Publications by authors named "E Gilissen"
The field of phenomics is experiencing unprecedented advances thanks to the rapid growth of morphological quantification based on three-dimensional (3D) imaging, online data repositories, team-oriented collaborations, and open data-sharing policies. In line with these progressions, we present an extensive primate phenotypic dataset comprising >6,000 3D scans (media) representing skeletal morphologies of 386 individual specimens covering all hominoid genera (except humans) and other selected primates. The digitized specimens are housed in physical collections at the American Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of Natural History, the Royal Museum for Central Africa (Belgium), the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and Stony Brook University.
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- - The study investigates how ecology and social factors influence cognitive skills in primates by examining the size of specific brain regions related to metacognition and working memory in 16 primate species.
- - Researchers found the volume of the frontal pole (FP) and dorso-lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is significantly related to body size, daily travel distance, and population density, indicating both ecological and social constraints play a role in cognitive evolution.
- - The results suggest that ecological factors primarily drive brain region size, while social factors more strongly affect the FP, highlighting the importance of foraging and social interactions in the cognitive development of primates.
Article Synopsis
- Spotted hyaenas show notable resilience against injuries and diseases, yet understanding the pathologies they face is crucial for ecological research and conservation.
- A study of 52 spotted hyaena skulls revealed that 44% exhibited various pathologies, such as craniosynostosis, osteomyelitis, and trauma-related injuries.
- The findings enhance our understanding of hyaena health, potential conservation challenges, and provide a basis for comparing similar conditions in other apex predators.
Article Synopsis
- The mammalian cerebral cortex is typically organized into six layers, but some areas, like the primary motor cortex, and certain species (like elephants and cetaceans) lack a clear layer 4.
- Researchers studied where thalamocortical projections, which normally target layer 4, end up in these species and discovered variations in how these projections are distributed across different cortical layers.
- The findings suggest that the absence or distinction of layer 4 has implications for how the cortex processes information and may reflect evolutionary changes in mammalian brains.
Article Synopsis
- The study explores how the structure of the femur (thigh bone) and pelvis is coordinated with locomotion among different primate species, including humans, chimps, bonobos, and baboons.
- It utilizes geometric morphometrics to analyze the relationships and integration of pelvic and femoral morphology, revealing differences in how these species adapt to their modes of locomotion.
- Results indicate that baboons have strong morphological integration but low morpho-structural integration, while humans display the opposite, suggesting different evolutionary pressures impacting their locomotion and skeletal features.