Research Lines

The Functional Morphology and Behavior group currently has the following research lines and sub-lines:

Functional morphology in caviomorph rodents. It aims to understand morphological diversity and evolution in a particular group of South American rodents (Rodentia, Hystricognathi, Caviomorpha), emphasizing adaptations to different lifestyles, habitat, and locomotion. The group of caviomorph rodents is of particular interest as it represents one of the most diverse in terms of ecological traits, life history, body size, and locomotor habits. The lines currently being developed on this topic are:

• Analysis of morphological traits (tissue types, muscle-tendon system) and associated functional capacities of the palmar pads in the subterranean rodent genus Ctenomys (Rodentia, Caviomorpha, Ctenomyidae). Determination of the identity of these structures and their role during food manipulation and brachy-excavation.
• Analysis of the structural behavior of the skull under stresses compatible with chewing, gnawing, and excavation. Emphasis is placed on differences in bite force and habits of the studied species. Among the methods used is Finite Element Analysis, a computer simulation technique widely used in engineering and physics to model the behavior of complex structural systems.
• Study of the biomechanical properties -of the palate and the anteorbital bar- associated with the great variety of lifestyles, occupied environments, and evolutionary radiation in caviomorph rodents, and their corresponding ecological performance.
• Functional study of learned manipulative abilities of the forelimbs in rodents (using comparative studies on tuco-tucos, Ctenomys talarum, and other species).

Behavioral neuroscience

• Analysis of the neural correlates underlying different behavioral abilities.
• Brain organization and adaptive behavioral innovations: Evolution of cognitive systems. Analysis, with a comparative approach, of the correlations between different brain areas associated with spatial orientation and adaptations to different ecological environments in rodents.

Morphofunctional studies in amphibians

• Comparative analysis of manipulative abilities in amphibians, initially in the terrestrial toad Rhinella arenarum, and then in other species with different ecological adaptations.

Behavior and ecomorphology of the raptor bird, Milvago chimango (chimango).

• Study of different behavioral abilities related to cognitive flexibility in chimangos.