Matthew Bonnan

Matthew Bonnan[1] is an American paleobiologist and a Professor of Biological Sciences at Stockton University. His research combines traditional descriptive and anatomical study with computer-aided morphometric analysis and modeling of vertebrate skeletons. See also Dr. Bonnan's blog on his research and teaching at The Evolving Paleontologist.

Research and teaching

Bonnan's research focuses on three broad but interconnected areas of research: 1) the evolution of dinosaur locomotion, particularly in the giant, long-necked sauropod dinosaurs; 2) the evolution of an erect posture from a sprawled posture in dinosaurs and mammals; and 3) the evolution of pronation and supination in the forelimb of tetrapods. To these ends, he has utilized traditional anatomical approaches as well as state-of-the-art computer modeling to understand and infer how the limbs of both extinct and extant tetrapods have evolved and adapted. Currently, he has begun to utilize XROMM (X-ray Reconstruction of Moving Morphology)[2] to produce three-dimensional animations of small animal bones in vivo.[3] His current research focuses on the three-dimensional kinematics of lizard and mammal forelimbs, as means to "reverse engineer" how early dinosaur and mammal relatives may have moved and stood.

Dr. Bonnan teaches a variety of anatomy-based and evolutionary biology courses at Stockton University covering diverse topics such as vertebrate embryology, comparative vertebrate anatomy, vertebrate evolution, systematics, dinosaurs, and general zoology.

Education
  • Ph.D., Northern Illinois University, Dept. Biological Sciences, 2001
  • B.S., Geological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1995
  • A.S., Earth Sciences, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, Illinois, 1993

Dinosaurs

Dr. Bonnan's overarching research focus is the evolution of dinosaur locomotion and its links to dinosaur gigantism. To this end:

  • he has examined the evolution and shape of the manus (hand) and pes (foot) of sauropods and its relationship to locomotion and weight support[4][5]
  • he has studied the relationship between the ability to pronate the manus (place the hand palm-side down) in archosaurs and its expressions in sauropods and their ancestors[6][7][8]
  • he has used geometric morphometrics (geometry-based shape analysis techniques) to evaluate and statistically analyze patterns in sauropod long bone scaling[9][10]
  • he has studied the link between bipedalism, sexual dimorphism, and limb proportions in archosaurs using the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) as a model[11][12]
  • he has searched for and described a new transitional dinosaur (Aardonyx celestae) from the Early Jurassic of South Africa that sheds much-needed light on the beginnings of sauropod gigantism [13]
  • he and colleagues have shown how to infer the missing joint shape in dinosaur long bones based on shape analysis of Alligator mississippiensis and two species of birds[14]
  • he and colleagues provide evidence that thick, compliant cartilaginous joints may have been one of several factors that enabled dinosaur gigantism[15]

XROMM (X-ray Reconstruction of Moving Morphology)

Recently, Bonnan's research focuses on the three-dimensional kinematics of lizard and mammal forelimbs, as means to "reverse engineer" how early dinosaur and mammal relatives may have moved and stood, using the XROMM technique pioneered at Brown University.[16]

  • In 2016, Bonnan and colleagues published on the kinematics (movements) of the forelimb long bones in rats using XROMM.[17] Bonnan and his colleagues showed that long axis rotations occurred in the humerus and radius bones of rats. Bonnan and colleagues suggested that, given the morphological similarity of rat forelimb bones and those of some of the earliest eutherian (placental) mammals, our early mammal ancestors may have clambered through the trees and overground in a manner similar to rats.[18][19]
  • Videos of the reconstructed forelimb bone movements in rats can be viewed on Dr. Bonnan's YouTube channel[20]
  • Currently, Dr. Bonnan has begun working with lizards, particularly bearded dragons and monitors, to study the 3-D kinematics of lizard forelimb locomotion.

