Evolution of dental patterns and occlusal morphologies in catarrhine primates: application of evolutionary models to 3D topographic and geometric morphometric data
19 Mar 2026
Job Information
- Organisation/Company
Palevoprim- Research Field
Biological sciences » Other- Researcher Profile
First Stage Researcher (R1)- Positions
PhD Positions- Application Deadline
30 Jun 2026 - 12:00 (Europe/Paris)- Country
France- Type of Contract
Temporary- Job Status
Full-time- Hours Per Week
35- Offer Starting Date
1 Oct 2026- Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?
Not funded by a EU programme- Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
No
Offer Description
The occlusal structure (e.g., crests, cusps, crenulations, enamel thickness) of primate molars records strong functional and phylogenetic signals. Dental relief, curvature, and complexity reflect potential dietary adaptations as well as evolutionary history. Recent advances in 3D modeling and dental topography allow the extraction of quantitative morphological descriptors and their integration with macroevolutionary models (e.g., Brownian motion, early burst, Ornstein–Uhlenbeck models) to test the emergence (initial radiation) and canalization of morphologies observed today throughout primate phylogenetic history, including fossil evidence.
Objectives
To implement a study of temporal variation in dental patterns by testing different evolutionary models, combining (i) virtual 3D models of upper molars, (ii) 3D topographic analyses (Berthaume et al., 2020; Guy et al., 2013, 2015; Lazzari et al., 2014; Thiery et al., 2017a, b; 2021), and (iii) geometric morphometrics.
The aim is to identify phases of initial radiation, relative tempos of morphological variation over time, and to interpret these signals within adaptive and/or stochastic frameworks. Are trajectories of morphological variation similar across all catarrhine primates over the last 30 million years (rates of morphological change, magnitude of change, phases of post-radiation stasis versus rapid variation, cumulative occlusal changes affecting overall morphology versus rare localized innovations, etc.)?
Scientific questions
Are occlusal variations primarily explained by phylogeny (Brownian motion) or by adaptive optima related to diet?
Are there shifts in evolutionary rates (stasis, radiations at different times, with or without post-radiation canalization), and are these associated with ecological transitions (e.g., habitat, diet)?
Do occlusal morphological parameters evolve in an integrated (constrained) or independent manner?
Is there morphological convergence among species exploiting similar dietary resources through time, and if not, what alternative patterns explain the observed variation?
Study environment
The sample already includes second upper molars of catarrhine primates covering the taxonomic diversity of the clade (cercopithecoids, hominoids), with several dozen extant and fossil genera/species already available (approximately 400 models acquired).
The analyzed data consist of high-resolution virtual 3D models (µCT scans / surface scans) for each molar. The analytical framework includes time-calibrated phylogenetic trees and ecological information (diet, habitat; to be completed).
Methods will primarily involve 3D topographic approaches and geometric morphometrics, along with evolutionary analyses of morphological models.
The PhD candidate will carry out their research within the PALEVOPRIM laboratory, ensuring strong feasibility for the project. The project will be supervised by Gildas Merceron and Franck Guy, both specialists in dental anatomy and primate evolution; F. Guy pioneered the development of 3D topographic methods at PALEVOPRIM. The candidate will also be supported by Vincent Lazzari, a specialist in primate dentition and 3D topography; VL also pioneered the development of 3D topographic methods at PALEVOPRIM.
Expected results
Expected outcomes include estimating the strength of phylogenetic signal for various topographic and morphometric indices, and identifying adaptive trajectories or convergences toward shared optima. This also includes detecting shifts in evolutionary rates associated with radiations or ecological transitions. Finally, the study should help clarify aspects of morphological modularity through the detection of integration among topographic parameters and other traits.
Confirmation of funding for this PhD will be known in summer 2026
Litterature cited
Berthaume, M. A., Lazzari, V., & Guy, F. (2020). The landscape of tooth shape: Over 20 years of dental topography in primates. Evolutionary Anthropology: Issues, News, and Reviews, 29(5), 245-262.
