ADVANCED COURSE: FUNCTIONAL MORPHOLOGY: EVOLUTION OF FORM AND FUNCTION FROM INDIVIDUALS TO SPECIES

Functional morphology aims to link up variation in phenotype to variation in musculo-skeletal function. It is tightly related to ecomorphology which tries to understand the association between variation in ecology and the phenotype of an organism. To understand the relationships between form and function it is essential to understand the structure of the basic elements that make up the vertebrate body: bone and muscle. Based on the understanding of how these tissues work one can then apply the principles of biomechanics (statics and/or dynamics) to provide 1) a priori testable predictions about the relationship between phenotype and function, and 2) build simple biomechanical models that allow one to vary the input parameters to evaluate how these impact the output of the system. Often these types of analyses go hand-in-hand with analyses of movements and the forces that allow these movements. This is tightly linked to measurements of performance used in an ecomorphological context.

The objectives of this short course are to provide students the basic principles of functional morphology, biomechanics and movement analyses that may allow them to use these to study whole-animal performance in an ecological and evolutionary context.

PROGRAMME

Day 1
9:30-12:30 - Bone, structure and function (AH)
14:30-17:30 - Muscle, structure and function (AH)

Day 2
9:30-12:30 - Principles of mechanics and its applications in biology (AvdM)
14:30-17:30 - Biomechanical models: opportunities and limitations (AH)

Day 3
9:30-12:30 - Kinematics analyses: displacement, velocity and acceleration (AH)
14:30-17:30 - Ecomorphology and the comparative method (AK)

COURSE INSTRUCTORS

Anthony Herrel - CNRS | MNHN
Arie van der Meijden - CIBIO-InBIO | PHENEVOL
Antigoni Kaliontzopoulou - CIBIO-InBIO | PHENEVOL

INTENDED AUDIENCE
The course will be open to a maximum number of 25 participants.

75% of available student slots are reserved for BIODIV students. Priority will be given to:
• 1st year and other PhD students attending the BIODIV Doctoral Program;
• PhD students attending other courses;
• Other post-graduate students and researchers.

REGISTRATION
Registration deadline: January 31, 2019

To apply, please fill the form available HERE

Participation is free of charge for BIODIV students | 65 € (students) | 125 € (other participants). CIBIO-InBIO members will have an additional discount of 20%. All applicants will be notified about whether they are accepted until February 5, 2019.

Please note that new rules apply for all BIODIV students.