Paleobiological implications of reproductive traits in dinosauria

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The goals of this research program are to advance our knowledge of the paleobiology of dinosaurs through the study of their eggs, eggshells, clutches, nests, and nest environments. Hypotheses related to reproduction in dinosaurs will be tested, including those concerned with shell and egg formation, nesting, nature of egg incubation, growth strategy of babies, and appearance of bird-like reproductive traits among dinosaurs. Fossils for this research program will be collected in Alberta through fieldwork in Cretaceous-aged rocks. Detailed analyses of fossilized eggs and nests of dinosaurs, with comparative analysis of these features in living birds and crocodiles (because these animals are the closest living relatives of extinct dinosaurs), will be conducted in laboratories using microscopes, CT-scanners, and computers. The proposed research program is unique in that nest sites and associated fossils will be studied in order to shed light on the reproductive biology of dinosaurs, an aspect of their biology that cannot be revealed through the study of skeletal remains alone. Significantly, this research will greatly enhance our understanding of reproduction and development in extinct dinosaurs, and will resolve the patterns of evolution of such traits among archosaurs (dinosaurs, birds, and crocodiles) in the long-term, further illuminating the relationships between extinct dinosaurs and living animals. This research program is important to Canada because the collection of fossils from Alberta will preserve a significant part of Canada's natural history for future generations. It is anticipated that the results and discoveries of this research will be relayed to the public through museum exhibits, television, newspapers, books, and magazines.