Biology of the Sauropod Dinosaurs: The Evolution of Gigantism

我们在这里提出基于网络的研究单位 533 的第三个资助期的封面申请。第三个资助期不是研究单位的规则，但如果一个单位在新的、令人兴奋的研究问题或机会方面特别成功，则可以授予第三资助期。在我们的案例中，这是解释蜥脚类恐龙独特的巨人症的第一个连贯假说的发展，即 FOR 533 巨人症假说。第三个资助期的主要目的是通过在各个项目中测试其组成假设来检验这一假设。通过这些测试将把假设提升为理论。从第三个资助期开始，并为未来协调的 DFG 或 EU 项目做准备，我们打算进一步将我们的假设进一步发展为关于巨人症和一般陆地脊椎动物体型上限的理论。这是一项特别及时的努力，因为进化生态学可能发生向生态学代谢理论（MTE）的范式转变。因此，我们的研究将使古生物学更接近德国和其他地方进化生物学的主流。该应用程序由中心项目和总共11个项目组成。由于第二资助期培养的是高素质博士生，第三资助期有两年的期限，我们主要申请博士后职位和差旅费。

We present here the cover application for the 3rd funding period of the net-based Research Unit 533. Third funding periods are not the rule in research units but can be granted if a unit has been especially successful in that new and exciting research questions or opportunities have opened up. In our case, it is the development of the first coherent hypothesis explaining the unique gigantism in sauropod dinosaurs, the FOR 533 gigantism hypothesis. The primary aim of the 3rd funding period is to test this hypothesis by testing its component hypotheses in the individual projects. Passing these tests will elevate the hypothesis to a theory. Beginning in the third funding period and in preparation for a future coordinated DFG or EU project, we intend to further develop our hypothesis into a theory on gigantism and the upper limits of body size in terrestrial vertebrates in general. This is an especially timely endevor because of the possible paradigm shift in evolutionary ecology towards the metabolic theory of ecology (MTE). Our research thus will bring paleontology closer to the mainstream of evolutionary biology in Germany and elsewhere.The application consists of the central project and a total of 11 projects. Due to the training of highly qualified doctoral students in the 2nd funding period and the time limit of two years for the 3rd funding period, we mainly apply for postdoctoral positions and travel funds.