Applications of three-dimensional box modeling to paleontological functional analysis

Functional analysis through computer modeling can inform on how extinct organisms moved and fed, allowing us to test long-standing paleobiological hypotheses. Many such studies are based on digital models derived from computed tomography or surface scanning, but these methods are not appropriate for all fossils. Here, we show that box modeling—3-D modeling of complex shapes based on simple objects—can be used to reconstruct the morphology of various fossil specimens. Moreover, the results of computational functional analyses utilizing such models are very similar to those for models derived from tomographic or surface-based techniques. Box modeling is more broadly applicable than alternative methods for digitizing specimens; hence, there is great potential for this approach in paleontological functional analysis. Possible applications include large-scale comparative studies, analyses of hypothetical morphologies, and virtually restoring incomplete/distorted specimens.

通过计算机建模开展的功能分析，可揭示已灭绝生物的运动与进食方式，助力我们验证长期以来的古生物学假说。此类诸多研究均基于计算机断层扫描（computed tomography）或表面扫描所得的数字模型，但这些方法并非适用于所有化石标本。本研究表明，盒状建模（box modeling）——即以简单几何体为基础构建复杂形态的三维建模方法——可用于重建多种化石标本的形态学特征。此外，采用此类模型开展的计算功能分析结果，与基于断层扫描或表面扫描技术构建模型所得的分析结果高度一致。相较于其他标本数字化方法，盒状建模的适用范围更广，因此该方法在古生物功能分析领域具备极大应用潜力。其潜在应用场景包括大规模比较研究、假想形态分析，以及对残缺/变形标本的虚拟修复工作。