Integrative analysis of sexual dimorphism in lizards: morphology, functional significance and selection

• Grant number: 15/11531-2
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Duration: November 02, 2015 - November 16, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Morphology of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Renata Brandt Nunes
• Grantee: Renata Brandt Nunes
• Visiting researcher: Anthony Rene Guillaume Herrel
• Visiting researcher institution: Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, France
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Dr. Herrel will collaborate by implementing the techniques of bite force measurement in the Laboratory of Tetrapod Evolution (LET), a fundamental activity for the successful completion of FAPESP 2013/14125-0 and to the development of future evolutionary integrative studies to be developed by LET. Bite force is a very interesting performance with respect to the evaluation of sexual selection pressures, such as fighting, or to the evaluation of natural selection pressures such as diet, that are associated with changes in head shape. Although LET has experience in developing projects in ecological and functional morphology, this is the first project in which we will quantify bite force. The visit of Dr. Herrel is providential in this regard, because of his expertise studying the evolution of the morphology of the feeding system and bite force. The second activity planned for the visit is to work together on the collection of performance (especially bite force) and morphology data in the field work of one of LET's Post-Doctorate projects (FAPESP 2013/14125-0). It is worth mentioning that this project was proposed thinking about working together with Dr. Herrel at this moment of its development. The idea was to ensure excellence in bite force measurements because this is the first project that we develop with this theme. Moreover, as the data collection is very intense, we do everything in only 10 days, the support in the field of someone as experienced as Dr. Herrel is also a further guarantee of excellence in collecting all the data. The third activity expected in the work plan are discussions with members of LET. The advise of a visitor as productive as Dr. Herrel in LET projects will certainly have very positive impacts. The projects will receive advice in the development of new ideas and in both analysis and interpretation of results. In order to increase the visitor's contact with the students and faculty of the Department of Biology and FFCLRP, Dr. Herrel will be invited to present a lecture on his research in the seminar series 'Café com Ciência'. The seminars have wide dissemination in groups of e-mails inside FFCLRP in addition to its own web site: http://1cafecomciencia.blogspot.com.br (AU)