Why whales are big but not bigger: Physiological drivers and ecological limits in the age of ocean giants

Science, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 366(6471), P. 1367 - 1372

Published: Dec. 13, 2019

It's the prey that matters Although many people think of dinosaurs as being largest creatures to have lived on Earth, true known animal is still here today—the blue whale. How whales were able become so large has long been interest. Goldbogen et al. used field-collected data feeding and diving events across different types calculate rates energy gain (see Perspective by Williams). They found increased body size facilitates capture. Furthermore, body-size increase in marine environment appears be limited only availability. Science , this issue p. 1367 ; see also 1316

Language: Английский

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Ecological niche modelling does not support climatically-driven dinosaur diversity decline before the Cretaceous/Paleogene mass extinction

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 10(1)

Published: March 6, 2019

Abstract In the lead-up to Cretaceous/Paleogene mass extinction, dinosaur diversity is argued have been either in long-term decline, or thriving until their sudden demise. The latest Cretaceous (Campanian–Maastrichtian [83–66 Ma]) of North America provides best record address this debate, but even here reconstructions are biased by uneven sampling. Here we combine fossil occurrences with climatic and environmental modelling quantify American habitat. Ecological niche shows a Campanian-to-Maastrichtian habitability decrease areas present-day rock-outcrop. However, continent-wide projection demonstrates habitat stability, increase, that not preserved. This reduction spatial sampling window resulted from formation proto-Rocky Mountains sea-level regression. We suggest Maastrichtian therefore likely be underestimated, apparent decline product bias, due climatically-driven as previously hypothesised.

Language: Английский

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How to build a dinosaur: Musculoskeletal modeling and simulation of locomotor biomechanics in extinct animals

Paleobiology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 47(1), P. 1 - 38

Published: Oct. 27, 2020

Abstract The intersection of paleontology and biomechanics can be reciprocally illuminating, helping to improve paleobiological knowledge extinct species furthering our understanding the generality biomechanical principles derived from study extant species. However, working with data gleaned primarily fossil record has its challenges. Building on decades prior research, we outline critically discuss a complete workflow for analysis species, using locomotor in Triassic theropod dinosaur Coelophysis as case study. We progress digital capture bone morphology creating rigged skeletal models, reconstructing musculature soft tissue volumes, development computational musculoskeletal finally execution simulations. Using three-dimensional model comprising 33 muscles, static inverse simulation mid-stance running shows that probably used more upright (extended) hindlimb postures was likely capable withstanding vertical ground reaction force magnitude than 2.5 times body weight. identify muscle force-generating capacity key source uncertainty simulations, highlighting need refined methods estimating intrinsic parameters such fiber length. Our approach emphasizes explicit application quantitative techniques physics-based principles, which helps maximize results robustness reproducibility. Although focus one specific taxon question, many philosophies explored here have much them, so they applied investigation other organisms.

Language: Английский

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The accuracy and precision of body mass estimation in non‐avian dinosaurs

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 95(6), P. 1759 - 1797

Published: Sept. 1, 2020

ABSTRACT Inferring the body mass of fossil taxa, such as non‐avian dinosaurs, provides a powerful tool for interpreting physiological and ecological properties, well ability to study these traits through deep time within macroevolutionary context. As result, over past 100 years number studies advanced methods estimating in dinosaurs other extinct taxa. These can be categorized into two major approaches: volumetric‐density (VD) extant‐scaling (ES). The former receives most attention appreciably last century: from initial physical scale models three‐dimensional (3D) virtual techniques that utilize scanned data obtained entire skeletons. ES approach is commonly applied members crown clades but some equations are proposed utilized dinosaurs. Because both approaches share common goal, they often viewed opposition one another. However, current palaeobiological research problems specific and, therefore, decision VD or largely question dependent. In general, biomechanical benefit full‐body reconstruction provided approach, whereas large‐scale evolutionary require extensive sets afforded by an approach. This summarizes estimation stem‐group specifically comparative quantitative framework reciprocally illuminate corroborate approaches. results indicate estimates consistent between 73% reconstructions occur expected 95% prediction intervals relationship. almost three quarters outliers below lower interval, indicating are, on average, than would given their stylopodial circumferences. Inconsistencies (high residual per cent deviation values) recovered varying degree among all dinosaurian along with overall tendency larger deviations small‐bodied Nonetheless, our strong corroboration recent iterations based 3D specimen scans suggesting understanding size hence its biological correlates, has improved time. We advance have fundamentally (metrically) different advantages hence, used advocated here combines accuracy precision permits rapid identification discrepancies potential open new areas discussion.

