**Diss Revisions Spring09-V2
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Copyright by Laura Jean Alport 2009 The Dissertation Committee for Laura Jean Alport certifies that this is the approved version of the following dissertation: Lingual fungiform papillae and the evolution of the primate gustatory system Committee: E. Christopher Kirk, Supervisor Nathaniel J. Dominy Deborah J. Overdorff Liza J. Shapiro Timothy D. Smith Lingual fungiform papillae and the evolution of the primate gustatory system by Laura Jean Alport, B.F.A., M.A. Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of The University of Texas at Austin in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy The University of Texas at Austin May, 2009 Acknowledgements This dissertation was truly a collaborative effort. The generosity of people who have shared their time, efforts, and financial assistance with me has been overwhelming. The collection of tongue specimens used in this work was only possible with the help of others. Thanks to Chris Vinyard and family for hosting me at their home and feeding me, while Chris gave me access to his lab and primate collection. Several other individuals took the time to send me specimens or provided me the access that allowed me to do this work including Annie Burrows, Nate Dominy, Rich Kay, Chris Kirk, Magda Muchlinski, Liza Shapiro, Tim Smith, Suzette Tardif, Carl Terranova, Russ Tuttle, Joseph Wagner, and Steve Ward. In addition to those who helped me with lab specimens, many people were involved in enabling the collection of my field data. Many thanks to Trudy Turner who was the first person to let me join in on her field project so that I could collect data in South Africa. It was such a pleasure to get to know her and I am grateful for her friendship in addition to her academic generosity. Thanks to Ken Glander, who regularly introduces students to La Pacifica, for his work and help in Costa Rica. Work in Madagascar is never accomplished alone. I’d like to thank the many Malagasy people who help researchers to work there, including porters, cooks, guides, and the darting team, just to name a few. They make our research happen. Additional thanks to all those at ICTE and MICET, who I rarely ever met, but continue to work hard behind the scenes to facilitate our trips and research. Thanks to Toni Lyn Morelli for coordinating the darting during our trip. I’m sure I will never know about all the things she had to take care of to make sure our research all went smoothly. Much appreciation to Patricia iv Wright for working to make Ranomafana a protected National Park and one of the premier research locations in Madagascar. Thanks, also, Pat Wright, Ed Louis, and Randy Junge for help in facilitating my work in Mengavo with Andrea Baden. I cannot thank Freddy Ranaivoarisoa and Ravaka Ramanamahefa enough for their help in Ranomafana, also. Without their assistance coordinating and translating, our data collection would never have happened, and I really enjoyed their companionship in the field. Thanks to Felicia Knightly for her veterinary assistance and consistent doses of humor. It was a delight to get to know Jeff Wyatt and Andrew Winterborn, who were incredible travel companions. In addition to his enthusiasm for students’ research, Jeff goes above and beyond the call in helping to facilitate great experiences for young veterinarians and researchers. Not only did Jeff invite me to the Madagascar fundraiser at the Seneca Park Zoo, but he was such an amazing host while I was there. Jeff also arranged for me to collect data on animals at the Zoo, to which I would not have had access otherwise. It was joy to work with Andrew and, later, to meet his family. Andrew was a trooper in the field and helped me to adjust my methods to work better with the lemurs. Thanks to Andrea Baden who introduced me to Mangevo and let me jump in to do data collection during her project. I am so fortunate to have gotten to know Andrea while working with her in the field. Many thanks to my dissertation committee: Chris Kirk, Deborah Overdorff, Liza Shapiro, Tim Smith, and Nate Dominy. I am very fortunate to have a committee in which each member has made a significant contribution to my graduate career. I would especially like to thank Chris Kirk, my advisor on this dissertation. Chris was a new faculty member when I asked him to take on the responsibility of being my advisor. I am so grateful that he agreed. He has helped me to shape this research from the beginning and been my advocate through the process, even when I was the one resisting. He pushed v me to do the best dissertation I could. This document would have been sorely insufficient without him. Deborah Overdorff has been a role model for me since I became her Masters student way back when. Between my first (never completed) dissertation and the one here, Deborah has helped me with more grant proposals than an advisor should ever have to read for one graduate student. Deborah also took me on my first trip to Madagascar with her daughter, Hannah, then four years old, and introduced me to that wonderful place and the research there. I can’t thank her enough for that introduction. She also encouraged me to go for it when I wanted to change my dissertation by reflecting to me that this work with olfaction and taste is really what curls my anthropological toes. Deborah was always good at seeing the whole person and being an academic mother. She set a good example of living a life rooted in her values. Liza Shapiro has also been on my committees from the beginning. I am so thankful for her help and for the example she sets. She is a rock in our department. In addition to being fair, consistent, forthcoming, and challenging, she is fun-loving, as well. Many thanks to Tim Smith, who has been a wonderful committee member and collaborator. Our conversations between two artists-turned-scientists have been unique. Tim has been encouraging and more than generous in offering collaboration and authorship on projects, in addition to facilitating my own work. It has been a joy to bounce ideas around and to work together with him. Nate Dominy provided my first introduction to sensory ecology and was the first person with whom I discussed this dissertation idea. Without Nate’s help I never would have gotten those first primate tongues to check out. In addition to my committee, I’d like to thank Becca Lewis for her help on statistics and Sam Wilson for being an example of a great academic and leader. His integrity and authenticity has not gone unnoticed. vi My friends and family have been my source of strength during my graduate career. Thanks to Stacey Tecot, whose enthusiasm about the animals and people with whom she works is contagious. She set a great example for me and helped me to persist in this endeavor. She never failed to gladly step up when I’ve asked for help. Dave Raichlen started this journey with me in my student cohort. He is the person I call when I need advice on academia and I always take his advice to heart. He is a person who I know believes in me unequivocally, and his enduring friendship is invaluable. Along with Stacey and Dave, Amanda Clapp, Rene Uhalde, Damon, Elizabeth, and Stella Rose Waters, all provided me much needed rest and relaxation. I am so grateful that I had them to introduce me to Paradise Island and several other reunion locals since then. Magda Muchlinski wound up being my cohort in the end. She paved the way for my dissertation writing, taught me how to knit so that I would have something to do when I needed a break, and was a resource for dissertation questions of all kinds. Sharon Cohan has been my family in Austin. Sharon has been my running, walking, and swimming partner, and the best unofficial therapist and confidant a girl could have. She has always been here for me and I am so grateful to have her in my life. It is hard to find words with which to thank David Miller; he was my source of hope when I had none. David not only believed in me but also invested in me. I am especially grateful for his talent, empathy, big heart, sense of humor, and the incredible influence he has had on my life. Chris Grassi has been like an advisor and best friend all rolled up in one. She helped me with my master’s thesis, meeting with me in the rock climbing gym to teach me statistics. I learned about dissertation writing during our regular Saturday night dinner dates. It was at those dinners when she told me so many stories about Madagascar that I finally had to go there. Chris helped me get my research approved and completed with the chimpanzees in San Antonio. Much of the data used for this dissertation would not exist were it not for her vii help. Chris always said yes when I requested that she read grant proposals or dissertation chapters, despite the fact that she already had too much on her plate. Without fail, she has been a consistent and empathetic encourager while I completed this dissertation. In the past year, I have gotten to know Deeann, Mark, Samuel, Libby, and Ruthie Regnerus. They have opened up their home and family to me, listened to me on all matters of life, and made me feel heard and loved.