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Richard Bonser's
homepage
Keratin mechanics
Bone mechanics
Terrestrial locomotion
Education
Full publications list |
Bone mechanics
Understanding skeletal properties and functional
morphology are vital for interpreting the design of vertebrate animals.
Principally in this area, we have used microhardness tests to probe for regional
variations in the mechanical properties of healthy and pathologic bone. we
established that bone mineral cannot be treated as a mechanically-homogeneous
tissue within bones, as its properties vary along the length of whole bones and
also between cortical bone and adjacent areas of cancellous bone.
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Variation in microhardness along the
humerus of a herring gull. Black squares are measurements from cortical
bone and white are trabeculae. |
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Currently, with researchers
in Barcelona we are exploring the morphological
changes and their mechanical consequences in the skeletal design and development
of domesticated
birds. Initial results indicate rather unexpected patterns in bone geometrical
properties. Aside from their pure, 'interest' value, these data and the
conclusions we draw may help poultry breeders to select for more 'optimal'
skeletal design to improve poultry welfare.
Leg bones from a guinea fowl showing
pronounced curvature |
Occasionally, we have dabbled in aspects of avian
palaeontology, most recently in describing and predicting the flight capabilities of a giant
auk, Alca stewarti, from the Pliocene of Belgium.
Key Publications
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Bonser, R.H.C., Deaton, K.E., Bishop, C.M. & Butler, P.J. The effect of
hypothyroidism on the skeletal development of the Barnacle Goose. Journal of
Experimental Zoology. 301A: 636-641.
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Bonser,
R.H.C.
& Casinos, A. (2003) Regional variation in cortical bone properties
from broiler fowl- a first look. British Poultry Science
44: 350-354.
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Martin, J.W.R, Walker, C.A., Bonser, R.H.C. & Dyke, G. (2000) A new species of large auk from
the Pliocene of Belgium. Oryctos 3,
111-116.
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Bentley, G.E. & Bonser, R.H.C.
(1998) The effect of long-term hypothyroidism on the mechanical competence of
bone in the Common Starling. Journal of
Experimental Zoology 281: 602-607.
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Bonser, R.H.C.
(1995) Longitudinal variation in mechanical competence of bone along the
avian humerus.
Journal of Experimental Biology 198:209-212.
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Bonser,
R.H.C. & Walker, C.A. (1993) Some notes on type material of moas (Aves:
Dinornithidae). Bulletin of the British
Ornithologists' Club 113:257-259.
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