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Noto CR, D’Amore DC, Drumheller SK, Adams TL. A newly recognized theropod assemblage from the Lewisville Formation (Woodbine Group; Cenomanian) and its implications for understanding Late Cretaceous Appalachian terrestrial ecosystems. PeerJ 2022; 10:e12782. [PMID: 35127286 PMCID: PMC8796713 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
While the terrestrial fossil record of the mid-Cretaceous interval (Aptian to Cenomanian) in North America has been poorly studied, the recent focus on fossil localities from the western United States has offered a more detailed picture of vertebrate diversity, ecosystem dynamics and faunal turnover that took place on the western landmass of Laramidia. This is in stark contrast to the terrestrial record from the eastern landmass of Appalachia, where vertebrate fossils are rare and consist mostly of isolated and fragmentary remains. However, a detailed understanding of these fossil communities during this interval is necessary for comparison of the faunal patterns that developed during the opening of the Western Interior Seaway (WIS). The Woodbine Group of Texas is a Cenomanian age (95-100 mya) deposit consisting of shallow marine, deltaic, and terrestrial communities, which were only recently separated from their western counterparts. These deposits have yielded a wealth of vertebrate remains, yet non-avian theropods are still largely unknown. Recently, multiple localities in the Lewisville Formation of the Woodbine Group have yielded new non-avian theropod material, including numerous isolated teeth and postcranial remains. While largely fragmentary, this material is sufficiently diagnostic to identify the following taxa: a large-bodied carcharodontosaur, a mid-sized tyrannosauroid, a large ornithomimosaur, a large dromaeosaurine, a small dromaeosaurid, a small troodontid, and a small coelurosaur. Some of these groups represent the first occurrence for Appalachia and provide a broader understanding of a newly expanded faunal diversity for the Eastern landmass. The Lewisville Formation theropod fauna is similar in taxonomic composition to contemporaneous deposits in Laramidia, confirming that these groups were widespread across the continent prior to extension of the WIS. The Lewisville Formation documents the transitional nature of Cenomanian coastal ecosystems in Texas while providing additional details on the evolution of Appalachian communities shortly after WIS extension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R. Noto
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States
| | - Domenic C. D’Amore
- Department of Natural Sciences, Daemen College, Amherst, New York, United States
| | - Stephanie K. Drumheller
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
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Eduardo AA, Martinez PA, Gouveia SF, Santos FDS, de Aragão WS, Morales-Barbero J, Kerber L, Liparini A. Extending the paleontology-biogeography reciprocity with SDMs: Exploring models and data in reducing fossil taxonomic uncertainty. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0194725. [PMID: 29590174 PMCID: PMC5874039 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Historically, studies aimed at prospecting and analyzing paleontological and neontological data to investigate species distribution have developed separately. Research at the interface between paleontology and biogeography has shown a unidirectional bias, mostly focusing on how paleontological information can aid biogeography to understand species distribution through time. However, the modern suit of techniques of ecological biogeography, particularly species distribution models (SDM), can be instrumental for paleontologists as well, improving the biogeography-paleontology interchange. In this study, we explore how to use paleoclimatic data and SDMs to support paleontological investigation regarding reduction of taxonomic uncertainty. Employing current data from two neotropical species (Lagostomus maximus and Myocastor coipus), we implemented SDMs and performed model validation comparing hindcasts with dated fossil occurrences (~14k and ~20k years back present, respectively). Finally, we employed the hindcasting process for two South American fossil records of a misidentified species of caiman (Caiman sp.) to show that C. latirostris is the most likely species identity of these fossils (among four candidate species: C. latirostris, C. yacare, C. crocodilus, and Melanosuchus niger). Possible limitations of the approach are discussed. With this strategy, we have shown that current developments in biogeography research can favour paleontology, extending the (biased) current interchange between these two scientific disciplines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anderson Aires Eduardo
- PIBiLab – Laboratório de Pesquisa Integrativa em Biodiversidade / Integrative Research on Biodiversity Lab, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracajú, State of Sergipe, Brazil
- Department of Biology, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracajú, State of Sergipe, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | - Pablo Ariel Martinez
- PIBiLab – Laboratório de Pesquisa Integrativa em Biodiversidade / Integrative Research on Biodiversity Lab, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracajú, State of Sergipe, Brazil
- Department of Biology, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracajú, State of Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Sidney Feitosa Gouveia
- PIBiLab – Laboratório de Pesquisa Integrativa em Biodiversidade / Integrative Research on Biodiversity Lab, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracajú, State of Sergipe, Brazil
- Department of Ecology, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracajú, State of Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Franciely da Silva Santos
- PIBiLab – Laboratório de Pesquisa Integrativa em Biodiversidade / Integrative Research on Biodiversity Lab, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracajú, State of Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Wilcilene Santos de Aragão
- PIBiLab – Laboratório de Pesquisa Integrativa em Biodiversidade / Integrative Research on Biodiversity Lab, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracajú, State of Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Jennifer Morales-Barbero
