DOCSLIB.ORG

The George Washington University Spring 2015

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The George Washington University Spring 2015 WOMEN IN WAR /// DYSPHAGIA AND THE BRAIN /// SCIENCE AND GW RESEARCH ENGINEERING HALL THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SPRING 2015 RESEARCHMAGAZINE.GWU.EDU /// I FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH MANAGING EDITOR Danny Freedman, BA ’01 A BUILDING IN CONTRIBUTORS The staff of GW Today: Keith Harriston (senior managing editor), BLOOM Rob Stewart (managing editor for multimedia), Brittney Dunkins, This winter, down the street from my Lauren Ingeno, James Irwin, Julyssa office, research changed the shape of Lopez, and Ruth Steinhardt the nation’s capital. Rising from the former site of a PHOTO EDITOR parking garage now stands a half- William Atkins million-square-foot home of research and discovery, newly populated with DESIGN a range of expertise that spans from GW Marketing & Creative Services aerospace engineering to chemistry, biology to computer science and well ART DIRECTORS beyond. It’s a glass-walled think tank Dominic N. Abbate, BA ’09, MBA ’15 that alters not just the skyline but John McGlasson, BA ’00, MFA ’03 even the scene from the street, where windows look in on research in progress and hands-on learning. That’s just the physical change, to say nothing of the new Science and PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY Engineering Hall’s potential to impact health, infrastructure, defense and Steven Knapp more in Washington, D.C., the nation and around the globe. As now-Board of Trustees Chair Nelson Carbonell said at the building’s groundbreaking VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH in 2011: “GW scientists and engineers can do a lot with a little. But just Leo M. Chalupa imagine what we can do with a lot.” VICE PRESIDENT FOR EXTERNAL Over the years, Science and Engineering Hall has come to symbolize RELATIONS research ambition here at GW. As the building took shape, the university’s Lorraine Voles, BA ’81 research profile reached upward along with it. Despite what might have been the most challenging environment in ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR COMMUNICATIONS decades for securing funding from the federal government and other entities, GW grew. In fiscal year 2013, research expenditures from external Sarah Gegenheimer Baldassaro sources—a key measure of research activity—grew by more than 7 percent EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR over the previous year; in 2014, they shot up by nearly 11 percent. EDITORIAL SERVICES Student research, too, is on the rise. Nearly 500 students of various Rachel Muir levels, and from clear across the academic expanse, presented posters during the 20th annual Research Days event this spring. That’s a 12 percent increase over last year. GW Research is published annually by the All of this, in no small part, is thanks to our tremendous faculty Division of External Relations, The George members, including the newer faces among them who came to GW on the Washington University, Rice Hall, Suite promise—and the commitment—they saw in Science and Engineering 501, Washington, D.C. 20052. Our phone Hall. Current and prospective graduate students and undergraduates are number is 202-994-5709; fax 202-994-5761; seeing the same thing, sensing the same momentum. email [email protected]. And that effect, I believe, is only just beginning. For correspondence or change of address, please write us at [email protected]. Sincerely, Opinions expressed in these pages are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect official positions of the university. © 2015 The George Washington University The George Washington University is BURT MCCONNELL CA I Leo M. Chalupa an equal opportunity/affirmative action Vice President for Research institution. JESS GW RESEARCH /// SPRING 2014 CONTENTS GW RESEARCH SPRING 2015 8 /// Engineers explore sea lions’ grace under water. DEPARTMENTS 2 /// Research News 11 /// Charticle FEATURES 16 /// Shelf Life 18 /// Research Capital Science and Engineering Hall opens to a mosaic of researchers— 42 /// Launchpad from biologists to aerospace engineers—seeking common ground in pursuit of uncommon solutions. BY LAUREN INGENO 28 /// Acts of War On the sidelines of the civil strife that has long embroiled the people ME I Front cover: At workspaces and of South Sudan, women and girls are in the crosshairs. common areas in Science and BY DANNY FREEDMAN PX PR PX Engineering Hall, equations spill over from desks onto 500 / I surrounding dry-erase-marker 34 /// Reuniting Babies and their Bottles friendly walls. (Photo by William Atkins) ZZOTT I For infants with disorders that leave them unable to eat, feeding tubes and surgeries offer an imperfect fix. The problem in the brain, Back cover: A glassware tableau and that’s where GW researchers are looking for a cure. on a rack inside a chemistry lab ANDREA ANDREA © BY LAUREN INGENO (Photo by Zach Marin) RESEARCHMAGAZINE.GWU.EDU /// 1 RESEARCH NEWS ANTHROPOLOGY Study of Human Paleobiology. “We wanted to understand when and how these sex differences FOR MALE CHIMPS, A JUMP START develop and to what extent mothers