Project description
3D data sets to track evolution of whales
There are about 80 species of living whales, or cetaceans (baleen and toothed). They all have flippers and a blowhole. While baleen whales lost their teeth and feed using keratinous plates called baleen, toothed whales have evolved the ability to locate their prey using sound waves (echolocation). Relatively little is known about their evolution. With this in mind, the EU-funded Evo-Devo-Whales project will use cutting-edge geometric morphometric and phylogenetic methods to quantify the ontogeny of the skull in a diverse sample of cetaceans and terrestrial artiodactyls. The project will produce high-quality 3D data sets that will be shared in online repositories, making rare foetal specimens of toothed and baleen whales accessible for further research and for outreach initiatives.
Objective
Cetaceans (baleen whales and toothed whales) are a distinctive group of mammals that has evolved unique adaptations to live in water. Their impressive fossil record traces their evolution from their terrestrial ancestors (Artiodactyla), to the present aquatic forms. All living cetaceans have flippers instead of limbs, possess a blowhole at the top of the head instead of an anteriorly-positioned nose. They have also developed a characteristic head shape connected to their feeding mode: while baleen whales have lost their teeth and feed using keratinous plates called baleen, toothed whales have evolved the ability to locate their prey using sound waves (echolocation). Changes in prenatal development (ontogeny) played a major role in allowing these animals to evolve the skull adaptions they currently display related to their peculiar traits. Though, little information is available on their development, limiting our understanding of the role of ontogeny in the evolution of modern cetaceans.
This project aims to apply 3-dimensional (3D) imaging and cutting-edge geometric morphometric (GM) and phylogenetic methods to quantify the ontogeny of the skull in a diverse sample of cetaceans and terrestrial artiodactyls in order to reconstruct how development has shaped the evolution and diversification of this unique group of mammals. This project will produce high-quality 3D datasets that will be shared in on-line repositories, making rare fetal specimens of toothed and baleen whales accessible for further research and for outreach initiatives. The project will benefit from the expertise in GM methods of a world-renowned researcher and her team, and the vast collection of specimens available at the host institution. Through this fellowship, the researcher will be reintegrated in the European scientific community and master key skills to then start her independent career. She will learn new methodologies, while strengthening transferrable professional skills.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme -
H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
SW7 5BD London
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.