Palaeobiology of non-avian theropod dinosaurs

非鸟类兽脚类恐龙的古生物学

• 批准号: RGPIN-2016-04674
• 负责人: Currie, Philip
• 金额: $ 2.33万
• 依托单位: University of Alberta
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2016-01-01 至 2017-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=615231
• 关键词: Palaeobiology; non; avian; theropod; dinosaurs

This program represents my continued research on the palaeobiology of non-avian theropod dinosaurs, which are rare but diverse, and tend to be fragmentary. This makes it a challenge to understand the anatomy and interrelationships of an important and interesting group of animals that is represented today by birds. Anatomical and phylogenetic studies provide a foundation for studies of growth and variation, evolution, biomechanics, physiology, palaeoecology and behaviour. Most of my research is done on specimens from Alberta, but I also have long-term projects in Argentina and Asia that are directly relevant to the research program in Alberta. Dinosaur Provincial Park is my main focus in Canada, and is one of the richest dinosaur sites anywhere in terms of species diversity, numbers of skeletons excavated, and the variety of fossil types. The Dinosaur Park Formation arguably has the most diverse assemblage of dinosaurs and associated fauna and flora. More than 800 skeletons have been excavated there, and at least two additional specimens are collected each summer. The best specimen of a small theropod (Saurornitholestes) ever collected in Canada was found in 2014, and is presently being prepared for research. More than 250 dinosaur-dominated bonebeds have been identified in the Park, and there are literally millions of bones exposed at any one time in the badlands. Hundreds of species of non-dinosaurian animals and fossil plants add to one of the richest dinosaur-dominated palaeoecosystems known. An overall picture is emerging of ecologically specific dinosaur communities in which individual taxa are rapidly evolving. And whereas the number of new taxa being identified is exploding, analysis of diversity in monospecific bonebeds is providing constraints by defining the variability (ontogenetic, sexual, individual) within single populations. Evolutionary changes in all dinosaur lineages can also be tracked through a succession of at least five different dinosaur faunas along the Red Deer River. Understanding evolutionary change locally is complicated by the immigration of closely related forms from Asia. My prime focus in Asia will continue to be the Nemegt Formation of Mongolia, which is roughly contemporaneous with the Dinosaur Park Formation. Anatomical projects that I have underway include the description and phylogenetic analysis of dromaeosaurids, oviraptorosaurs and troodontids of North America and Asia, and the analysis of variability and speciation in ceratopsians of western North America. The discovery of feathered dinosaurs in China in 1996 gave me many opportunities to work on specimens intimately related to the origin of birds. This work is continuing with a new taxon of Chinese troodontid. An ornithomimid collected in Alberta in 2009 has the nicest feather impressions known from North America, and is being analyzed with SEM and geochemical techniques.

这个项目代表了我对非鸟类兽脚亚目恐龙古生物学的持续研究。兽脚亚目恐龙数量稀少，但种类繁多，而且往往是碎片化的。这使得理解以鸟类为代表的一种重要而有趣的动物群体的解剖结构和相互关系成为一项挑战。解剖和系统发育研究为生长和变异、进化、生物力学、生理学、古生态学和行为学的研究提供了基础。我的大部分研究都是在阿尔伯塔省的标本上完成的，但我在阿根廷和亚洲也有与阿尔伯塔省的研究计划直接相关的长期项目。