Guy, F., Lazzari, V., Gilissen, E., & Thiery, G. (2015). To what extent is primate second molar enamel occlusal morphology shaped by the enamel-dentine junction?. PLoS One, 10(9), e0138802.
Guy, F., Gouvard, F., Boistel, R., Euriat, A., & Lazzari, V. (2013). Prospective in (primate) dental analysis through tooth 3D topographical quantification. PLoS One, 8(6), e66142.
Lazzari, V., & Guy, F. (2014). Quantitative three-dimensional topography in taxonomy applied to the dental morphology of catarrhines. Bmsap, 26(3), 140-146.
Thiery, G., Guy, F., & Lazzari, V. (2017). Investigating the dental toolkit of primates based on food mechanical properties: Feeding action does matter. American Journal of Primatology, 79(6), e22640.
Thiery, G., Gillet, G., Lazzari, V., Merceron, G., & Guy, F. (2017). Was Mesopithecus a seed eating colobine? Assessment of cracking, grinding and shearing ability using dental topography. Journal of Human Evolution, 112, 79-92.
Thiery, G., Gibert, C., Guy, F., Lazzari, V., Geraads, D., Spassov, N., & Merceron, G. (2021). From leaves to seeds? The dietary shift in late Miocene colobine monkeys of southeastern Europe. Evolution, 75(8), 1983-1997.
References related to the topic
Bunn, J. M., et al. (2011). Characterizing dental topography using Dirichlet normal energy and curvature. Journal (exemples — vérifier titres précis).
Butler, M. A., & King, A. A. (2004). Phylogenetic comparative analysis: a modelling approach for adaptive evolution. American Naturalist.
Clavel, J., Escarguel, G., & Merceron, G. (2015). mvMORPH: an R package for fitting multivariate evolutionary models to morphometric data. Methods in Ecology and Evolution.
Evans, A. R., & J. G. (2007). Tooth shape and dietary adaptation. (revue / article sur dental topography applications).
Felsenstein J. (1985). Phylogenies and the comparative method. American Naturalist.
Hansen, T. F. (1997). Stabilizing selection and the comparative analysis of adaptation. Evolution.
Harmon, L. J., et al. (2010). Early bursts of body size and morphological evolution in comparative data. Evolution.
Ingram, T., & Mahler, D. L. (2013). SURFACE: Detecting convergent evolution from comparative data by fitting Ornstein–Uhlenbeck models with stepwise AIC. Methods in Ecology and Evolution.
Klingenberg, C. P. (2016). Analyzing fluctuating asymmetry with geometric morphometrics: concepts, methods, and applications. Symmetry.
O’Meara, B. C., et al. (2006). Testing for different rates of continuous trait evolution using likelihood. Evolution.
Rohlf, F. J., & Slice, D. (1990). Extensions of the Procrustes method for the optimal superimposition of landmarks. Systematic Zoology.
Ungar, P. S. (2010). Mammal Teeth: Origin, Evolution, and Diversity. (book)
Uyeda, J. C., & Harmon, L. J. (2014). A novel Bayesian method for inferring and interpreting the dynamics of adaptive landscapes. Systematic Biology.
Zelditch, M. L., Swiderski, D. L., & Sheets, H. D. (2012). Geometric Morphometrics for Biologists: A Primer. (book)
Where to apply
gildas.merceron@univ-poitiers.fr
Requirements
- Research Field
- Biological sciences » Other
- Education Level
- Master Degree or equivalent
- Languages
- FRENCH
- Level
- Excellent
- Languages
- ENGLISH
- Level
- Good
- Research Field
- Biological sciences » Other
Additional Information
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available
- 1
- Company/Institute
- Palevoprim UMR 7262 (CNRS/Université de Poitiers)
- Country
- France
- City
- Poitiers
- Geofield
Contact
- City
Poitiers- Website
http://palevoprim.labo.univ-poitiers.fr/- Street
Bat. B35 - TSA-51106- Postal Code
86073
gildas.merceron@univ-poitiers.fr
franck.guy@univ-poitiers.fr
vincent.lazzari@univ-poitiers.fr
STATUS: EXPIRED
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