influence those differences.” Chimpanzees, like humans, ON SOCIALIZING THAT MAY BE KEY form temporary social subgroups within their larger communities throughout the day. Since infant Analysis of 37 years of data finds sons get extra exposure chimps are dependent on their to adult males, chimps beyond immediate family, which mothers for at least five years, social may aid development of gender-specific social skills interactions are restricted to those individuals with whom the mother Baby male chimps have more as grooming, aggression and spends time. So the researchers mingling opportunities than mating. investigated differences in mothers’ their female peers and these early The results were published in subgrouping patterns based on the social interactions may influence November in the Proceedings of the sex of infants. their temperaments later in life, National Academy of Sciences. They hypothesized that mothers according to new research. “It’s been known for a long time with sons would socialize more, Analyzing 37 years of data on that there are sex differences in since male offspring would need to chimpanzees in Tanzania’s Gombe adult chimpanzee behaviors. Males rely more on social skills and bonds National Park, a GW-led research are more gregarious, they form to integrate into the adult male team found that mothers with sons stronger social bonds with each hierarchy. Forming strong social were more social than those with other and they are more physically bonds is less important for adult daughters, particularly during aggressive,” says GW anthropology females, which spend most of their early infancy. Scientists say this professor and lead author of the time caring for dependent children. enables the sons to observe study Carson Murray, who is The data from Gombe and absorb social affiliated with GW’s Center National Park used behaviors for the Advanced in the study such dates to celebrated primatologist Jane Goodall’s 2 /// GW RESEARCH /// SPRING 2015 research from the 1970s. In the report, released in April others. That’s an indication that the “There have been other studies by the National Bureau of Economic planning is not there.” on infant chimpanzees, but the Research, GW financial literacy Where the money goes depends depth of information that the expert Annamaria Lusardi and on the player. But bad real estate Gombe data set provides allows us researchers at the California or entrepreneurial investments to ask more detailed questions than Institute of Technology and the are common catalysts for financial ever before,” says Maggie Stanton, University of Washington used problems among ex-athletes, she a postdoctoral scientist at CASHP. court records, news reports and says. “We could look within individual other public documents to track For that group, she says, “that mothers to examine if and how 2,016 players drafted by NFL teams next stage of life is very long and so their behavior changes in different from 1996 to 2003. Nearly 2 percent managing money is a more complex circumstances, so we could compare were bankrupt within two years of decision. They don’t realize it’s how the same mother behaved with retirement. Fifteen percent had filed enough for a lifetime if it’s properly her sons versus with her daughters.” for bankruptcy within 12 years of managed.” —James Irwin They found that mothers with playing their final NFL game. sons spent an average of two hours “The reality is these people have more per day with chimps beyond earned enough to immediate family members— not have to work 25 percent more social time than for the rest of mothers with daughters. their lives,” says A STUDY OF 2,016 NFL PLAYERS DRAFTED Additionally, mothers with Dr. Lusardi, the sons spent more time around adult Denit Trust Chair BETWEEN 1996–2003 REVEALED ... males during the infant’s first six of Economics and months than those with daughters, Accountancy at the which suggests that having the School of Business. opportunity to observe adult models “But they go bankrupt. And they The percentage of players who may facilitate development of social don’t go bankrupt 20 years down declared bankruptcy after retirement, within two years and within six years: skills important for success as an the road. It happens right away.” adult male. The traditional lifecycle model In future studies, Dr. Stanton of salary and savings—a gradual and the research team hope to increase in income over decades, investigate that outcome—whether coupled with long-term planning— males that have more social is put to an extreme test, she says, exposure as infants are more when workers earn a large amount successful as adults. of their lifetime income in a short —Lauren Ingeno burst and at a young age. 2% within two years The median earnings of the 15% within six years players in the report was $3.2 million (in 2000 dollars) and the average The median earnings of players in the BUSINESS length of an NFL career is six years report period (in 2000 dollars): for a player who makes a club’s opening-day roster, according to the AFTER NFL, MANY league.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Is Our Understanding of Santana Group Pterosaur Diversity Biased by Poor Biological and Stratigraphic Control?
