BUFFALO HUMAN EVOLUTIONARY MORPHOLOGY LAB
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Ongoing Research Projects

Integration of the Primate Skeleton
Previous studies of primate morphological evolution have often compartmentalized the skeleton into isolated components, preventing a comprehensive understanding of how skeletal structures interact and operate as an integrated whole. Our lab is using 3D laser scanning and geometric morphometrics to examine 11 skeletal elements (cranial and post-cranial) in 13 different species in order to gain a more thorough understanding of how skeletal components interact across Primates, and how varying levels of these interactions can influence the tempo and mode of skeletal evolution.
​Funding: National Science Foundation; L.S.B. Leakey Foundation.

Specific investigations: 
  • ​Jung H, Simons E. & von Cramon-Taubadel N. (2021). Examination of magnitudes of integration in the catarrhine vertebral column. Journal of Human Evolution ​156.
  • Jung H, Simons E. & von Cramon-Taubadel N. (2021). Ontogenetic changes in magnitudes of integration in the macaque skull. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 174(1): 76-88. 
  • Jung H, Conaway M. & von Cramon-Taubadel N. (2020). Examination of sample size determination in integration studies based on the integration coefficient of variation (ICV). Evolutionary Biology 47: 293-307.
  • Jung H. & von Cramon-Taubadel N. (2019). Morphological integration in thoracolumbar vertebrae of Macaca fascicularis. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 168 (S68): 117.
  • Conaway MA, Jung H. & von Cramon-Taubadel N. (2019). The effects of morphometric protocol on morphological integration statistics: a case study in scapulae. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 168 (S68): 47.
  • Jung H. & von Cramon-Taubadel N. (2018). Ontogenetic changes in morphological integration in the macaque cranium and mandible. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 165 (S66): 135.
  • Conaway M, Schroeder L. & von Cramon-Taubadel N. (2018). Morphological integration of anatomical, developmental, and functional postcranial modules in the crab-eating macaque (Macaca fascicularis). American Journal of Physical Anthropology 166(3): 661-670.

Taxonomic Indicators from Post-crania
Many of the characters currently used for classifying primates into taxonomic groups are found in the skull. However, studies from our lab are demonstrating that other aspects of the skeleton (such as the pelvis and limb bones) are also useful for taxonomic classification. The ability to classify primates using skeletal elements other than the skull/dentition is important, as many postcranial fossils found in isolation are difficult to identify, and without a proper taxonomic context it is difficult to trace how skeletal features have evolved. By identifying taxonomically useful features on post-cranial skeletal elements, these studies will help us better understand how living primates are related to each other, and how their morphology has changed over time.
Funding: National Science Foundation.

Specific investigations:
  • Kenyon-Flatt B, Conaway M, Lycett SJ. & von Cramon-Taubadel N. (2020). The relative efficacy of the cranium and os coxa for taxonomic assessment in macaques. American Journal of Physical Anthropology.
  • Kenyon-Flatt BA. & von Cramon-Taubadel N. (2020). The taxonomic efficacy of the macaque innominate. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 171(S69): 140.
  • Conaway MA, Kenyon-Flatt B. & von Cramon-Taubadel N. (2020). A geometric morphometric comparison of shape and integration indices in captive and wild Macaca fascicularis postcrania. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 171(S69): 56.
  • Kenyon-Flatt B, Conaway MA, Simons EA, von Cramon-Taubadel N. (2020). The taxonomic efficacy of catarrhine femoral shape: testing the effect of variable landmarking schemes. Accepted for presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Paleoanthropology Society, Los Angeles, CA, April 14-15.
  • Kenyon-Flatt BA. & von Cramon-Taubadel N. (2020). Is the scapula a good indicator of taxonomy?: A geometric morphometric analysis using macaque monkeys. FASEB in press. Selected as a top 10 anatomy abstract/poster for inclusion in the Experimental Biology Scientific Highlights symposium.
  • Kenyon BA & von Cramon-Taubadel N. (2019). Post-cranial diversity in Catarrhines. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 168 (S68): 123.
  • Kenyon BA, Conaway MA. & von Cramon-Taubadel N. (2018). A tale of two species: A geometric morphometric analysis of Macaca fascicularis and Macaca mulatta crania. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 165 (S66): 138.
  • Conaway MA, Kenyon BA. & von Cramon-Taubadel N. (2018). Taxonomic distinction of two species of macaque (Macaca mulatta and Macaca fascicularis). American Journal of Physical Anthropology 165 (S66): 52.

Reconstructing Evolutionary Processes
Our lab uses quantitative genetics and ancestral state reconstruction in conjunction with geometric morphometrics to determine if skeletal traits are the product of natural selection or of neutral evolutionary processes (genetic drift). These studies identify which traits were under selection, what the morphological consequences of this selection were, and how this selection may have influenced the evolution of other non-selected but integrated structures. This provides a means for evaluating various adaptive scenarios that have been proposed to explain observed morphological differences among species.

