Revisiting Bison evolution through an integrative approach: taxonomy biochronology and functional morphology

• Applicant: Leonardo Sorbelli, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Palaeontology
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 542458094

Bison is among the most iconic animals of the Quaternary and represents the last surviving element of the Pleistocene megafauna in Europe. Its evolution, adaptations, and impact on Eurasian fauna over the past 2 million years have sparked century-long debates. The new paleontological discoveries and the advent of novel technologies of the last decade offered insights on the evolutionary history of this large mammal and pose challenges which must be faced. This proposal's goal is to unravel Bison evolution in Europe through the ages, thanks to the reappraisal of the collections hosted at the Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart (SMNS) and the support of Dr. Eli Amson. The project is developed around two main themes. The first goal is to reappraise the most famous Bison species of the European Pleistocene, the steppe wisent, Bison priscus. Emphasis will be given on identifying new diagnostic characters, including endocranial features with the aim of clarify the morphology of this iconic, yet still poorly understood species, also in account of the discording data coming from the recent molecular analyses. This, will allow us to establish a detailed biochronology of Bison priscus in Europe, focusing on its initial dispersal and its potential coexistence with other species of bison, including the extant European wisent, Bison bonasus. The second objective focuses on functional morphology of Bison, integrating various methodologies to study external and internal structures (e.g., horns, frontals, sinuses), including palaeopathologies, in skulls, cervical vertebrae, and limb bones. The headbutting in extinct forms of Bison and the evolution of the cranial elements aimed to dissipate the stress given by impacts is one of the most intriguing themes which will be faced in this project. Another pivotal element of this research is to inquire on the response given by the limb proportions, long bone microstructure, body-size, and sexual dimorphism of Bison to the climate and habitat changes in Europe over the last 2.0 Ma on. Due to their abundance in the paleontological record and extreme diversity, Bison is considered among the most useful clades for both ecomorphological and biochronological studies. The rich collections of the SMNS as well as the ones hosted in other German institutions and abroad will provide insightful accounts on the variability of Bison and relatives, providing me the required elements for the success of this project. The collaboration with my host Dr. Amson and the use of cutting-edge technologies will allow us to create an ambitious line of research which will define the long-lasting history of the largest living mammal in Europe and will open new horizons in the study of Quaternary megafaunas.

• DFG Programme: WBP Position