    Anhanguera taxonomy revisited: is our understanding of Santana Group pterosaur diversity biased by poor biological and stratigraphic control? Felipe L. Pinheiro1 and Taissa Rodrigues2 1 Laboratório de Paleobiologia, Universidade Federal do Pampa, São Gabriel, RS, Brazil 2 Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil ABSTRACT Background. Anhanguerids comprise an important clade of pterosaurs, mostly known from dozens of three-dimensionally preserved specimens recovered from the Lower Cretaceous Romualdo Formation (northeastern Brazil). They are remarkably diverse in this sedimentary unit, with eight named species, six of them belonging to the genus Anhanguera. However, such diversity is likely overestimated, as these species have been historically diagnosed based on subtle differences, mainly based on the shape and position of the cranial crest. In spite of that, recently discovered pterosaur taxa represented by large numbers of individuals, including juveniles and adults, as well as presumed males and females, have crests of sizes and shapes that are either ontogenetically variable or sexually dimorphic. Methods. We describe in detail the skull of one of the most complete specimens referred to Anhanguera, AMNH 22555, and use it as a case study to review the diversity of anhanguerids from the Romualdo Formation. In order to accomplish that, a geometric morphometric analysis was performed to assess size-dependent characters with respect to the premaxillary crest in the 12 most complete skulls bearing crests that are referred in, or related to, this clade, almost all of them analyzed first hand. Results. Geometric morphometric regression of shape on centroid size was highly Submitted 4 January 2017 statistically significant (p D 0:0091) and showed that allometry accounts for 25.7% Accepted 8 April 2017 Published 4 May 2017 of total shape variation between skulls of different centroid sizes.
    [Show full text]
  • Pterosaur Distribution in Time and Space: an Atlas 61
    Zitteliana An International Journal of Palaeontology and Geobiology Series B/Reihe B Abhandlungen der Bayerischen Staatssammlung für Pa lä on to lo gie und Geologie B28 DAVID W. E. HONE & ERIC BUFFETAUT (Eds) Flugsaurier: pterosaur papers in honour of Peter Wellnhofer CONTENTS/INHALT Dedication 3 PETER WELLNHOFER A short history of pterosaur research 7 KEVIN PADIAN Were pterosaur ancestors bipedal or quadrupedal?: Morphometric, functional, and phylogenetic considerations 21 DAVID W. E. HONE & MICHAEL J. BENTON Contrasting supertree and total-evidence methods: the origin of the pterosaurs 35 PAUL M. BARRETT, RICHARD J. BUTLER, NICHOLAS P. EDWARDS & ANDREW R. MILNER Pterosaur distribution in time and space: an atlas 61 LORNA STEEL The palaeohistology of pterosaur bone: an overview 109 S. CHRISTOPHER BENNETT Morphological evolution of the wing of pterosaurs: myology and function 127 MARK P. WITTON A new approach to determining pterosaur body mass and its implications for pterosaur fl ight 143 MICHAEL B. HABIB Comparative evidence for quadrupedal launch in pterosaurs 159 ROSS A. ELGIN, CARLOS A. GRAU, COLIN PALMER, DAVID W. E. HONE, DOUGLAS GREENWELL & MICHAEL J. BENTON Aerodynamic characters of the cranial crest in Pteranodon 167 DAVID M. MARTILL & MARK P. WITTON Catastrophic failure in a pterosaur skull from the Cretaceous Santana Formation of Brazil 175 MARTIN LOCKLEY, JERALD D. HARRIS & LAURA MITCHELL A global overview of pterosaur ichnology: tracksite distribution in space and time 185 DAVID M. UNWIN & D. CHARLES DEEMING Pterosaur eggshell structure and its implications for pterosaur reproductive biology 199 DAVID M. MARTILL, MARK P. WITTON & ANDREW GALE Possible azhdarchoid pterosaur remains from the Coniacian (Late Cretaceous) of England 209 TAISSA RODRIGUES & ALEXANDER W.