Specific investigations:
  • Simons EA, Frost SR, Harvati K, McNulty K, and Singleton M. (2020) Comparing rates of lineage diversification with rates of size and shape evolution in catarrhine crania. Evolutionary Biology. 
  • von Cramon-Taubadel N. (2019). Evaluating correspondence in phenotypic variation, genetic diversity, geography, and environmental factors. In: A Companion to Anthropological Genetics (O’Rourke, D. H. ed.). Wiley-Blackwell Inc. pp. 89-105. 
  • von Cramon-Taubadel N. (2019). Multivariate morphometrics, quantitative genetics, and neutral theory: Developing a “modern synthesis” for primate evolutionary morphology. Evolutionary Anthropology 28: 21-33.
  • Schroeder L. & von Cramon-Taubadel N. (2017). The evolution of hominoid cranial diversity: A quantitative genetic approach. Evolution 71: 2634-2649.
  • Smith HF. & von Cramon-Taubadel N. (2015). The relative correspondence of cranial and genetic distances in papionin taxa and the impact of allometric adjustments. Journal of Human Evolution 85: 46-64.

Human Population History
Our lab investigates human population history and migration patterns, and how these influence the evolution of skeletal variation, particularly in the cranium. Specifically, we have examined morphological changes associated with agricultural transitions, the peopling of the Americas, and migration and affinity patterns in Ottoman Romania and Hungary.

Specific investigations:
  • He L, Liu W, Temple DH, Wang M, Zhang Q. & von Cramon-Taubadel N. (2019) Diachronic changes in craniofacial morphology among the Middle-Late Holocene populations from Hehuang region, Northwest China. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 169:55-65.
  • von Cramon-Taubadel N. (2017). Measuring the effects of farming on human skull morphology. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 114:8917-8919.
  • von Cramon-Taubadel N. (2014). Evolutionary insights into global patterns of human cranial diversity: population history, climatic and dietary effects. Journal of Anthropological Sciences 92: 43-77.
​Diversity in the Americas
  • Hubbe M, Terrazas Mata A, Herrera B, Benavente Sanvicente ME, González González A, Rojas Sandoval C, Avilés Olguín J, Acevez Núnez E, von Cramon-Taubadel N. (2020). Morphological variation of the early human remains from Quintana Roo, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico: Contributions to the discussions about the settlement of the Americas. PLOS ONE 5(1): e0227444.
  • von Cramon-Taubadel N, Strauss A. & Hubbe M. (2017). Evolutionary population history of early Paleoamerican cranial morphology. Science Advance 3: e1602289.
Funding: British Academy/Leverhulme Trust

Population history in the European Ottoman era
  • Allen KG, Mills R, Knudson KJ. & von Cramon-Taubadel N. (2020). Biological diversity in an Islamic archaeological population: a radiogenic strontium isotope and craniometric analysis of affinity in Ottoman Romania. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 171(4): 569-583.
  • Allen KG. & von Cramon-Taubadel N. (2017). A craniometric analysis of early modern Romania and Hungary: the roles of migration and conversion in shaping European Ottoman population history. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 164: 477-487.
Funding: National Science Foundation


Fluctuating asymmetry
​Most animals are bilaterally symmetric, meaning that most organs develop from the same genes in the same environment. Because of this, investigations into deviations from symmetry can provide important information about instability over the course of development. Our lab has investigated fluctuating asymmetry in several skeletal elements in both human and non-human primates.
Funding: Wenner-Gren Foundation

Specific investigations:
  • Eriksen AB, & von Cramon-Taubadel N. (2020). The effect of hand preference on pelvic shape asymmetry. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 171(S69): 81.
  • Eriksen AB, & von Cramon-Taubadel N. (2019). Patterns of skeletal asymmetry in the human pelvis. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 168 (S68): 70.
  • Eriksen AB, Schroeder L. & von Cramon-Taubadel N. (2018). Patterns of fluctuating asymmetry in the human axial skeleton. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 165 (S66): 79.
  • Jung H. & von Cramon-Taubadel N. (2018). Comparison of cranial fluctuating asymmetry between normal and pathological specimens from a modern Thai skeletal group. Homo 69(4):188-197.
  • Eriksen AB, McGrath K, Gómez-Robles A, Schroeder L, Massey JS, Bromage TG, Mudakikwa A, Stoinski TS, Cranfield MR, Tocheri MW, McFarlin SC. & von Cramon-Taubadel N. (2017). Facial fluctuating asymmetry in wild Virunga mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei). American Journal of Physical Anthropology 162 (S64): 174.
  • Jung H, Woo EJ. & von Cramon-Taubadel N. (2017). Comparison of fluctuating asymmetry level between normal and pathological specimens from modern Thai skeletal group. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 162 (S64): 236.

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