- Unit of Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, C.U. Miguel de Unamuno, Spain
| | - Leonardo Kerber
- CAPPA – Centro de Apoio à Paleontologia da Quarta Colônia, Federal University of Santa Maria, São João do Polêsine, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Liparini
- PIBiLab – Laboratório de Pesquisa Integrativa em Biodiversidade / Integrative Research on Biodiversity Lab, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracajú, State of Sergipe, Brazil
- Department of Biology, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracajú, State of Sergipe, Brazil
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Dumont M, Tafforeau P, Bertin T, Bhullar BA, Field D, Schulp A, Strilisky B, Thivichon-Prince B, Viriot L, Louchart A. Synchrotron imaging of dentition provides insights into the biology of Hesperornis and Ichthyornis, the "last" toothed birds. BMC Evol Biol 2016; 16:178. [PMID: 27659919 PMCID: PMC5034473 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-016-0753-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2016] [Accepted: 08/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The dentitions of extinct organisms can provide pivotal information regarding their phylogenetic position, as well as paleobiology, diet, development, and growth. Extant birds are edentulous (toothless), but their closest relatives among stem birds, the Cretaceous Hesperornithiformes and Ichthyornithiformes, retained teeth. Despite their significant phylogenetic position immediately outside the avian crown group, the dentitions of these taxa have never been studied in detail. To obtain new insight into the biology of these ‘last’ toothed birds, we use cutting-edge visualisation techniques to describe their dentitions at unprecedented levels of detail, in particular propagation phase contrast x-ray synchrotron microtomography at high-resolution. Results Among other characteristics of tooth shape, growth, attachment, implantation, replacement, and dental tissue microstructures, revealed by these analyses, we find that tooth morphology and ornamentation differ greatly between the Hesperornithiformes and Ichthyornithiformes. We also highlight the first Old World, and youngest record of the major Mesozoic clade Ichthyornithiformes. Both taxa exhibit extremely thin and simple enamel. The extension rate of Hesperornis tooth dentine appears relatively high compared to non-avian dinosaurs. Root attachment is found for the first time to be fully thecodont via gomphosis in both taxa, but in Hesperornis secondary evolution led to teeth implantation in a groove, at least locally without a periodontal ligament. Dental replacement is shown to be lingual via a resorption pit in the root, in both taxa. Conclusions Our results allow comparison with other archosaurs and also mammals, with implications regarding dental character evolution across amniotes. Some dental features of the ‘last’ toothed birds can be interpreted as functional adaptations related to diet and mode of predation, while others appear to be products of their peculiar phylogenetic heritage. The autapomorphic Hesperornis groove might have favoured firmer root attachment. These observations highlight complexity in the evolutionary history of tooth reduction in the avian lineage and also clarify alleged avian dental characteristics in the frame of a long-standing debate on bird origins. Finally, new hypotheses emerge that will possibly be tested by further analyses of avian teeth, for instance regarding dental replacement rates, or simplification and thinning of enamel throughout the course of early avian evolution. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-016-0753-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maïtena Dumont
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 5242, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Equipe évo-dévo de la denture chez les vertébrés, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, 46 Allée d'Italie, 69364, Lyon cedex 7, France.,UMR CNRS/MNHN 7179, "Mécanismes adaptatifs: des organismes aux communautés", 57 rue Cuvier CP55, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Paul Tafforeau
- ESRF-The European Synchrotron, 71, avenue des Martyrs, CS 40220, F-38043, Grenoble Cédex 9, France
| | - Thomas Bertin
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 5242, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Equipe évo-dévo de la denture chez les vertébrés, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, 46 Allée d'Italie, 69364, Lyon cedex 7, France
| | - Bhart-Anjan Bhullar
- Department of Geology and Geophysics and Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University, New Haven, 06520, CT, USA
| | - Daniel Field
- Department of Geology and Geophysics and Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University, New Haven, 06520, CT, USA
| | - Anne Schulp
- Natuurhistorisch Museum Maastricht, De Bosquetplein 6-7, NL-6211 KJ, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,Present Address: Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333CR, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Brandon Strilisky
- Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, P.O. Box 7500, Drumheller, T0J 0Y0, AB, Canada
| | - Béatrice Thivichon-Prince
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 5242, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Equipe évo-dévo de la denture chez les vertébrés, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, 46 Allée d'Italie, 69364, Lyon cedex 7, France
| | - Laurent Viriot
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 5242, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Equipe évo-dévo de la denture chez les vertébrés, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, 46 Allée d'Italie, 69364, Lyon cedex 7, France
| | - Antoine Louchart
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 5242, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Equipe évo-dévo de la denture chez les vertébrés, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, 46 Allée d'Italie, 69364, Lyon cedex 7, France. .,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 5553, LECA, Equipe Paléo-Génomique, and Palgene (CNRS/ENS de Lyon), Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université de Lyon, 46 Allée d'Italie, 69364, Lyon cedex 7, France.
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