OUR APPROACH (METHODS and MATERIALS)

 

Introduction

Our Approach

Histological Analysis

Growth Curve Reconstruction and Developmental Mass Extrapolation

Statistical Analysis of Evolutionary Trends

Qualifications and Research Roles of the PI's

References

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The questions and hypotheses outlined in the introduction being tested through the quantified assessments of life-history parameters derived from osteohistological and phylogenetic (evolutionary) analyses.

I. SPECIMEN SELECTION
Forty-one taxa have been chosen from the most current and comprehensive evolutionary hypothesis for the Coelurosauria (the dinosaurian group that includes birds). We are fortunate to have an unprecedented availability of key, basal taxa and derived, crown group taxa bracketing the evolution of birds within the Dinosauria (Fig. 2b).

Cladograms for Coelurosauria
Figure 2b. Cladograms for Coelurosauria (left; Xu et al., in press) and Avialae (right; Norell and Clarke, 2001). Taxa for proposed analysis are highlighted in bold, those to be taken from the literature are denoted by *. These taxa were chosen through consensus of several phylogenetic hypotheses for coelurosaurian dinosaurs (Gauthier, 1986; Sereno, 1999; Norell et al., in press; Xu et al., in press). All agree that deinonychosaurians (dromaeosaurs + troodontids) are the sister taxon to Avialae. Oviraptosaurs, alverasaurs, and ornithomimids are more distantly related. Some additional taxa listed in Table 1 for histological analysis are not depicted in these published trees, Microraptor and Vorona however have been added for this graphic. (left; Xu et al., in press) and Avialae (right; Norell and Clarke, 2001). Taxa for proposed analysis are highlighted in bold, those to be taken from the literature are denoted by *. These taxa were chosen through consensus of several phylogenetic hypotheses for coelurosaurian dinosaurs (Gauthier, 1986; Sereno, 1999; Norell et al., in press; Xu et al., in press). All agree that deinonychosaurians (dromaeosaurs + troodontids) are the sister taxon to Avialae. Oviraptosaurs, alverasaurs, and ornithomimids are more distantly related. Some additional taxa listed in Table 1 for histological analysis are not depicted in these published trees, Microraptor and Vorona however have been added for this graphic.