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类恐龙的古生物学的持续研究，这些恐龙很稀有但多样，而且往往是零碎的。这使得了解一个重要而有趣的动物群体的解剖学和相互关系成为一个挑战，今天以鸟类为代表。解剖学和系统发育研究为生长和变异、进化、生物力学、生理学、古生态学和行为学研究提供了基础。我的大部分研究都是在阿尔伯塔的标本上进行的，但我在阿根廷和亚洲也有长期的项目，这些项目与阿尔伯塔的研究项目直接相关。 省立恐龙公园是我在加拿大的主要关注点，就物种多样性、出土的骨骼数量和化石类型而言，它是世界上最丰富的恐龙遗址之一。恐龙公园组可以说拥有最多样化的恐龙组合和相关的动物群和植物群。在那里已经挖掘出了800多具骨骼，每年夏天至少会收集到两个额外的标本。在加拿大收集到的最好的小型兽脚亚目恐龙（Saurornitholestes）标本于2014年被发现，目前正在准备研究。在公园里已经确定了250多个以恐龙为主的骨床，在荒地上任何时候都有数百万的骨头暴露出来。数以百计的非科龙动物和化石植物物种增加了已知最丰富的科龙主导的古生态系统之一。生态学上特有的恐龙群落的整体图景正在出现，其中个体类群正在迅速进化。虽然新分类群的数量正在爆炸式增长，但对单种骨床多样性的分析通过定义单一种群内的变异性（个体发育、性、个体）提供了限制。所有恐龙谱系的进化变化也可以通过沿着红鹿河的至少五个不同的恐龙动物群的连续来追踪。从亚洲来的密切相关的物种的移民使理解局部的进化变化变得复杂。我在亚洲的主要关注点将继续是蒙古的Nemegt组，它与恐龙公园组大致相同。 我正在进行的解剖学项目包括北美和亚洲的驰龙科、窃蛋龙和伤齿龙的描述和系统发育分析，以及北美西部角龙类的变异和物种形成分析。 1996年在中国发现的有羽毛的恐龙给了我很多机会研究与鸟类起源密切相关的标本。这项工作正在继续与中国的一个新的分类群。2009年在阿尔伯塔采集到的一只鸟嘴鸟拥有北美已知的最好的羽毛印记，目前正在用扫描电镜和地球化学技术进行分析。