Rayfield Lab

Our research considers how living and extinct animal skeletons function. We study why skeletons are shaped in a particular way.

One focus of our research is how biomechanical functions evolve over time. We look at how shape and function change in relation to the origin of innovations such as jaws and flight. We consider species diversity and environmental factors.

An exciting collaborative project looks at early tetrapods during the water to land transition. Our research looks at the functional evolution of the mammalian jaw and the evolution of feeding.

We apply computational methods in biomechanics and functional biology to environmental questions. We look at shell thinning and strength by plankton and invertebrates after ocean acidification.

We combine functional methods with macroevolutionary modelling to track trait evolution through time.

Research areas

Work in the group generally aligns with one of these themes:

• Macroevolution of jaws

  Mandible shape provides an indication of dietary adaptation. Jaw shapes, measured either by landmarks or functional ratios, can describe feeding ecomorphospaces for comparison within vertebrate clades and across wide groups.
• Dinosaur dietary partitioning

  Finite element analyses of dinosaurs of all kinds can identify feeding habits in detail. This contributes to understanding of ancient food webs and major evolutionary transitions.
• Origin of mammals

  Most studies of mammalian origins have focused on anatomy and evo-devo aspects. Analysis of jaw and skull function highlights the role of miniaturization and function shifts. CT scanning reveals remarkable new details of the fundamental skull anatomy of early mammals and their close relatives. Multimodal studies identify fine details of their diets and other habits.
• Skeletons more widely

  Research is not exclusively focused on vertebrates. Projects include exploring the function of hard tissues in sponges, coralline algae, foraminiferans, bivalves and scaphopods. Particularly determining the resilience of the skeleton in acidifying oceans.

Key projects

• Skull evolution and the terrestrialization and radiation of tetrapods

  The key theme we explore is how did vertebrates conquer the land? We test key hypotheses derived from long-standing assertions that selection acted upon the skull to drive adaptations for improved terrestrial feeding during the water to land transition. We use state-of-the-art methods in 3D visualization and biomechanics.
• A South American perspective on the origin and evolution of mammals

  This project is a collaboration between the School of Earth Sciences and South American mammalian palaeobiologist Agustín Martinelli. The aim of the project is to better understand the functional and ecological significance of South American synapsid fossil material and how this information shifts our perspective on the evolution and origin of mammals.
• Functional evolution of the mammalian middle ear and jaw joint across the cynodont-mammaliaform tran

  In this project we use CT scanning and computational biomechanics to quantify the function of the skull across the cynodont-mammaliaform transition. We are testing hypotheses that reorganisation of the jaw musculature and consolidation of the cranial bones facilitated the evolution of the unique mammalian middle ear and jaw joint.
• The role of biomechanical loads in joint formation and cranial development

  Working with biomedical scientists, this project explores the role of intrinsic loading on joint formation and skeletal development in zebrafish, using a combination of wet-lab techniques, imaging and computational biomechanics.