This project uses bi-planar fluoroscopy (XROMM) and scientific rotoscopy to study the effect of body mass and foot anatomy on the 3D motion of all feet joints in large mammals (ranging from pigs to elephants). In collaboration with Prof. Hutchinson (The Royal Veterinary College) and Prof. Gatesy (Brown University)
We developed a novel approach for this study that integrates three-dimensional data from biplanar radiography (XROMM), inverse dynamics, musculoskeletal modelling and finite element analysis to test the hypothesis that the most prevalent pathologies in animal feet occur in anatomical regions that experience the highest stresses during the mid-stance phase of locomotion. We provide our results more…
Foot diseases are the main cause of mortality in captive large mammals however they are not very common in wild species. This study aims to unravel how captivity has altered foot function and led to pathogeneses. I hypothesise that wild species have evolved efficient foot designs as adaptations to minimise pressures that can cause tissue more…
This projects applies physical and structural properties of a male sperm whale to computer aided designed finite element models (CAD-FEA) to assess the mechanical function of the sperm whale forehead during ramming. In collaboration with Prof. Carrier (University of Utah) and Dr. Spyridis (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna)
My research in feeding mechanics seeks to determine the function of the non human primate chewing apparatus as it relates to dietary ecology, dental morphology and development in adulthood and during ontogeny. The morphology of the lower jaw in non-human primate lineages displays considerable variation inter and intra-specifically. The cause of such variation is multifactorial, yet more…