    [Show full text]
  • Azhdarchid Pterosaurs: Water-Trawling Pelican Mimics Or “Terrestrial Stalkers”?
    Azhdarchid pterosaurs: water-trawling pelican mimics or “terrestrial stalkers”? MARK P. WITTON and DARREN NAISH Witton, M.P. and Naish, D. 2015. Azhdarchid pterosaurs: water-trawling pelican mimics or “terrestrial stalkers”? Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 60 (3): 651–660. The lifestyles of all pterosaurs are contentious, but those of the pterodactyloid clade Azhdarchidae are particularly debat- ed. A 2008 review of the functional morphology of azhdarchid pterosaurs concluded that they were probably terrestrial foragers, as evidenced by their long limbs, generalised skull construction, the arthrological limitations of their cervical series, trackway data indicating terrestrial proficiency, a strong continental skew in the depositional context of their fossils, and several additional lines of corroborating evidence. This hypothesis was recently challenged on three counts: (i) azhdarchid fossils routinely occur in aquatic deposits; (ii) terrestrially-foraging pterosaurs were highly vulnerable to predation and (iii), aerial “water trawling”, where the mandible is pulled though water to catch food in a distended throat pouch, is a more likely foraging strategy. Pelican-like jaw mechanics were suggested for azhdarchids because of the asymmetrical jaw joints in these pterosaurs, which permit lateral deflection of the mandibular rami during jaw extension. We evaluate these three claims and conclude that all are flawed. The frequent occurrence of azhdarchid fossils in aquatic sedimentary systems is not significant with regard to ecology or behaviour, since these provide the overwhelming mech- anism for the preservation of all fossil terrestrial animals. Likely pterosaur takeoff abilities and the ubiquitous nature of modern, terrestrially-foraging birds indicate that predation risks on ground-foraging pterosaurs are probably overstated.
