Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 2010. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 83-89). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--Bowling Green State University, 2006. / Document formatted into pages; contains xiv, 177 p. : ill., maps. Includes bibliographical references.

In search of evidence for or against the endothermic dinosaur hypothesis, a recent study by Ruben et al. (1996) revealed that endotherms tend to have larger nasal cross-sectional areas than ectotherms of the same mass. The reason offered for this observation was that larger nasal passages are needed to house the complex respiratory turbinates possessed by endotherms. Whales were excluded from the study on the grounds that they have no nasal turbinates. In the present study, the cross-sectional area of the nasal passages of nine species of Odontoceti were measured by the use of latex casts. The regression of log cross-sectional area vs. log mass yielded the same line for the whales of the current study as for the endotherms of the previous study. Alternative explanations for the large nasal cross-sectional area of endotherms are sought.

The osteology of the Upper Triassic podokesaurid Syntarsus rhodesiensis is described, based on a series of 30+ individuals representing all skeletal elements, recovered since the description of the holotype (Raath, 1969). A brief account of the geology of the finds is given, with an attempt at a reconstruction of the palaaoenvironment. The excellence of preservation of the bones has permitted an attempt at the restoration of soft tissues including the brain, cranial nerves, main cranial blood vessels and the musculature of the jaws, neck and limbs. Histological sections of limb bones have shown that the compact bone was highly vascular, and this, together with the structure of the brain, palaeoenvironmental considerations, social behaviour and group structure, leads to the conclusion that Syntarsus was an endothermic homeotherm inhabiting a hot arid region at the end of the Triassic, with a social organisation into "flocks" in which females predominated numerically. Clear evidence of sexual dimorphism is presented. Syntarsus is reconstructed as a bipedal, saltatorial predator which differs in subtle, but probably generically significant, characteristics from the closely related North American genus, Coelophysis. Its anatomy characterises it as a medium-sized agile animal with a highly kinetic skull; incipiently opposable pollex in the raptorial manus; highly cursorial hindlimb; and with features in the dentition and hallux which suggest a grooming function. It is concluded that the Triassic coelurosaurian stock provided an advanced and well adapted base from which the successful coelurosaur radiation into the later Mesozoic sprang, and that this stock was physiologically pre-adapted for the emergence of the avian (and possibly the pterosaur) lineages in the Jurassic

Troodontidae is an important dinosaur taxon that closely resembles birds in both morphology and biology. The evolution of troodontids is crucial for understanding evolutionary transitions between non-avialan theropods and avialans. Despite the recent discovery of several troodontid taxa across the world and many new studies of coelurosaurian relationships, an overall survey of morphological variation in troodontids and a comprehensive analysis of ingroup troodontid relationships have yet to be accomplished. In the first four chapters of this dissertation, the osteology of two new troodontid taxa and two closely related paravians are described in detail. These descriptions are based on new specimens recovered from the Mesozoic of China and Mongolia. These new taxa include the basal dromaeosaurid Microraptor zhaoianus, the basal avialan Anchiornis huxleyi, a new troodontid taxon represented by IGM 100/1323, and a second new troodontid taxon represented by IGM 100/1126 and IGM 100/3500. These paravian taxa are all small-sized, with a basal paravian body plan resembling Archaeopteryx, yet they represent members of all three major paravian lineages (Troodontidae, Dromaeosauridae and Avialae), and support the traditionally recognized paravian interrelationships. Osteological description of Microraptor zhaoianus is based on an excellently preserved new specimen BMNHC PH881. This specimen preserves significant morphological details that are not present, or are poorly preserved, in the other Microraptor specimens, including aspects of the skull, rib cage, and humerus. These new characters corroborate Microraptor as a member of the Dromaeosauridae and support the close relationship of troodontids with dromaeosaurids. Four new specimens (PKUVP 1068; BMNHC PH804, BMNHC PH822 and BMNHC PH823) of Anchiornis huxleyi reveal new osteological details of this important paravian taxon. Anchiornis huxleyi shares derived features with avialans, but it lacks derived deinonychosaurian characteristics such as a laterally exposed splenial and a specialized raptorial pedal digit II. IGM 100/1323 represents a new troodontid taxon from the Late Cretaceous Djadokhta Formation of Mongolia, diagnosed from other troodontids by the absence of the lateral groove on the dentary, a posteriorly curved pterygoid flange, a distinct spike-like process on the ischium, and elongate chevrons. Despite generally having a basal paravian body plan, IGM 100/1323 displays many derived troodontid features. IGM 100/1126 and IGM 100/3500 represent another new Late Cretaceous troodontid taxon from the Djadokhta-Formation-like rocks at Ukhaa Tolgod, Mongolia. It is unique and distinct from other troodontids in having closely packed peg-like teeth, a twisted suborbital process of the jugal, a quadratojugal with a crescentic ascending process that braces the quadrate posteriorly, reduction of the basal tubera, and presence of a posterior fossa on the proximal fibula. This new taxon is morphologically more derived than Early Cretaceous troodontids but is more primitive than other Late Cretaceous troodontids. A new and comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of coelurosaurian theropods, focusing on troodontids is presented in Chapter 5. This is an updated version of the Theropod Working Group (TWiG) analysis (2015.1). This new analysis incorporates new paravian taxa and new characters, most of which are relevant to paravians, especially the troodontids that are the focus of this dissertation. The new phylogenetic analysis agrees with previous studies on the general relationships of coelurosaurians, yet some important differences from previous TWiG analyses are present in paravians, including: 1), the Jianchang paravians are recovered as basal avialans; 2), Late Cretaceous troodontids form a monophyletic group; and 3), Jinfengopteryginae is not monophyletic.

