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Dr. Peter Larson |
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| EDUCATION B.S. Biology, University of Richmond, 1997 Ph.D. Biological Sciences, Ohio University, 2003 |
2004-2005
COURSES Human Anatomy and Physiology (BI 31) Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (BI 16) Developmental Biology (BI 24) Independent Research (BI 21-22) |
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My research currently focuses on evolutionary and ecological morphology, centering mainly on the ontogeny, form, and function of the musculoskeletal system in anuran (frogs, toads) tadpoles. A major emphasis of my research program is the incorporation of developmental data in studies of evolutionary and functional morphology. Central questions in my research are: 1) How do growth and development contribute to morphological and functional variation within and among species?; 2) What can we learn about frog phylogeny by looking at tadpole morphology (and vice versa), and 3) What are the consequences of morphological variation and evolutionary novelty to tadpole biomechanics, behavior, and ecology? Current research areas include: |
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| 1. The evolution and diversity of cranial anatomy in tadpoles. The diversity of cranial morphology in larval anurans is extensive, phylogenetic patterns are evident, and the use of chondrocranial characters in phylogenetic analyses is increasing. I am currently analyzing fine scale evolution of chondrocranial morphology in groups for which phylogenetic hypotheses are currently available. Colleagues and I have worked on describing chondrocranial morphology in a variety of groups of frogs (e.g., Leptodactylus, Larson and de Sá, 1998; Melanophryniscus, Larson et al., 2003). Recently, I have used geometric morphometric techniques to investigate patterns of morphological variation in Rana with the goal of understanding the development and evolution of the chondrocranium in the genus (see right; Larson, 2005). |
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| 2. Patterns of morphological development in larval anurans. I have been investigating relationship between body size and skeletal morphology in a variety of species (Rana, Bufo) using both linear and geometric morphometric techniques. Recent results (Larson, 2002) have indicated that in wood frog tadpoles (see right), functionally important regions of the skull associated with muscles involved in feeding exhibit contrasting patterns of development as compared to the remainder of the skull. I recently completed a project comparing this data with ontogenetic trajectories for other species of Rana (Larson, 2005) to understand how allometric growth patterns might contribute to morphological and functional differences among species. |
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| 3. Ecomorphology and the biomechanics of tadpole feeding. I am interested in the adaptive significance of variation in larval anuran morphology and am currently surveying and quantifying morphology broadly among larval anuran ecotypes. Integration of morphological data with functional and experimental studies will provide a link between larval morphological variation, feeding function, and tadpole ecology. For example, I recently completed an experimental project with Steve Reilly (Ohio University), using kinematic and electromyographic analyses to describe jaw movements and in vivo muscle function during feeding and gill irrigation in bullfrog tadpoles (Larson and Reilly, 2003). This study provided the first data on muscle function during feeding in tadpoles and provides necessary baseline data for future experimental studies of feeding performance. |
Click image to see a video of tadpole feeding. |
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PUBLICATIONS |
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Larson PM. 2005. Ontogeny, phylogeny, and morphology in
anuran larvae: A morphometric analysis of cranial development and
evolution in Rana larvae (Anura: Ranidae). Journal of Morphology 264:34-52. Larson PM. 2004. Chondrocranial morphology and
ontogenetic allometry in larval Bufo americanus (Anura, Bufonidae).
Zoomorphology 123:95-106. Larson
PM, de Sá RO, Arrieta D. 2003. Chondrocranial,
hyobranchial and internal oral morphology in larvae of the basal
bufonid genus Melanophryniscus (Amphibia: Anura). Acta Zoologica 84:145–154. Larson
PM, Reilly SM. 2003. Functional morphology of
feeding and gill irrigation in the anuran tadpole: Electromyography and
muscle function in larval Rana
catesbeiana. Journal of Morphology 255:202–214. Larson PM. 2002. Chondrocranial development in larval
Rana sylvatica (Anura: Ranidae): A morphometric analysis of cranial
allometry and ontogenetic shape change. Journal of Morphology 252:131–144. Radice G, Boggiano MK, DeSantis M, Larson P, Oppong J,
Smetanick M, Stevens T, Tripp J, Weber R, Kerckhove M, de Sá R.
1999. Three-dimensional reconstructions of tadpole chondrocrania from histological
sections. Virginia Journal of Science
50(3):227–235. Larson PM, de Sá RO. 1998. Chondrocranial morphology of Leptodactylus larvae (Leptodactylidae: Leptodactylinae): Its utility in phylogenetic reconstruction. Journal of Morphology 238:287–305.
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RESEARCH
INTERESTS
