(1) In a first step, we have assessed the congruence between two non-mutually exclusive approaches to characterize morphological variation (disparity) in the fossil record: (1) quantitatively, through geometric morphometrics; and (2) in terms of discrete, ‘cladistic’, or categorical characters (Ferrón et al. 2020, Palaeontology, 63(5)).
(2) Using these approaches, we have characterized the morphological diversity of all major stem-gnathostome clades (Ferrón et al. 2020, Palaeontology, 63(5); Ferrón et al. 2020, Curr. Biol., 30(23); Ferrón et al. 2021, Proc. Royal Soc. B, 288(1943)).
(3) We have generated a collection of more than 100 three-dimensional virtual models with representatives of all major stem-gnathostome clades.
From the above framework and database, we have performed functional tests by means of computational fluid dynamics elucidating some fundamental aspects to understand early vertebrate evolution:
(4) The headshield morphology in several groups of ostracoderms (stem-gnathostomes) is compatible with a diversity of hydrodynamic efficiencies including passive control of water flow around the body which could have increased versatility for adopting diverse locomotor strategies (Ferrón et al. 2020, Curr. Biol., 30(23)).
(5) We revealed similar hydrodynamic performance among morphologically convergent species (Ferrón et al. 2021, Proc. Royal Soc. B, 288(1943)).
(6) We have found that a number of the characters typically used to infer the evolutionary relationships among galeaspids, osteostracans and jawed vertebrates are convergent in nature, potentially obscuring understanding of the assembly of the gnathostome bodyplan (Ferrón et al. 2021, Proc. Royal Soc. B, 288(1943)).
(7) We have revealed that the jawless relatives of the earliest jawed vertebrates reached the limits of their potential ecological diversity—overcome by jawed vertebrates and their later innovations (Ferrón et al. 2021, Proc. Royal Soc. B, 288(1943)).
(8) In parallel, we have provided a refined view of the ecological context in which vertebrate and gnathostome body plans were assembled (Ferrón and Donoghue, Science Advances in rev.).
The researcher has produced several scientific publications, including a number of published papers as well as other at various stages between acceptance and final stages of preparation:
Ferron et al. (2020). Palaeontology, 63.
Ferrón et al. (2021). Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 288.
Ferrón et al. (2020). Current Biology, 30.
Ferrón, H. G., & Donoghue, P. C. (in rev.). Science Advances.
Ferrón, H. G. (2019). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 39.
Cooper et al. (2020). Scientific reports, 10.
Ballell, A., & Ferrón, H. G. (2021). Scientific reports, 11.
Herraiz et al. (2020). Biology Letters, 16.
Further, the researcher has attended several international congresses to disseminate the results and has also participated in several outreach activities including online events and different radio podcast.
