have been conducted within this discipline for more than 100 years. There have been murmurs recently, however, over its contemporary relevance and effectiveness. Given its age, it could be argued that FM is far from the frontiers of biological science, but is it so far behind the times as to be irrelevant? The answer is absolutely “No”. With advances in recent methodologies, such as micro-computed tomography (μ-CT), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), motion analysis and high fidelity simulation, FM has entered a new phase. For example, new equipment enables us to observe the internal structures and/or composition of the body or skeleton (e.g., trabecular bone conformation) without destroying the specimens. Similarly, progress in motion analysis has enabled precise measurement of diversity of motion in more natural conditions, such that various aspects of primate behavior can be analyzed, not only in the laboratory, but also in zoo enclosures or wild habitats. Far from being outmoded, FM is now undergoing such a large-scale evolution that it can be called a paradigm shift, engaging with such diverse aspects of the biology of primates as ecology, physiology, cognition, phylogeny, palaeontology, welfare and conservation. To explore these new areas of research, the organizers invited a number of researchers in this discipline to the cathedral town of Durham, U.K., for a symposium entitled “Comparative Functional Morphology in Primates.” Held as a post-Congress workshop of the 2008 International Primatological Society conference in Edinburgh, 22 oral and 6 poster presentations were offered by over 50 participants from North America, EU countries, and Asia. Attendees exchanged knowledge (methodologies, resources, and results) and ideas to further advance FM in understanding adaptive aspects of primate evolution. The participants, working at the frontiers of FM, are seeking to understand primate evolution from diverse points of view. We offer a number of their works here. Contents: - Comparative Functional Morphology in Primates: An Introduction to the Special Issue. (Hamada Y, Hirasaki E and Rae TC) - Bipedal versus Quadrupedal Hind Limb and Foot Kinematics in a Captive Sample of Papio anubis: Setup and Preliminary Results. (Berillon G, Daver G, D'Aout K, Nicolas G, de la Villetanet B, Multon F, Digrandi G and Dubreuil G) - Palmar and Plantar Pressure While Walking on a Horizontal Ladder and Single Pole in Macaca fuscata. (Higurashi Y, Hirasaki E and Kumakura H. - Distal Forelimb Kinematics in Erythrocebus patas and Papio anubis During Walking and Galloping. (Patel BA and Polk JD) - Is the Clavicle of Apes Long? An Investigation of Clavicular Length in Relation to Body Mass and Upper Thoracic Width. (Kagaya M, Ogihara N and Nakatsukasa M) - Cross-Sectional Morphology of the Femoral Neck of Wild Chimpanzees. (Matsumura A, Gunji H, Takahashi Y, Nishida T and Okada M) - Estimating the Functional Axis of the Primate Foot Using the Distribution of Plantar Muscles. (Hirasaki E and Kumakura H) - A Method for Quantifying Articular Surface Morphology of Metacarpals Using Quadric Surface Approximation. (Matsuura Y, Ogihara N and Nakatsukasa M) - Subchondral Bone Apparent Density and Locomotor Behavior in Extant Primates and Subfossil Lemurs Hadropithecus and Pachylemur. (Polk JD, Williams SA, Peterson JV, Roseman CC and Godfrey LR) - Functional Analysis of the Primate Shoulder. (Preuschoft H, Hohn B, Scherf H, Schmidt M, Krause C and Witzel U) - Evolutionary Robotic Approaches in Primate Gait Analysis. (Sellers WI, Pataky TC, Caravaggi P and Crompton RH)

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