Dr. Bonnan in the News

In the spring of 2008, Dr. Bonnan was involved with a new Morrison Formation dinosaur quarry in Hanksville, Utah. His expertise in the concentration of Sauropod dinosaurs metapodials (and/or caudal vertebrae) a were sought after by and aided the excavation efforts of the Burpee Museum of Natural History.[21] Dr. Bonnan continues to assist the Burpee Museum in excavating the Hanksville-Burpee site.

He is also a co-discoverer of the almost-sauropod Aardonyx celestae [22] which has garnered international media attention[23] and should serve to illuminate the early beginnings of sauropod gigantism.

He is a co-discoverer of an early "prosauropod" Arcusaurus pereirabdalorum [24]

He is a co-discoverer of an early true sauropod Pulanesaura eocollum [25]

The Bare Bones: An Unconventional Evolutionary History of the Skeleton

In 2016, Dr. Bonnan published a book, The Bare Bones: An Unconventional Evolutionary History of the Skeleton,[26] designed to introduce undergraduates and curious lay readers to the anatomy and evolution of the vertebrate skeleton. Bonnan's book approaches the topic of vertebrate evolution from the perspective of the skeleton as a living machine, using analogies with technology and tools to help readers understand how vertebrate animals "work." Since its publication, the book has received several positive reviews[27][28][29]

Understanding science & evolution

Dr. Bonnan runs a webpage on science and evolution where he discusses how the so-called "battle" between science and religion is false, and provides interested students and laypersons with information and podcasts on the scope and limits of science[30]

Dr. Bonnan now has a short educational video on the basic concept of biological evolution on YouTube.[31]

The Evolving Paleontologist Blog

Dr. Bonnan runs and updates the Evolving Paleontologist Blog which blogs and posts on all topics related to vertebrate paleontology, functional morphology, evolutionary biology, and whatever else strikes his scientific interests.

