Dr J.J. Hennekam

Using techniques like geometric morphometrics and finite element analyses, I try to understand the functional implications of evolutionary changes we see in fossil mammals on islands. It is my goal to figure out how and why elephants become tiny on one island, and hedgehogs gigantic on the next. Together with students, we scan the bones of extant and extinct animals, and analyse shape changes statistically. Thus, we aim to better understand how animals have adapted to their environments in the past, present, and make predictions for the future.