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Related Concept Videos

The Fossil Record02:56

The Fossil Record

The fossil record documents only a small fraction of all organisms that have ever inhabited Earth. Fossilization is a rare process, and most organisms never become fossils. Moreover, the fossil record only exhibits fossils that have been discovered. Nevertheless, sedimentary rock fossils of long-lived, abundant, hard-bodied organisms dominate the fossil record. These fossils offer valuable information, such as an organism's physical form, behavior, and age. Studying the fossil record helps...
The Evidence for Evolution02:55

The Evidence for Evolution

Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.The collection of fossils within sedimentary rocks give a record of common ancestry and often depicts the history of evolution.
Predator-Prey Interactions02:39

Predator-Prey Interactions

Predators consume prey for energy. Predators that acquire prey and prey that avoid predation both increase their chances of survival and reproduction (i.e., fitness). Routine predator-prey interactions elicit mutual adaptations that improve predator offenses, such as claws, teeth, and speed, as well as prey defenses, including crypsis, aposematism, and mimicry. Thus, predator-prey interactions resemble an evolutionary arms race.Although predation is commonly associated with carnivory, for...
What is Evolutionary History?02:35

What is Evolutionary History?

Scientists record evolutionary history by analyzing fossil, morphological, and genetic data. The fossil record documents the history of life on Earth and provides evidence for evolution. However, both fossil and living organisms offer evidence that outlines Earth’s evolutionary history.Phylogenetic trees illustrate the evolutionary relationships among these organisms. Scientists infer organisms’ common ancestry by evaluating shared morphological and genetic characteristics. Together, the fossil...
Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores02:40

Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores

Plants often form mutualistic relationships with soil-dwelling fungi or bacteria to enhance their roots’ nutrient uptake ability. Root-colonizing fungi (e.g., mycorrhizae) increase a plant’s root surface area, which promotes nutrient absorption. While root-colonizing, nitrogen-fixing bacteria (e.g., rhizobia) convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3), making nitrogen available to plants for various biological functions. For example, nitrogen is essential for the biosynthesis of the...
Phylogeny01:23

Phylogeny

Phylogeny is concerned with the evolutionary diversification of organisms or groups of organisms. A group of organisms with a name is called a taxon (singular). Taxa (plural) can span different levels of the evolutionary hierarchy. For instance, the group containing all birds is a taxon (comprising the class Aves), and the group of all species of daisies (the genus Bellis) is a taxon. Phylogenies can likewise include just one genus (i.e., depict species relationships) or span an entire...

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Dissection and Flat-mounting of the Threespine Stickleback Branchial Skeleton
08:02

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Published on: May 7, 2016

Herbivorous ecomorphology and specialization patterns in theropod dinosaur evolution.

Lindsay E Zanno1, Peter J Makovicky

  • 1Department of Geology, The Field Museum, Chicago, IL 60605, USA. lzanno@fieldmuseum.org

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|December 22, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Determining the diet of extinct dinosaurs is challenging. This study identifies 21 morphological traits linked to herbivory in coelurosaurian dinosaurs, revealing widespread herbivory and rare hypercarnivory.

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Area of Science:

  • Paleobiology
  • Paleontology
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Interpreting diet in extinct animals is difficult without direct evidence.
  • Current methods relying on modern analogs for extinct taxa are often ambiguous.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a refined, morphology-based method for assessing the trophic habits of fossil taxa.
  • To apply this method to coelurosaurian dinosaurs to resolve dietary controversies.

Main Methods:

  • Identification of 21 morphological features statistically correlated with extrinsic evidence of herbivory in coelurosaurian dinosaurs.
  • Analysis of trait distribution across coelurosaurian subclades.
  • Rank concordance analysis to detect patterns in the evolution of herbivory.

Main Results:

  • 21 morphological traits identified as reliable proxies for herbivory in fossils.
  • Herbivory found to be widespread across six major coelurosaurian subclades.
  • Hypercarnivory identified as rare and potentially secondarily derived.
  • Evidence for a common evolutionary pathway to herbivory in Ornithomimosauria and Oviraptorosauria.
  • Early evolution of a beak in coelurosaurians correlates with herbivorous diets.

Conclusions:

  • The new method provides robust, extrinsic proxies for inferring herbivory in fossil taxa.
  • Coelurosaurian dinosaurs exhibited diverse diets, with herbivory being more prevalent than previously assumed.
  • Dietary specialization in certain coelurosaurian lineages may be influenced by intrinsic constraints.