Whence the birds: 200 years of dinosaurs, avian antecedents

Biology Letters, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 21(1)

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2025

Among the most revolutionary insights emerging from 200 years of research on dinosaurs is that clade Dinosauria represented by approximately 11 000 living species birds. Although origin birds among has been reviewed extensively, recent have witnessed tremendous progress in our understanding deep evolutionary origins numerous distinctive avian anatomical systems. These advances enabled exciting new fossil discoveries, leading to an ever-expanding phylogenetic framework with which pinpoint characteristic features. The present review focuses four notable systems whose Mesozoic history greatly clarified discoveries: brain, kinetic palate, pectoral girdle and postcranial skeletal pneumaticity.

Язык: Английский

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Cretaceous bird from Brazil informs the evolution of the avian skull and brain

Nature, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 635(8038), С. 376 - 381

Опубликована: Окт. 30, 2024

Abstract A dearth of Mesozoic-aged, three-dimensional fossils hinders understanding the origin distinctive skull and brain modern (crown) birds 1 . Here we report Navaornis hestiae gen. et sp. nov., an exquisitely preserved fossil species from Late Cretaceous Brazil. The is toothless large-eyed, with a vaulted cranium closely resembling condition in crown birds; however, phylogenetic analyses recover Enantiornithes, highly diverse clade Mesozoic stem birds. Despite overall geometry quantitatively indistinguishable birds, retains numerous plesiomorphies including maxilla-dominated rostrum, akinetic palate, diapsid temporal configuration, small cerebellum weakly expanded telencephalon. These archaic neurocranial traits are combined bird-like degree flexion bony labyrinth comparable shape to those many but substantially larger. Altogether, emergent cranial shows unprecedented similarity between enantiornithines, groups last sharing common ancestor more than 130 million years ago 2 provides long-sought insight into detailed endocranial morphology phylogenetically crownward Archaeopteryx , clarifying pattern timing by which neuroanatomy living was assembled.

Язык: Английский

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Avian cranial kinesis is the result of increased encephalization during the origin of birds

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 122(13)

Опубликована: Март 17, 2025

The origin of birds represents a pivotal transition in vertebrate evolution, marked by significant changes both brain size and feeding biomechanics. evolution the avian skull involved dramatic modifications, such as segmented palate development powered cranial kinesis neognath birds. Powered kinesis, ability to move parts independently, is considered key innovation behind dietary diversity evolutionary success However, processes driving emergence have remained unclear until recently. By analyzing data from Mesozoic birds, including reinterpretations homology, 3D jaw muscle biomechanics, linkage analysis, researchers quantified forces their effects on mechanics during theropods As neurocranium expanded non-avian theropods, temporal muscles shifted more rostrocaudal positions aiding segmentation pterygoid. This musculoskeletal transformation increased fore-aft force neognaths, enabling kinesis. A critical change was separation epipterygoid ossification braincase, leading breakdown primitive kinematic linkages new basicranial joint, which allowed for greater flexibility. These findings shed light how neurosensory systems coevolved bird origins offer methods identifying extinct vertebrates.

Язык: Английский

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BioCurve Analyzer: a web-based shiny app for analyzing biological response curves

Plant Methods, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 21(1)

Опубликована: Апрель 27, 2025

Abstract Background Dose–response and time-to-event data are common in enzymology, pharmacology, agronomy studies. Diverse biological response curves can be generated from such data. The features of these elucidated through parameters as ED 50 (the effective dose that gives 50% the maximum response) T time required to reach response). Properly estimating is crucial for inferring potency compounds or relative timings processes. Results We present an open-source Shiny application, BioCurve Analyzer, simplifies process exhibiting various patterns, including classic monotonic sigmoidal more complicated biphasic curves. Analyzer provides access several packages commonly used models characterizing assists users identifying best describe their data, includes options values on both sides also facilitates visualization patterns allows customize final graphical representation deliver publication-quality graphs Conclusion integrates multiple R easy-to-use web-based interface facilitate dose–response analyses.

Язык: Английский

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Chicago Archaeopteryx informs on the early evolution of the avian bauplan

Nature, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Май 14, 2025

Язык: Английский

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Insight into the evolutionary assemblage of cranial kinesis from a Cretaceous bird

eLife, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 11

Опубликована: Дек. 5, 2022

The independent movements and flexibility of various parts the skull, called cranial kinesis, are an evolutionary innovation that is found in living vertebrates only some squamates crown birds considered to be a major factor underpinning much enormous phenotypic ecological diversity birds, most diverse group extant amniotes. Compared postcranium, our understanding assemblage characteristic modern bird skull has been hampered by sparse fossil records early materials, with competing hypotheses regarding development kinesis among members avialans. Here, detailed three-dimensional reconstruction Early Cretaceous enantiornithine Yuanchuavis kompsosoura allows for its in-depth description, including elements poorly known early-diverging avialans but central deciphering mosaic assembly features required avian kinesis. Our shows functional conservation temporal palatal regions retaining ancestral theropod dinosaurian configuration within this otherwise derived volant bird. Geometric morphometric analysis palatine suggests loss jugal process represents first step structural modifications element leading kinetic condition. mixture plesiomorphic structures together avialan rostrum postcranial skeleton encapsulated manifests key role mosaicism experimentation diversification.

