29.03.2013 Views

THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY Eric Snively A ... - Ohio University

THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY Eric Snively A ... - Ohio University

THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY Eric Snively A ... - Ohio University

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

face of the skull met part of the medially expanding lower jaw, The bones formed<br />

a stout new joint that braœs the jaw articulation when the skimmer spears a fish<br />

(Bock 1959).<br />

The sequence of functional acquisition, determined through character analysis<br />

(Bock 1965) and ideally through fossil evidence, allows us to classify the relevant<br />

aptations. The new function of bracing the jaw is an exaptation derived from<br />

Iateral extension of the basitemporal processes, which was not originally involved<br />

with a second jaw joint. The original function of increased muscle attachment is<br />

still in effect, and thus falls under the category of adaptation proper (Gould and<br />

Vrba 1982). 00th functions (termed postadaptation by Bock 1959) are amenable<br />

to further refinement.<br />

Epistemology and evolution of aptations<br />

With this background of terminology, further examples illustrate the evolution of<br />

exaptive functional complexes. A simple instance involves one aspect of the origin<br />

of flight in birds. The range of motion evident in the forelimb joints of small<br />

theropod dinosaurs indicates these animals could sweep their claws down and<br />

forward; one possible utility of this action was to stfike and grasp prey. Gauthier<br />

and Padian (1985) propose that the same motion was incorporated into the<br />

downward component of the flightstroke in birds, the descendants of earlier<br />

predaceous theropods. If a predation strike was the primary selective benefit of<br />

forelimb kinernatics in the ancestors of birds, the avian downward fiightstroke may<br />

be interpreted as an exaptation derived from an anteceding function.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!