bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown
Published: Feb. 19, 2024
Abstract Body size, especially body mass, is the key to understanding many biological properties. The scaling approaches and volumetric-density (VD) are often employed estimate masses of extinct amniotes. Precise skeletal reconstruction represents a pivotal step in all VD approaches, while ribcage serves as one determinants thoracic shape volume. Although being extensively investigated physiological studies, restoration remains poorly discussed during reconstruction. This study proposes possible programme amniotes 2D environments, focusing on cross-sections. One recent approach, cross-sectional method (CSM), was utilized integrate restored cross-sections into volume, therefore workflow proposed here supplementary guideline application CSM paleontology. Following this programme, uniform set criteria for plesiosaurs, clade Mesozoic marine reptiles. Twenty-four plesiosaur models were created, then multiple regression (Ordinary Least Squares, OLS; Phylogenetically Generalized PGLS) based them investigate performance various elements size proxy. Despite high disparity their plans, trunk length dimensions dorsal vertebrae found be most robost proxy volume plesiosaurs. hybrid approach applied study, which incorporates estimates created under same samples, mitigates previous critiques inconsistent standards inadequate taxonomic coverage. It allows fast convenient estimation numerus individuals, even when only fragmentary fossil materials available. volumetric formulae plesiosaurs can accommodate diversity taxa, except some extremely giant pliosaurs, largest might reach or exceed 20 metric tons mass. To demonstrate utility provided volumes 113 taxa estimated, branch-specific rates evolution computed from data mapped onto phylogeny visualization.
Language: Английский