Audrone Biknevicius, Ph.D.

     Work in my laboratory has two major research foci.  The first, and currently primary, focus is locomotor biodynamics of vertebrates.  We are exploring ontogenetic effects on ground reaction forces, limb angulation, and estimated bone stresses, using force platform technology, high-speed videography, radiologic imaging, and engineering modeling.  The second focus is the reconstruction of craniofacial function in extant and extinct carnivorans.  In this field, the primary exploratory mechanism involves the application of engineering principles to the study of bone and tooth cross-sectional geometry as a means of assessing the mechanical environment of these structures.

Selected References:

• S.M. Reilly and A.R. Biknevicius. In press. Integrating kinetic and kinematic approaches to the analysis of terrestrial locomotion. In: Vertebrate Biomechanics and Evolution. Society of Experimental Biology.

• J.D. Polk, B. Demes, W.L. Jungers, A.R. Biknevicius, R.E. Heinrich, and J.A. Runestad. 2000. A comparison of primate, carnivoran and rodent limb bone cross-sectional properties: Are primates really unique? Journal of Human Evolution 39: 297-326.

• A. R. Biknevicius  1999.  Body mass estimation in armoured mammals: cautions and encouragements for the use of parameters from the appendicular skeleton.   Journal of Zoology, London, 248: 179-187.

• R. E. Heinrich and A. R. Biknevicius. 1998. Humeral and femoral allometry in mustelid carnivorans: Effects of relative limb length on scaling patterns.  Journal of Morphology 236: 121-134.

• A. R. Biknevicius and S. R. Leigh. 1997. Patterns of growth of the mandibular corpus in spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) and cougars (Puma concolor).  Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 120: 139-161.

• A. R. Biknevicius.  1996.  Functional discrimination of the masticatory apparatus in cougar (Puma concolor) and spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) juveniles and adults.  Canadian Journal of Zoology 74: 1934-1942.