Collaborative Research: Arctic Dinosaur Paleobiology - Hypothesis Testing Through Cross-Latitudinal Comparison

合作研究：北极恐龙古生物学：通过跨纬度比较的假设检验主要研究者：Patrick Druckenmiller，阿拉斯加费尔班克斯大学-主要研究者：Gregory M. Erickson，塔拉哈西佛罗里达州立大学极地恐龙忍受着强烈的季节性条件，使它们非常适合测试恐龙古生物学中有关生理学、迁徙和分布的主要问题。这个项目将研究最丰富的，但尚未充分研究的极地恐龙群-阿拉斯加北部的王子溪组。这项研究将包括物种组成的收集、描述和评估。这些数据将与低纬度地层的数据进行比较，从而首次将极地恐龙动物群与典型的低纬度恐龙组合进行比较。该研究还将通过对骨骼和牙齿生长环的分析，记录阿拉斯加北极环境对恐龙生物学的影响。了解恐龙是如何占领北极的，将为动物整体上占领高纬度地区提供新的见解。这个项目将汇集一个多样化的科学家团队，他们将分享新的想法和方法，并为研究生和本科生的教育和培训做出贡献。研究结果将提交给科学期刊，并在互联网上公开发表。他们将访问阿拉斯加北部的农村地区的K-12学校，为服务不足的阿拉斯加土著学生和教师提供一个了解他们所在地区化石的机会，并与nsf资助的研究人员进行互动。

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: ARCTIC DINOSAUR PALEOBIOLOGY: HYPOTHESIS TESTING THROUGH CROSS-LATITUDINAL COMPARISON Principle Investigator: Patrick Druckenmiller, University of Alaska FairbanksCo-Principle Investigator: Gregory M. Erickson, Florida State University, TallahasseePolar dinosaurs endured intense seasonal conditions making them well suited to test major questions in dinosaur paleobiology pertaining to physiology, migration and distribution. This project will examine the most prolific, yet vastly understudied polar dinosaur fauna known -the Prince Creek Formation of northern Alaska. The research will entail collection, description, and assessment of species composition. These data will be compared to those of lower latitude formations affording the first comparison between a polar dinosaur fauna and typical lower latitude dinosaurian assemblages. The study will also document the influence of the Alaskan Arctic environment on dinosaur biology through analyses of bone and tooth growth rings. Learning how dinosaurs occupied the Arctic will provide new insights into high latitudinal occupation by animals as a whole. This project will bring together a diverse team of scientists who will share new ideas and methodologies and contribute to the education and training of graduate and undergraduate students. Results will be submitted to scientific journals and presented publicly on the Internet. Visits will be made to rural, northern Alaskan K-12 schools to provide underserved Alaska Native students and teachers with an opportunity to learn about the fossils in their area and interact with NSF-sponsored researchers.