ROW: Quantification of Gross Spinal Morphology & Prediction of Limb Use in Fossil Reptiles

ROW：总体脊柱形态的量化

• 批准号: 8819581
• 负责人: Emily Buchholtz
• 金额: $ 4.5万
• 依托单位: Wellesley College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1988
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1988-09-01 至 1991-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=8819581&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: ROW; Quantification; Gross; Spinal; Morphology

The research objective is the development and use of an accurate predictor of limb sophistication in fossil reptiles using gross spinal anatomy. Such a tool will allow augmentation of functional inferences based on limb osteology alone and allow predictions of limb use when appendicular data is inadequate or absent. A method of quantifying and standardizing variations in segmental spinal cord area in living reptiles and birds has been accomplished with a spinal index. Predictions of cord size based on neural canal size are presently based on size relationships in subadult Alligator specimens. Improved ability to predict cord size in extinct reptiles will be accomplished by dissection and measurement of both cord and canal in additional ontogenetic stages and taxa. Preliminary correlation of size of spinal index and sophistication of limb use suggests that the index may be a sensitive indicator of limb function. Measurement of a much larger number of taxa displaying a greater spectrum of limb adaptations will allow finer calibration of the spinal index. Application of data from living genera to the fossil record will be obtained from museum collections. Although applications of the technique are wide and varied, only three specific questions of limb function in fossil reptiles are covered by this proposal. These involve forelimb use in theropods, role of torso and limb as propulsive organs in aquatic tetrapods, and hindlimb/tail use in armored dinosaurs.

研究目的是开发和使用一种准确的 预测四肢复杂的化石爬行动物使用总 脊柱解剖学。 这样的工具将允许增强功能 仅基于肢体骨骼学的推断，并允许预测 肢体使用时，approximate数据是不充分或缺乏。 一种量化和标准化音段变化的方法， 在现存的爬行动物和鸟类的脊髓区域， 用脊椎指数来完成 基于脐带尺寸的预测 神经管的大小是目前基于大小关系， 亚成体鳄鱼标本 提高预测脐带血的能力 灭绝爬行动物的大小将通过解剖来完成， 在额外的个体发育中测量脐带和耳道 阶段和分类群。 脊柱指数大小与成熟度的初步相关性 表明该指数可能是一个敏感的指标， 肢体功能。 测量大量的分类群 展示更大范围的肢体适应性将允许更好的 脊柱指数的校准。 将现存属的数据应用于化石记录， 从博物馆收藏中获得。 虽然应用程序的 技术是广泛和多样的，只有三个具体问题， 化石爬行动物的肢体功能也包括在这一建议中。 这些包括兽脚亚目动物前肢的使用，躯干和四肢的作用， 水生四足动物的推进器官， 装甲恐龙