Язык: Английский

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Cretaceous fossil birds from China

Geological Society London Special Publications, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 544(1)

Опубликована: Янв. 18, 2024

Abstract The explosive radiation of early birds has been well documented by the extraordinary discoveries Early Cretaceous fossil in China past three decades. They have greatly expanded diversity, disparity and temporal distribution Mesozoic birds, refining our knowledge evolutionary path leading to characteristic avian body plan, including feathers powered flight, locomotion habitat differentiation, diet digestion, reproduction development, feather colours display. In addition, studies on geological background Jehol Biota that produced majority Chinese provided important clues understanding taphonomy as interaction between deep process biological evolution northeastern East Asia during Cretaceous. Future multidisciplinary are expected advance palaeogeography what impacted changes diversity China, roles played terrestrial ecosystem.

Язык: Английский

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Reconstructing the dietary habits and trophic positions of the Longipterygidae (Aves: Enantiornithes) using neontological and comparative morphological methods

PeerJ, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 11, С. e15139 - e15139

Опубликована: Март 27, 2023

The Longipterygidae are a unique clade among the enantiornithines in that they exhibit elongate rostra (≥60% total skull length) with dentition restricted to distal tip of rostrum, and pedal morphologies suited for an arboreal lifestyle (as other enantiornithines). This suite features has made interpretations this group’s diet ecology difficult determine due lack analogous taxa similar together. Many extant bird groups rostral elongation, which is associated several disparate ecologies diets ( e.g ., aerial insectivory, piscivory, terrestrial carnivory). Thus, presence elongation only somewhat refines trophic predictions clade. Anatomical do not function singularly but as part whole thus, any dietary or ecological hypothesis regarding must also consider such their dentition. group dentulous volant tetrapods chiropterans, tooth morphology enamel thickness vary depending upon food preference. Drawing inferences from both avian bill proportions variations dental extinct taxa, we provide quantitative data support were animalivorous, greater insectivory.

Язык: Английский

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Redescription and phylogenetic affinities of the Early Cretaceous enantiornithine Dapingfangornis sentisorhinus

The Anatomical Record, Год журнала: 2023, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Окт. 31, 2023

Dapingfangornis sentisorhinus, a small to medium-sized enantiornithine from the Lower Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation in Western Liaoning, China, stands as one of earliest known enantiornithines with well-preserved ornamental tail feathers. However, original holotype description was limited due damage and matrix interference, which obscured crucial osteological details. Therefore, we provide an updated specimen D. sentisorhinus aid CT scanning reveal new revised information. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis newly acquired data situates within Enantiornithes, closely aligned Pterygornis few other taxa, may represent previously unrecognized clade Early enantiornithines.

Язык: Английский

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Voltage sensor current, SR Ca²⁺ release, and Ca²⁺ channel current during trains of action potential‐like depolarizations of skeletal muscle fibers

Physiological Reports, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 11(9)

Опубликована: Май 1, 2023

Abstract In skeletal muscle, Ca V 1.1 serves as the voltage sensor for both excitation‐contraction coupling (ECC) and L‐type 2+ channel activation. We have recently adapted technique of action potential (AP) clamp (APVC) to monitor current generated by movement intramembrane sensors (I Q ) during single imposed transverse tubular AP‐like depolarization waveforms QAP ). now extend this procedure monitoring I , currents trains in adult murine muscle fibers, compare them with trajectories APs AP‐induced release measured other fibers using field stimulation optical probes. The AP waveform remains relatively constant brief (<1 sec) propagating non‐V clamped fibers. Trains 10 depolarizations at Hz (900 ms), 50 (180 or 100 (90 ms) did not alter amplitude kinetics, consistent previous findings isolated where negligible charge immobilization occurred ms step depolarizations. Using stimulation, exhibit a considerable decline from pulse train, also findings, indicating that short train is correlated modification movement. were hardly detectable, minimal trains, became more evident some Our results verify predictions on behavior ECC machinery response provide direct demonstration elicited are negligible, but can become prominent high‐frequency elicits maximal isometric force.

Язык: Английский

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