    [Show full text]
  • Review of the Pterodactyloid Pterosaur Coloborhynchus 219
    Zitteliana An International Journal of Palaeontology and Geobiology Series B/Reihe B Abhandlungen der Bayerischen Staatssammlung für Pa lä on to lo gie und Geologie B28 DAVID W. E. HONE & ERIC BUFFETAUT (Eds) Flugsaurier: pterosaur papers in honour of Peter Wellnhofer CONTENTS/INHALT Dedication 3 PETER WELLNHOFER A short history of pterosaur research 7 KEVIN PADIAN Were pterosaur ancestors bipedal or quadrupedal?: Morphometric, functional, and phylogenetic considerations 21 DAVID W. E. HONE & MICHAEL J. BENTON Contrasting supertree and total-evidence methods: the origin of the pterosaurs 35 PAUL M. BARRETT, RICHARD J. BUTLER, NICHOLAS P. EDWARDS & ANDREW R. MILNER Pterosaur distribution in time and space: an atlas 61 LORNA STEEL The palaeohistology of pterosaur bone: an overview 109 S. CHRISTOPHER BENNETT Morphological evolution of the wing of pterosaurs: myology and function 127 MARK P. WITTON A new approach to determining pterosaur body mass and its implications for pterosaur fl ight 143 MICHAEL B. HABIB Comparative evidence for quadrupedal launch in pterosaurs 159 ROSS A. ELGIN, CARLOS A. GRAU, COLIN PALMER, DAVID W. E. HONE, DOUGLAS GREENWELL & MICHAEL J. BENTON Aerodynamic characters of the cranial crest in Pteranodon 167 DAVID M. MARTILL & MARK P. WITTON Catastrophic failure in a pterosaur skull from the Cretaceous Santana Formation of Brazil 175 MARTIN LOCKLEY, JERALD D. HARRIS & LAURA MITCHELL A global overview of pterosaur ichnology: tracksite distribution in space and time 185 DAVID M. UNWIN & D. CHARLES DEEMING Pterosaur eggshell structure and its implications for pterosaur reproductive biology 199 DAVID M. MARTILL, MARK P. WITTON & ANDREW GALE Possible azhdarchoid pterosaur remains from the Coniacian (Late Cretaceous) of England 209 TAISSA RODRIGUES & ALEXANDER W.
    [Show full text]
  • New Information on the Tapejaridae (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) and Discussion of the Relationships of This Clade
    AMEGHINIANA (Rev. Asoc. Paleontol. Argent.) - 41 (4): 521-534. Buenos Aires, 30-12-2004 ISSN 0002-7014 New information on the Tapejaridae (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) and discussion of the relationships of this clade Alexander Wilhelm Armin KELLNER1 Abstract. A phylogenetic analysis indicates that the Tapejaridae is a monophyletic group of pterodactyloid pterosaurs, diagnosed by the following synapomorphies: premaxillary sagittal crest that starts at the anterior tip of the premaxilla and extends posteriorly after the occipital region, large nasoantorbital fenestra that reaches over 45% of the length between premaxilla and squamosal, lacrimal process of the jugal thin, distinct small pear- shaped orbit with lower portion narrow, and broad tubercle at the ventroposterior margin of the coracoid. Several cranial and postcranial characters indicate that the Tapejaridae are well nested within the Tapejaroidea, in sister group relationship with the Azhdarchidae. A preliminary study of the ingroup relationships within the Tapejaridae shows that Tupuxuara is more closely related to Thalassodromeus relative to Tapejara. At present tape- jarid remains have been found in the following deposits: Crato and Romualdo members of the Santana Formation (Aptian-Albian), Araripe Basin, Brazil; Jiufotang Formation (Aptian), Jehol Group of western Liaoning, China; and in the redbeds (Cenomanian) of the Kem Kem region, Morocco. An incomplete skull found in the Javelina Formation (Maastrichtian), Texas also shows several tapejarid features and might be a member of this clade. Although information is still limited, the present distribution of the Tapejaridae indicates that this clade of pterosaurs was not exclusive of Gondwana, and was more widespread than previously known. Resumen. NUEVA INFORMACIÓN SOBRE LOS TAPEJARIDAE (PTEROSAURIA, PTERODACTYLOIDEA) Y DISCUSIÓN SOBRE LAS RELACIONES DE ESTE CLADO.
    [Show full text]
  • The First Dsungaripterid Pterosaur from the Kimmeridgian of Germany and the Biomechanics of Pterosaur Long Bones
    The first dsungaripterid pterosaur from the Kimmeridgian of Germany and the biomechanics of pterosaur long bones MICHAEL FASTNACHT Fastnacht, M. 2005. The first dsungaripterid pterosaur from the Kimmeridgian of Germany and the biomechanics of pterosaur long bones. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 50 (2): 273–288. A partial vertebral column, pelvis and femora of a newly discovered pterosaur are described. The remains from the Upper Jurassic (Kimmeridgian) of Oker (northern Germany) can be identified as belonging to the Dsungaripteridae because the cross−sections of the bones have relatively thick walls. The close resemblance in morphology to the Lower Cretaceous Dsungaripterus allows identification of the specimen as the first and oldest record of dsungaripterids in Central Europe. Fur− thermore, it is the oldest certain record of a dsungaripterid pterosaur world wide. The biomechanical characteristics of the dsungaripterid long bone construction shows that it has less resistance against bending and torsion than in non−dsungari− pteroid pterosaurs, but has greater strength against compression and local buckling. This supports former suggestions that dsungaripterids inhabited continental areas that required an active way of life including frequent take−off and landing phases. The reconstruction of the lever arms of the pelvic musculature and the mobility of the femur indicates a quadrupedal terrestrial locomotion. Key words: Reptilia, Pterosauria, Dsungaripteridae, locomotion, biomechanics, Jurassic, Germany. Michael Fastnacht [fastnach@uni−mainz.de], Palaeontologie, Institut für Geowissenschaften, Johannes Gutenberg− Universität, D−55099 Mainz, Germany. Introduction described from this site (Laven 2001; Mateus et al. 2004; Sander et al. 2004). This and further dinosaur material has In recent years, the northern part of Germany has yielded an been collected by members of the “Verein zur Förderung der increasing number of Upper Jurassic/Lower Cretaceous niedersächsischen Paläontologie e.V.”, who regularly collect archosaurian remains.
    [Show full text]
  • (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) with the Description of Two New Species Anais Da Academia Brasileira De Ciências, Vol
    Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências ISSN: 0001-3765 [email protected] Academia Brasileira de Ciências Brasil Kellner, Alexander W.A. Comments on the Pteranodontidae (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) with the description of two new species Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, vol. 82, núm. 4, 2010, pp. 1063-1084 Academia Brasileira de Ciências Rio de Janeiro, Brasil Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=32717686024 Abstract Considered one of the best known flying reptiles, Pteranodon has been subject to several reviews in the last century. Found exclusively in the Upper Cretaceous Niobrara Formation and Pierre Shale Group 11 species have been attributed to this genus (excluding the ones presently regarded as representing Nyctosaurus). While reviewers agree that this number is inflated, there is disagreement on how many species can be identified. The last review recognized only two species (Pteranodon longiceps and Pteranodon sternbergi) both being sexually dimorphic. Based on several cranial features, some specimens previously referred to the genus Pteranodon are re-evaluated leading to the recognition of the following species, two of which new that are described here: Pteranodon longiceps, Geosternbergia sternbergi, Geosternbergia maiseyi sp. nov., and Dawndraco kanzai gen. et sp. nov. They differ mainly by features such as the direction and extension of the frontal crest, the angle and extension of the posterior process of the premaxillae, the shape and extension of the lower temporal fenestra and the length and proportion of the rostrum. The procedures to recognize a pterosaur species are also discussed here, and must take into account primarily morphology, in conjunction with stratigraphic and geographic data.
    [Show full text]
  • New Azhdarchoid Pterosaur (Pterosauria
    Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências (2017) 89(3 Suppl.): 2003-2012 (Annals of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences) Printed version ISSN 0001-3765 / Online version ISSN 1678-2690 http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765201720170478 www.scielo.br/aabc | www.fb.com/aabcjournal New azhdarchoid pterosaur (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) with an unusual lower jaw from the Portezuelo Formation (Upper Cretaceous), Neuquén Group, Patagonia, Argentina ALEXANDER W.A. KELLNER1 and JORGE O. CALVO2 1Laboratório de Sistemática e Tafonomia de Vertebrados Fósseis, Departamento de Geologia e Paleontologia, Museu Nacional/ Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Quinta da Boa Vista, São Cristóvão, 20940-040 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil 2Grupo de Transferencia Proyecto Dino, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Parque Natural Geo- Paleontológico Proyecto Dino, Ruta Provincial 51, Km 65, Neuquén, Argentina Manuscript received on June 22, 2017; accepted for publication on September 4, 2017 ABSTRACT A new azhdarchoid pterosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of Patagonia is described. The material consists of an incomplete edentulous lower jaw that was collected from the upper portion of the Portezuelo Formation (Turonian-Early Coniacian) at the Futalognko site, northwest of Neuquén city, Argentina. The overall morphology of Argentinadraco barrealensis gen. et sp. nov. indicates that it belongs to the Azhdarchoidea and probable represents an azhdarchid species. The occlusal surface of the anterior portion is laterally compressed and shows blunt lateral margins with a medial sulcus that are followed by two well- developed mandibular ridges, which in turn are bordered laterally by a sulcus. The posterior end of the symphysis is deeper than in any other azhdarchoid.
    [Show full text]
  • Evolution of Morphological Disparity in Pterosaurs Katherine C
    Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, Vol. 9, Issue 3, September 2011, 337–353 Evolution of morphological disparity in pterosaurs Katherine C. Prentice, Marcello Ruta∗ and Michael J. Benton School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queens Road, Bristol, BS8 1RJ, UK (Received 9 November 2009; accepted 22 October 2010; printed 15 September 2011) Pterosaurs were important flying vertebrates for most of the Mesozoic, from the Late Triassic to the end of the Cretaceous (225–65 Ma). They varied enormously through time in overall size (with wing spans from about 250 mm to about 12 m), and in features of their cranial and postcranial skeletons. Comparisons of disparity based on discrete cladistic characters show that the basal paraphyletic rhamphorhynchoids (Triassic–Early Cretaceous) occupied a distinct, and relatively small, region of morphospace compared to the derived pterodactyloids (Late Jurassic–Late Cretaceous). This separation is unexpected, especially in view of common constraints on anatomy caused by the requirements of flight. Pterodactyloid disparity shifted through time, with different, small portions of morphospace occupied in the Late Jurassic and Late Cretaceous, and a much larger portion in the Early Cretaceous. This explosion in disparity after 100 Ma of evolution is matched by the highest diversity of the clade: evidently, pterosaurs express a rather ‘top heavy’ clade shape, and this is reflected in delayed morphological evolution, again an unexpected finding. The expansion of disparity among pterodactyloids was comparable across subclades: pairwise comparisons among the four pterodactyloid superfamilies show that, for the most part, these clades display significant morphological separation, except in the case of Dsungaripteroidea and Azhdarchoidea.
    [Show full text]
  • Pterosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Angola
    Alexandra Eugénio Fernandes B. A. Anthropology Pterosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Angola Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Paleontologia Orientador: Octávio Mateus, PhD, Prof. Associado FCT-UNL Co-orientador: Brian Andres, PhD, Associado University of Sheffield Março 2020 Alexandra Eugénio Fernandes Eugénio Alexandra Pterosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Angola of Cretaceous Late the from Pterosaurs 2020 Pterosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Angola Alexandra Eugénio Fernandes B.A. Anthropology Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Paleontologia Março 2020 Orientador: Octávio Mateus, PhD, Prof. Associado FCT-UNL Co-orientador: Brian Andres, PhD, Associado University of Sheffield i Pterosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Angola Copyright © Alexandra Eugénio Fernandes, da FCT/UNL e da UNL A Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia e a Universidade Nova de Lisboa tém o direito, perpétuo e sem limites geográficos, de arquivar e publicar esta dissertação através de exemplares impressos reproduzidos em papel ou de forma digital, ou por qualquer outro meio conhecido ou que venha a ser inventado, e de a divulgar atraves de repositôrios cientificos e de admitir a sua côpia e distnibuiçao com objectivos educacionais ou de investigacao, não comerciais, desde que seja dado crédito ao autor e editor’. Tambérn, de acordo corn os Regulamentos dos Cursos de 2.°, 3.° ciclos e Mestrados Integrados, e o Despacho 41/2010 de 21 de Dezembro de 2010, as teses sujeitas a periodo de ernbargo so são divulgadas quando este periodo terminar. Urn periodo de embargo da divulgação tambem pode ser solicitado para as dissertaçoes elaboradas com base em artigos previamente publicados por outros editores, sempre que tal seja necessário para respeitar os direitos de copia desses editores.