It is now widely accepted that modern day birds originated from the clade Theropoda represented by bipedal carnivorous dinosaurs that thrived between the late Triassic and Cretaceous period. New research illustrates how the evolutionary assembly of the avian body plan began in these theropods with small fore limbs, large hind limbs and stiff tails, and progressed through a series of increasingly bird-like, transitional anatomical stages. There is also a great deal of homoplasy among dinosaurs however, or evolution of the same traits in distantly related groups, which makes it even more difficult to pinpoint the phylogenetic relationships among theropods. A limited fossil record and confusing temporal inconsistency has also led paleontologists and ornithologists alike to dismiss this crucial connection. They often attribute the origin of birds instead to a basal archosaur, ancestor to both dinosaurs and crocodilians. However the recent discoveries of feathered non-avian theropods, especially from the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous of Liaoning, China may finally lay the argument to rest. The scientific community has remained especially divided over to what degree feathers and other flight characteristics are present amongst the advanced theropods, and Dinosauria in general. Understanding this distinction helps separate each species into separate clades along the cloudy phylogenetic timeline as a function of feather development, and therefore offers insight into where they initially became functional for flight. Because fossils depicting defined integumental structures have been recently uncovered by the hundreds over the last 20 years, there is more evidence of this transition than ever. Through studies of theropod and avian physiology, we can gain more insight into the macroevolutionary principles and selective pressures that led dinosaurs to take to the sky.

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xx, 287 p. ; ill. (some col.) A print copy of this title is available through the UO Libraries under the call numbers: SCIENCE QP310.W3 W55 2008 / Digital three-dimensional (3D) models are useful for biomechanical analysis because they can be interactively visualized and manipulated. Synthesizing and analyzing animal locomotion with these models, however, is difficult due to the large number of joints in a fully articulated skeleton, the complexity of the individual joints, and the huge space of possible configurations, or poses, of the skeleton taken as a whole. A joint may be capable of several biological movements, each represented by a degree of freedom (DOF). A quadrupedal model may require up to 100 DOFs to represent the limbs and trunk segments only, resulting in extremely large spaces of possible body configurations. New methods are presented here that allow limbs with any number of biomechanical DOFs to be kinematically exercised and mapped into a visualization space. The spaces corresponding to the ranges of motion of the left and right limbs are automatically intersected and pruned using biological and locomotion constraints. Hind and fore spaces are similarly constrained so that Genetic Algorithms (GAs) can be used to quickly find smooth, and therefore plausible, kinematic quadrupedal locomotion paths through the spaces. Gaits generated for generic dog and reptile models are compared to published gait data to determine the viability of kinematics-only gait generation and analysis; gaits generated for Apatosaurus, Triceratops , and Tyrannosaurus dinosaur models are then compared to those generated for the extant animals. These methods are used for several case studies across the models including: isolating scapulothorax and shoulder joint functionality during locomotion, determining optimal ankle heights for locomotion, and evaluating the effect of limb phase parameters on quadrupedal locomotion. / Adviser: Kent A. Stevens

