Dino-Bird Ecology · Tetrapod limb ecomorphology inferring ecology during dinosaur-bird transition
„Хоризонт 2020“ — Действия „Мария Склодовска-Кюри“
- Период
- 2021-06-01 → 2023-05-31
- Финансиране от ЕС
- 212 934 €
- Участници
- 1
- Схема
- MSCA-IF
Линиите свързват координатора с партньорите.
Накратко на български
Анатомията на крайниците при ранни птици и динозаври се анализира чрез 3D изображения, за да се определят техните навици и храна. Това помага да се разбере как точно е станал преходът от динозаври към птици в еволюцията на гръбначните.
Кратко обяснение, генерирано от езиков модел по текста на CORDIS. Оригиналът е по-долу.
Резултати накратко
Tetrapod limb ecomorphology inferring ecology during dinosaur-bird transition
Birds are the only living group of dinosaurs and are among the most successful vertebrate groups. The unparalleled Yanliao and Jehol faunas from China are among the most famous fossil sites that produce the oldest birds after Archaeopteryx, living alongside their close dinosaurian relatives. These sites provide unprecedented information about the origin and early evolution of birds. However, traditional methods of study provide only limited information on their anatomy and ecology, presenting a fundamental knowledge gap regarding the dinosaur-bird transition – one of the most important events in vertebrate evolution. In this project, advanced imaging techniques were applied to capture the 3D data of those exquisite fossil birds and feathered non-avian dinosaurs, to infer their character evolution and ecological traits during the dinosaur-bird transition. This was achieved through statistical comparative analysis of 3D data and ecological traits of extant species, using leading-edge quantitative and biomechanical analyses. This project combined the fossil resources and technique expertise across UK and China, thus highly enhanced the research profile of both countries by both scientific results, and public engagement outreach. With all the advanced techniques, this project answers the following research questions: (1) What is the relationship between morphology and ecology traits like diets and habits in extant tetrapods especially birds? (2) What ecological inferences does fossilized morphology indicate for early birds and their dinosaurian relatives, and their implications about the origin and early diversification of birds?
Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз
Цел на проекта
Birds are the only extant dinosaurs and have achieved enormous diversity, spanning a wide range of ecologies including substantial variation in habitat use. However, ecological diversification in the earliest birds and their closest dinosaurian relatives is poorly characterised. This presents a fundamental knowledge gap regarding the dinosaur-bird transition – a major event in vertebrate evolution. The unparalleled Mesozoic Jehol and Yanliao fossil assemblages from China include most known Mesozoic birds and feathered non-avian dinosaurs, revealing unprecedented data on this remarkable transition. I will use cutting-edge 3D imaging methods to visualise the limb morphology in early birds and bird-like dinosaurs. We will quantitatively constrain the link between the foot/hand morphology and habit ecology using geometric morphometrics and finite element analyses based on a large 3D database of extant tetrapods. The results will be used to infer the habitat use (e.g. arboreal, terrestrial, aquatic) of important fossil species during the dinosaur-bird transition, with a focus on early birds and closely related dinosaurs. This will add considerably to understanding of palaeoecology during dinosaur-bird transition, and clarify contentious hypotheses of the origin of bird flight. Our findings will also provide a test of ecological explanations for the extinction of the enantiornithine birds, and the ultimate survival and success of Ornithuromorpha, which includes all extant birds. Hosted in a world-class palaeontology lab in Oxford and trained by a supervisor leading the quantitative macroevolutionary research, this proposal will bring cutting-edge 3D morphometrics and statistical comparative skills to the researcher, ensuring her a promising independent future career. The long-term connection between key institutes of UK and China built in this proposal will also benefit both countries in not only research profiles, but also in public engagement and education.
Оригинален текст от CORDIS (на английски).
Участници
- THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD · OxfordКоординаторОбединеното кралство
Връзки
Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз