Using Polar Section Modulus to Define Avian Lifestyles
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Judd Case
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
5-8-2024 9:00 AM
End Date
5-8-2024 10:45 AM
Location
PUB NCR
Primary Discipline of Presentation
Biology
Abstract
In shallow marine fossil deposits of latest Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) age, avian fossils are few. The avian fossils recovered almost exclusively exhibit a foot-propelled diving lifestyle. Other lifestyles, such as running, soaring, or flapping, are not yet represented. Latest Cretaceous avian fossils that show a foot-propelled diving lifestyle include Vegavis iaai and Polarornis gregorii from Antarctica, Neogaeornis wetzeli from Chile, and a grebe-like tarsometatarsus (fusion of tarsals and metatarsals) from New Jersey. One would expect that avian fossils from shallow marine deposit would include a mix of shore birds, sea birds, and foot-propelled divers rather than only one of these lifestyle groups. Antarcticavis capelambensis is one fossil, discovered in Antarctica, that currently has an unknown niche. Determining the lifestyle of this species will provide greater insight as to what lifestyles were present within Neornithes during the Maastrichtian. To find this lifestyle, this study compares the Antarcticavis bones with the bones of birds that represent different lifestyles, such as the local ducks, and ground birds like chicken and quail. Through the use of a polar section, modulus, calculations from measurements of modern and fossil avian humeri and femora, it is possible to predict lifestyles based on the bendability of these bones. Antarcticavis did not fall close to any of the lifestyles that were plotted from a previous study, so new representatives of unplotted lifestyles are being added to the dataset. New data increases the probability of finding the niche of Antarcticavis, as well as progressing our understanding of avian evolution and survival.
Recommended Citation
Deckhut, Joseph Tyler, "Using Polar Section Modulus to Define Avian Lifestyles" (2024). 2024 Symposium. 8.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2024/ps_2024/p1_2024/8
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Using Polar Section Modulus to Define Avian Lifestyles
PUB NCR
In shallow marine fossil deposits of latest Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) age, avian fossils are few. The avian fossils recovered almost exclusively exhibit a foot-propelled diving lifestyle. Other lifestyles, such as running, soaring, or flapping, are not yet represented. Latest Cretaceous avian fossils that show a foot-propelled diving lifestyle include Vegavis iaai and Polarornis gregorii from Antarctica, Neogaeornis wetzeli from Chile, and a grebe-like tarsometatarsus (fusion of tarsals and metatarsals) from New Jersey. One would expect that avian fossils from shallow marine deposit would include a mix of shore birds, sea birds, and foot-propelled divers rather than only one of these lifestyle groups. Antarcticavis capelambensis is one fossil, discovered in Antarctica, that currently has an unknown niche. Determining the lifestyle of this species will provide greater insight as to what lifestyles were present within Neornithes during the Maastrichtian. To find this lifestyle, this study compares the Antarcticavis bones with the bones of birds that represent different lifestyles, such as the local ducks, and ground birds like chicken and quail. Through the use of a polar section, modulus, calculations from measurements of modern and fossil avian humeri and femora, it is possible to predict lifestyles based on the bendability of these bones. Antarcticavis did not fall close to any of the lifestyles that were plotted from a previous study, so new representatives of unplotted lifestyles are being added to the dataset. New data increases the probability of finding the niche of Antarcticavis, as well as progressing our understanding of avian evolution and survival.
