E-Mail: KJONE108(at)jhmi.edu
Phone: 443-287-3903

1830 E. Monument St., Room 305
Baltimore, MD 21205 USA

PhD Advisor: Kenneth D. Rose
Thesis Title: Scaling and Evolution of the Mammalian Spine: A 3D Analysis of Vertebral Allometry

MSci, Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge (UK), 2008
BA, Natural Sciences (Earth Sciences), University of Cambridge (UK), 2007

Testing factors that influence morphological evolution
3D geometric morphometrics and quantifying complex biological shapes
The role of body size and allometry in mammalian evolution
Biomechanics and development of the vertebral column
Pinniped morphology and the evolution of aquatic carnivores

My research aims to understand the adaptation of complex anatomical traits in the mammal skeleton. I am fascinated by the interaction of behavior, size and phylogenetic history during morphological evolution. To answer these fundamental questions I use geometric morphometrics to measure the complex 3D structure of mammal bones.

My PhD thesis examines the influence of body size on the vertebral column. Increasing body size through evolution has mechanical impacts on the post-cranial skeleton and is well studied in mammal limbs. Despite this, little is known about adaptation of the spine to increasing size. My work tests the hypothesis of vertebral allometry in three independent groups with different spinal use during locomotion. I am also collaborating with developmental lab to investigate how post-natal growth can generate adaptive variation in different regions of the spine. Previous work has examined aquatic adaptations of the Carnivora by testing the influence of feeding, reproduction and phylogeny on the shape of the cranium and jaw in pinnipeds. Another project investigated evolution of the premolar dentition in two groups of Eocene primates related to body size changes.

Katrina's Webpage

Curriculum Vitae

PUBLICATIONS:

Jones, K. E., and German, R. Z. 2013. In review. Ontogenetic allometry of the thoracolumbar spine during post-natal growth. Evolution and Development.

Jones, K. E., Rose, K., and Perry, J. 2013. In review. Body size and premolar evolution in the Early-Middle Eocene euprimates of Wyoming. American Journal of Physical Anthropology.

Jones, K. E., Ruff, C and Goswami. A. 2013. In press . Biomechanics of the pinniped jaw: Mandibular evolution without mastication. The Anatomical Record.

Jones, K. E., and Goswami, A. 2010. Quantitative analysis of the influences of phylogeny and ecology on phocid and otariid pinniped (Mammalia; Carnivora) cranial morphology. Journal of Zoology 280(3):297-308. (view from Wiley page)

Jones, K. E. and Goswami, A. 2010. Morphometric analysis of cranial morphology in pinnipeds (mammalia, carnivora): convergence, ecology, ontogeny, and dimorphism. In: Carnivoran Evolution: New Views on Phylogeny, Form and Function, Goswami and Friscia. Cambridge University Press. (view at the Cambridge University Press page)


ABSTRACTS:

Jones, K. E. and German, R. Z. 2013. The influence of locomotion and modularity on craniocaudal patterns of vertebral growth. American Association of Anatomists (Poster).

Jones, K. E. and German, R. Z. 2013. Differential vertebral growth produces variations in adult thoracolumbar proportions in half-bounding mammals. Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology (Poster).

Jones, K. E. and Rose, K. D. 2011. Premolar evolution in the earliest euprimates of Wyoming. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (Platform talk).

Jones, K. E. and Ruff, C. B. 2011. Male-male combat drives bite force dimorphism in the absence of mastication. FASEB J March. 25:867.1 (Poster).

Jones, K. E. and Goswami, A. 2010. Discordant morphological disparity and taxonomic diversity in pinniped versus fissiped carnivorans. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Program and Abstracts book. p113A. (Platform talk).

Jones, K. E. and Weishampel, D. 2010. Understanding conflicting topologies: the role of character complexes in tree incongruency. Symposium of Vertebrate Paleontology and Comparative Anatomy (Platform talk).

Jones, K. E.and Ruff. C, Goswami, A. 2010. Novel adaptations of the pinniped (Mammalia:Carnivora) jaw anatomy to aquatic prey-capture. FASEB J. 24: lb8. (Poster)

Jones, K. E. and Goswami, A. 2008. Morphometric analysis of cranial morphology in Pinnipeds (Mammalia: Carnivora): Disparity, dimorphism, ecology and ontogeny. Symposium of Vertebrate Paleontology and Comparative Anatomy (Platform talk).

Jones, K. E.and Goswami, A. 2008. Morphometric analysis of cranial morphology in Pinnipeds (Mammalia: Carnivora): Disparity, dimorphism, ecology and ontogeny.. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 28(supplement to 3):97A. (Poster) (view the abstract through the JVP website)

Kenneth Rose