    [Show full text]
  • (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) with the Description of Two New Species Anais Da Academia Brasileira De Ciências, Vol
    Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências ISSN: 0001-3765 [email protected] Academia Brasileira de Ciências Brasil Kellner, Alexander W.A. Comments on the Pteranodontidae (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) with the description of two new species Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, vol. 82, núm. 4, 2010, pp. 1063-1084 Academia Brasileira de Ciências Rio de Janeiro, Brasil Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=32717686024 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative “main” — 2010/11/10 — 11:46 — page 1063 — #1 Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências (2010) 82(4): 1063-1084 (Annals of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences) ISSN 0001-3765 www.scielo.br/aabc Comments on the Pteranodontidae (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) with the description of two new species ALEXANDER W.A. KELLNER Setor de Paleovertebrados, Museu Nacional/UFRJ Quinta da Boa Vista s/n, São Cristóvão, 20940-040 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil Manuscript received on September 15, 2010; accepted for publication on October 25, 2010 ABSTRACT Considered one of the best known flying reptiles, Pteranodon has been subject to several reviews in the last century. Found exclusively in the Upper Cretaceous Niobrara Formation and Pierre Shale Group 11 species have been attributed to this genus (excluding the ones presently regarded as representing Nyctosaurus). While reviewers agree that this number is inflated, there is disagreement on how many species can be identified. The last review recognized onlytwo species (Pteranodon longiceps and Pteranodon sternbergi) both being sexually dimorphic.
    [Show full text]
  • A Nearly Complete Ornithocheirid Pterosaur from the Aptian (Early Cretaceous) Crato Formation of NE Brazil
    A nearly complete ornithocheirid pterosaur from the Aptian (Early Cretaceous) Crato Formation of NE Brazil ROSS A. ELGIN and EBERHARD FREY Elgin, R.A. and Frey, E. 2012. A nearly complete ornithocheirid pterosaur from the Aptian (Early Cretaceous) Crato Formation of NE Brazil. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 57 (1): 101–110. A partial ornithocheirid, representing a rare example of a pterosaurian body fossil from the Nova Olinda Member of the Crato Formation, NE Brazil, is described from the collections of the State Museum of Natural History, Karlsruhe. While similar in preservation and taphonomy to Arthurdactylus conandoylei, it is distinguished by slight differences in biomet− ric ratios, but the absence of a skull prevents closer identification. Mostly complete body fossils belonging to ornitho− cheiroid pterosaurs appear to be relatively more abundant in the younger Romualdo Member of the Santana Formation, making the described specimen one of only two well documented ornithocheiroids known from the Nova Olinda Lagerstätte. Key words: Ornithocheiroidea, pterosaur, taphonomy, Aptian, Cretaceous, Crato Formation, Brazil. Ross A. Elgin [[email protected]] and Eberhard Frey [[email protected]], Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Karlsruhe (SMNK), Abteilung Geologie, Erbprinzenstraße 13, 76133 Karlsruhe, Germany. Received 4 August 2010, accepted 17 March 2011, available online 31 March 2011. Introduction A new specimen from the Nova Olinda Member in the collections of the State Museum of Natural History, Karls− The Araripe Basin of NE Brazil contains two Early Creta− ruhe (SMNK PAL 3854), is described here, representing the ceous Lagerstätten that are world renowned for their excep− rare occurrence of a largely complete ornithocheirid ptero− tional preservation of insects and vertebrate fossils (Unwin saur from this locality.
    [Show full text]