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Este trabalho apresenta uma anÃlise narrativa, grÃfica e paleontolÃgica de alguns livros da literatura infantojuvenil brasileira que incluem personagens de dinossauros em sua trama: O dinossauro que fazia au-au de Pedro Bandeira (1983), A misteriosa volta dos dinossauros de Arnaldo Niskier (1988), O dinossauro: mais uma histÃria ecolÃgica de Leo Cunha e Marcus Tafuri (1995), e No tempo dos dinossauros de Ãlvaro Cardoso Gomes (1997). Todos os quatro livros tÃm projetos grÃficos despretensiosos, o que nÃo impede que um deles seja um Ãxito editorial, com 28 ediÃÃes em 30 anos: O dinossauro que fazia au-au. De modo geral, mostram uma arquitetura textual com linguagem direta e informal, com muitos diÃlogos, ritmo bastante rÃpido e narrativas lineares, trÃs deles com tÃpico esquema quinÃrio e desfechos positivos. Os protagonistas sÃo predominantemente masculinos, assim como os cientistas, ficando as personagens femininas com atuaÃÃes secundÃrias. Os livros com capas ou sobrecapas com cores quentes, que criam proximidade e aconchego, correspondem Ãqueles que tÃm mais de uma ediÃÃo, ao contrÃrio das obras com capas de cores frias, que ainda estÃo na primeira ediÃÃo. A maioria das obras pode ser classificada como livro ilustrado, sendo a obra No tempo dos dinossauros melhor classificada como livro com ilustraÃÃes. O dinossauro que fazia au-au à um livro que seria muito bem vindo nas aulas de ciÃncias, por conter informaÃÃes interessantes e estimular discussÃes sobre questÃes cientÃficas polÃmicas. Em A misteriosa volta dos dinossauros e No tempo dos dinossauros, pode se observar a convivÃncia de personagens de dinossauros de tempos e Ãreas continentais distantes, com predomÃnio de gÃneros norte-americanos, passando uma visÃo estÃtica da vida e dos continentes, inadequada do ponto de vista cientÃfico. Em nenhum livro à mencionado um dinossauro brasileiro, justificando-se parcialmente esta ausÃncia pela descoberta da maioria deles (dez das dezenove espÃcies conhecidas) no sÃculo 21. Temas como o tamanho dos dinossauros, seu nascimento, hÃbitos alimentares e pegadas estÃo presentes com informaÃÃes contraditÃrias e por vezes cientificamente equivocadas, o que poderia ser sanado com a assessoria de um paleontÃlogo, sem que isso afetasse o enredo ficcional. Livros infantojuvenis que tratam de dinossauros podem contribuir para a divulgaÃÃo e para o melhor entendimento do registro da vida passada e dos processos dinÃmicos que atuam na Terra, e paleontÃlogos poderiam ser mais ativos em auxiliar nesta tarefa. / This paper presents a narrative, graphical, and aleontological analysis of youthful Brazilian literature books that include characters of dinosaurs in its tram: O dinossauro que fazia au- au of Pedro Bandeira (1983), A misteriosa volta dos dinossauros of Arnaldo Niskier (1988), O dinossauro: mais uma histÃria ecolÃgica of Leo Cunha and Marcus Tafuri (1995), and No tempo dos dinossauros of Ãlvaro Cardoso Gomes (1997). All these four books have unpretentious graphical projects, what it does not hinder that one of them is a publishing success, with 28 editions in 30 years: O dinossauro que fazia au-au. In general way, they show a textual architecture with direct and informal language , with many dialogues, sufficiently fast rhythm, and linear narratives, three of them with typical quinary structure and positive outcomes. The protag onists are predominantly masculine, as well as scientists, being the fe male personages with secondary performances. The books with hot colours layers, that create proximity and received, correspond to those that have the one more edition ; in contrast of th e layer books with cold colours, that still are in the first edition. The majority of books can be classified as illustrated book; however the book No tempo dos dinossauros is better classified as a book with illustrations . O dinossauro que fazia au - au is a book that would be welcome in lessons of sciences, for containing interesting information and stimulating quarrels on scientific controvers y questions . In A misteriosa volta dos dinossauros and No tempo dos dinossauros can be observed chacacters of dinos aurs th at lived together of distant times and continental areas, with predominance of North American genera, passing a scientifically inadequate vision of life and continents. In any book is mentioned one Brazilian dinosaur . T his absence is partially justi fying for the discovery of the majority of them ( ten of the nine teen known species ) in the present century. Subjects as the size of the dinosaurs, its birth, alimentary habits, and footprints are present with contradictory informations and sometimes scient ically incorrect , what it could be cured with the assessor ship of a paleontologist, without this affected the fictional plot. Youthful books that deal with dinosaurs can contribute for the scientific spreading, for the best agreement of the past life regi ster and the dynamic processes that act in the Earth, and paleontologists could be more active in assisting this task

Robert Kennedy once said, “The purpose of life is to contribute in some way to making things better.” This statement inspired the author to question how prosocial behavior and the acceptance of diversity can be encouraged and is the driving force behind the following undergraduate thesis. Research tells us that Theory of Mind (ToM) and Affective Perspective Taking (APT) are essential components in a stepwise progression to learning empathy and can be taught to children ages five to seven. These elements are essential to developing an empathetic foundation that leads to healthier relationships, reduces bullying, and encourages the acceptance of diversity. Teaching children about emotions helps expand their vocabulary and put a name on what they or someone else is feeling. This facilitation of language and literacy is another building block in the development of compassionate understanding and empathy. Research shows that works of fiction can help children increase their ability to recognize emotions and encourages empathetic development through examination of a story character’s feelings. The culmination of this undergraduate thesis project is a children’s book called The Day Dot Ran Away. The research-informed book is designed to teach perspective taking by encouraging the reader to pay special attention to the emotions on the faces of the characters. The author’s hope is that this book will sow the seeds of empathy in all who read it, and as a result, they will become empathetic adults who are more accepting of diversity.