References
  1. Matthew F. Bonnan, The Evolving Paleontologist, http://matthewbonnan.wordpress.com/
  2. http://www.xromm.org
  3. Bonnan, M.F., J. Shulman, R. Varadharajan, C. Gilbert, M. Wilkes, A. Horner, and E. Brainerd. 2016. Forelimb kinematics of rats using XROMM, with implications or small eutherians and their fossil relatives. PLoS ONE 11(3): e0149377. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0149377
  4. Bonnan, M.F. 2003. The evolution of manus shape in sauropod dinosaurs: implications for functional morphology, forelimb orientation, and sauropod phylogeny. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 23(3): 595-613.
  5. Bonnan, M.F. 2005. Pes anatomy in sauropod dinosaurs: implications for functional morphology, evolution, and phylogeny; pp. 346-380 in K. Carpenter and V. Tidwell (eds.), Thunder-Lizards: The Sauropodomorph Dinosaurs. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.
  6. Bonnan, M.F. and A.M. Yates. 2007. A new description of the forelimb of the basal sauropodomorph Melanorosaurus: implications for the evolution of pronation, manus shape and quadrupedalism in sauropod dinosaurs; pp. 157-168 in Barrett, P. M. and D.J. Batten (eds.), Evolution and palaeobiology of early sauropodomorph dinosaurs. Special Papers in Palaeontology, 77.
  7. Bonnan, M.F. and P. Senter. 2007. Were the basal sauropodomorph dinosaurs Plateosaurus and Massospondylus habitual quadrupeds?; pp. 139-155 in Barrett, P. M. and D.J. Batten (eds.), Evolution and palaeobiology of early sauropodomorph dinosaurs. Special Papers in Palaeontology, 77.
  8. VanBuren, C.S. and Bonnan, M.F. 2013. Forearm posture and mobility in quadrupedal dinosaurs. PLoS ONE 8(9): e74842. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0074842
  9. Bonnan, M.F. 2004. Morphometric analysis of humerus and femur shape in Morrison sauropods: implications for functional morphology and paleobiology. Paleobiology, 30(3): 444-470.
  10. Bonnan, M.F. 2007. Linear and geometric morphometric analysis of long bone scaling patterns in Jurassic Neosauropod dinosaurs: their functional and paleobiological implications. The Anatomical Record, 290(9): 1089-1111.
  11. Bonnan, M.F., J.O. Farlow, and S.L. Masters. 2008. Using linear and geometric morphometrics to detect intraspecific variability and sexual dimorphism in femoral shape in Alligator mississippiensis and its implications for sexing fossil archosaurs. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 28(2): 422-431.
  12. Livingston, V.J., Bonnan, M.F., Elsey, R.M., Sandrik, J.L., and Wilhite, D.R. 2009. Differential limb scaling in the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) and its implications for archosaur locomotor evolution. The Anatomical Record, 292: 787-797.
  13. Yates, A.M., Bonnan, M.F., Neveling, J., Chinsamy, A., and Blackbeard, M. 2009. A new transitional sauropodomorph from the Early Jurassic of South Africa and the evolution of sauropod feeding and quadrupedalism. Proceedings of the Royal Society, London, B: doi:10.1098/rspb.2009.1440
  14. Bonnan, M.F., Sandrik, J.L., Nishiwaki, T., Wilhite, D.R., Elsey, R.M., and Vittore, C. 2010. Calcified cartilage shape in archosaur long bones reflects overlying joint shape in stress-bearing elements: Implications for nonavian dinosaur locomotion. The Anatomical Record, 293: 2044-2055.
  15. Bonnan, M.F., Wilhite, D.R., Masters, S.L., Yates, A.M., Gardner, C.K., and Aguiar, A. 2013. What Lies Beneath: Sub-Articular Long Bone Shape Scaling in Eutherian Mammals and Saurischian Dinosaurs Suggests Different Locomotor Adaptations for Gigantism. PLoS ONE 8(10): e75216. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0075216
  16. xromm.org
  17. Bonnan, M.F., J. Shulman, R. Varadharajan, C. Gilbert, M. Wilkes, A. Horner, and E. Brainerd. 2016. Forelimb kinematics of rats using XROMM, with implications or small eutherians and their fossil relatives. PLoS ONE 11(3): e0149377. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0149377
  18. https://matthewbonnan.wordpress.com/2016/03/02/using-x-rays-to-learn-what-walking-rats-can-teach-us-about-early-placental-mammal-locomotion/
  19. Juramaia
  20. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCYfy6-peI8
  21. Fink, Jessica (2008-08-22). "WIU students dig for dinosaurs". Chicago Tribune.
  22. Yates, A.M., Bonnan, M.F., Neveling, J., Chinsamy, A., and Blackbeard, M. 2009. A new transitional sauropodomorph from the Early Jurassic of South Africa and the evolution of sauropod feeding and quadrupedalism. Proceedings of the Royal Society, London, B: doi:10.1098/rspb.2009.1440
  23. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-11-14. Retrieved 2009-11-14.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  24. Yates, A.M., Bonnan, M.F., and Neveling, J. 2011. A new basal sauropodomorph dinosaur from the Early Jurassic of South Africa. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 33 (3): 610-625.
  25. McPhee, B.W., Bonnan, M.F., Yates, A.M., Neveling, J., and Choiniere, J.N. 2015. A new basal sauropod from the pre-Toarcian Jurassic of South Africa: evidence of niche-partitioning at the sauropodomorph-sauropod boundary? Scientific Reports 5: doi:10.1038/srep13224
  26. https://www.amazon.com/Bare-Bones-Unconventional-Evolutionary-Skeleton/dp/0253018323/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
  27. http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-253-01832-8
  28. http://palaeo-electronica.org/content/2016/1460-review-bare-bones
  29. https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23030720-500-lovely-bones-fascinating-skeletons-of-the-past-and-present/
  30. http://matthewbonnan.wordpress.com/understanding-science-evolution/
  31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkqUXsJVFFk
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