Paleobiological implications of reproductive traits in dinosauria

这项研究计划的目标是通过研究恐龙的蛋、蛋壳、巢穴、巢和巢环境来增进我们对恐龙古生物学的了解。将测试与恐龙繁殖有关的假说，包括与壳和蛋的形成、筑巢、蛋孵化的性质、婴儿的生长策略以及恐龙之间出现的鸟类繁殖特征有关的假说。该研究项目的化石将在艾伯塔省通过在白垩纪年代的岩石中进行实地考察来收集。将在实验室使用显微镜、CT扫描仪和计算机对恐龙蛋和恐龙巢化石进行详细分析，并对活着的鸟类和鳄鱼的这些特征进行比较分析(因为这些动物是灭绝恐龙的近亲)。

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.