Language: Английский

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A comprehensive phylogenetic analysis on early ornithischian evolution

Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 22(1)

Published: June 21, 2024

Resolving the evolutionary relationships of early diverging ('basal') ornithischian dinosaurs is a challenging topic in palaeontology, with multiple competing hypotheses on phylogenetic heterodontosaurids, 'hypsilophodontids', and other early-diverging forms. These cannot be directly compared because they are derived from differently constructed datasets (i.e. distinct samples taxa characters). This study aims to address these issues by revising combining into single analysis order create most comprehensive dataset for investigation ornithischians. A diphyletic model Dinosauria supported, silesaurs nesting as members Ornithischia. Heterodontosauridae resolved clade non-genasaurian ornithischians, rejecting potential relationship Marginocephalia. 'Hypsilophodontid' span neornithischian ornithopod stem, Thescelosauridae sister taxon Cerapoda. more restricted Ornithopoda composed five main clades: Hypsilophodontidae, Rhabdodontomorpha, Elasmaria, Dryosauridae Ankylopollexia. Hypsilophodontidae valid clade, reduced two European Barremian taxa. Rhabdodontomorpha does not contain Muttaburrasaurus originally proposed, but instead expands include North American formed Convolosaurus, Iani Tenontosaurus. Elasmaria contains all non-dryomorph Gondwanan ornithopods, its possessing body plans. New results comparison previous studies suggest that some 'true dryosaurids' various euiguanodontians may closely related either or Results group 'hypsilophodontids' larger clades, significantly reducing number extension ghost lineages throughout Neornithischia. clades also show degree endemism, different present at continents Late Cretaceous. new unifying works will provide framework future origins relations attempting find stability among hypotheses.

Language: Английский

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A Giant Dinosaur from the Earliest Jurassic of South Africa and the Transition to Quadrupedality in Early Sauropodomorphs

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 28(19), P. 3143 - 3151.e7

Published: Sept. 27, 2018

Language: Английский

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An early trend towards gigantism in Triassic sauropodomorph dinosaurs

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 2(8), P. 1227 - 1232

Published: July 9, 2018

Language: Английский

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The multi-peak adaptive landscape of crocodylomorph body size evolution

BMC Evolutionary Biology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 19(1)

Published: Aug. 7, 2019

Abstract Background Little is known about the long-term patterns of body size evolution in Crocodylomorpha, > 200-million-year-old group that includes living crocodylians and their extinct relatives. Extant are mostly large-bodied (3–7 m) predators. However, crocodylomorphs exhibit a wider range phenotypes, many earliest taxa were much smaller (< 1.2 m). This suggests pattern increase through time could be caused by multi-lineage evolutionary trends or selective extinction small-bodied species. Here, we characterise crocodylomorph using model fitting-approach (with cranial measurements serving as proxies). We also estimate disparity quantitatively test hypotheses biotic abiotic factors potential drivers evolution. Results Crocodylomorphs reached an early peak during Late Jurassic, underwent essentially continual decline since then. A multi-peak Ornstein-Uhlenbeck outperforms all other models fitted to our data (including both uniform non-uniform), indicating macroevolutionary dynamics better described within concept adaptive landscape, with most variation emerging after shifts new regimes (analogous zones). did not find support for consistent trend towards larger sizes among lineages (i.e., Cope’s rule), strong correlations climate. Instead, intermediate large some explained group-specific adaptations. In particular, more aquatic lifestyle (especially marine) correlates increases average size, though without exceptions. Conclusions Shifts between provide explanation on phylogenetic temporal scales, suggesting central role lineage-specific adaptations rather than climatic forcing. leading occurred semi-aquatic groups. This, combined extinctions groups occupying (particularly Cretaceous Cenozoic), gave rise upward-shifted distribution extant compared smaller-bodied terrestrial ancestors.

Language: Английский

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Dinosaur Macroevolution and Macroecology

Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 49(1), P. 379 - 408

Published: Aug. 16, 2018

Dinosaurs were large-bodied land animals of the Mesozoic that gave rise to birds. They played a fundamental role in structuring Jurassic–Cretaceous ecosystems and had physiology, growth, reproductive biology unlike those extant animals. These features have made them targets theoretical macroecology. achieved substantial structural diversity, their fossil record documents evolutionary assembly avian body plan. Phylogeny-based research has allowed new insights into dinosaur macroevolution, including adaptive landscape size evolution, patterns species diversification, origins birds bird-like traits. Nevertheless, much remains unknown due incompleteness at both local global scales. This presents major challenges frontier paleobiological regarding tests macroecological hypotheses effects biology, ecology, life history on macroevolution.

Language: Английский

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A new desert-dwelling dinosaur (Theropoda, Noasaurinae) from the Cretaceous of south Brazil

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 9(1)

Published: June 26, 2019

Noasaurines form an enigmatic group of small-bodied predatory theropod dinosaurs known from the Late Cretaceous Gondwana. They are relatively rare, with notable records in Argentina and Madagascar, possible remains reported for Brazil, India, continental Africa. In south-central deposits Bauru Basin have yielded a rich tetrapod fauna, which is concentrated Group. The mainly aeolian Caiuá Group, on contrary, bear scarce fossil record composed only lizards, turtles, pterosaurs. Here, we describe first dinosaur also represents best-preserved entire to date. recovered skeletal parts (vertebrae, girdles, limbs, cranial elements) show that new taxon was just over 1 m long, unique anatomy among theropods. shafts its metatarsals II IV very lateromedially compressed, as blade-like ungual phalanges respective digits. This implies could been functionally monodactyl, main central weight-bearing digit, flanked by neighbouring elements positioned close digit III or even held free ground. Such anatomical adaptation formerly unrecorded archosaurs, but has previously inferred footprints same stratigraphic unit dinosaur. A phylogenetic analysis nests within Noasaurinae clade, unresolved because multiple alternative positions Noasaurus leali can acquire optimal trees. exclusion latter results positioning sister-taxon Argentinean Velocisaurus unicus.

Language: Английский

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