scholarly journals Growth patterns, sexual dimorphism, and maturation modeled in Pachypleurosauria from Middle Triassic of central Europe (Diapsida: Sauropterygia)

Fossil Record ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 137-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Klein ◽  
Eva Maria Griebeler
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Bone Tissue ◽  
Sexual Maturation ◽  
Growth Curves ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
The Other ◽  
Tissue Type ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Adult Size ◽  
Germanic Basin

Abstract. Bone tissue, microanatomy, and growth are studied in humeri of the pachypleurosaurs Dactylosaurus from the early Anisian of Poland and of aff. Neusticosaurus pusillus from the Lettenkeuper (early Ladinian) of southern Germany. Histology and modeled growth curves are compared to already published data of other pachypleurosaurs. Therefore, we herein established growth curves for Anarosaurus from the middle Anisian of Winterswijk (the Netherlands) and for pachypleurosaurs from the Anisian/Ladinian of the Alpine Triassic (i.e., Neusticosaurus spp. and Serpianosaurus). Humeri of Dactylosaurus, Anarosaurus, and aff. N. pusillus, all from the Germanic Basin, usually display an inner ring of (pre-)hatchling bone tissue. In some samples this tissue is surrounded by a layer of perpendicularly oriented fine fibers, which could indicate the start of active locomotion for foraging or might be related to viviparity. However, pachypleurosaurs from the Alpine Triassic do not show this tissue. This in turn could be related to overall differences in the environments inhabited (Germanic Basin vs. Alpine Triassic). Histological comparison revealed distinct taxon-specific differences in microanatomy and bone tissue type between Anarosaurus on the one hand and Dactylosaurus and the Neusticosaurus–Serpianosaurus clade on the other hand. Microanatomical differences imply a different degree in secondary adaptation to an aquatic environment. Life-history traits derived histologically and obtained from modeling growth were in general rather similar for all studied pachypleurosaurs. Onset of sexual maturation was within the first third of life. Asymptotic ages (maximum life span) considerably exceeded documented and modeled ages at death in all pachypleurosaur taxa. All traits modeled (more or less) matched values seen in similar-sized extant reptiles. Growth curves revealed differences in growth and maturation strategies within taxa that could indicate sexual dimorphism expressed in different adult sizes and a different onset of sexual maturation. Differences in gender size and morphology is well documented for the Chinese pachypleurosaur Keichousaurus and for Neusticosaurus spp. from the Alpine Triassic. Birth-to-adult size ratios of herein studied pachypleurosaurs were consistent with those seen in other viviparous Sauropterygia, other viviparous extinct taxa as well as extant viviparous reptiles. Anarosaurus had the highest maximum growth rates of all pachypleurosaurs studied, which best conformed to those seen in today's similar-sized reptiles and is expected from its bone tissue type. The other pachypleurosaur taxa had lower rates than the average seen in similar-sized extant reptiles. We hypothesize from our data that the considerably higher asymptotic ages compared to ages at death, early onset of maturation compared to asymptotic age, and viviparity reflect that pachypleurosaurs lived in predator-dominated environments.

scholarly journals Growth patterns and life-history strategies in Placodontia (Diapsida: Sauropterygia)

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (7) ◽  
pp. 140440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Klein ◽  
James M. Neenan ◽  
Torsten M. Scheyer ◽  
Eva Maria Griebeler
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Bone Tissue ◽  
Developmental Plasticity ◽  
Growth Models ◽  
Age At Onset ◽  
Growth Curves ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Tissue Type ◽  
Life History Strategies ◽  
Long Bone

Placodontia is a clade of durophagous, near shore marine reptiles from Triassic sediments of modern-day Europe, Middle East and China. Although much is known about their primary anatomy and palaeoecology, relatively little has been published regarding their life history, i.e. ageing, maturation and growth. Here, growth records derived from long bone histological data of placodont individuals are described and modelled to assess placodont growth and life-history strategies. Growth modelling methods are used to confirm traits documented in the growth record (age at onset of sexual maturity, age when asymptotic length was achieved, age at death, maximum longevity) and also to estimate undocumented traits. Based on these growth models, generalized estimates of these traits are established for each taxon. Overall differences in bone tissue types and resulting growth curves indicate different growth patterns and life-history strategies between different taxa of Placodontia. Psephoderma and Paraplacodus grew with lamellar-zonal bone tissue type and show growth patterns as seen in modern reptiles. Placodontia indet. aff. Cyamodus and some Placodontia indet. show a unique combination of fibrolamellar bone tissue regularly stratified by growth marks, a pattern absent in modern sauropsids. The bone tissue type of Placodontia indet. aff. Cyamodus and Placodontia indet. indicates a significantly increased basal metabolic rate when compared with modern reptiles. Double lines of arrested growth, non-annual rest lines in annuli, and subcycles that stratify zones suggest high dependence of placodont growth on endogenous and exogenous factors. Histological and modelled differences within taxa point to high individual developmental plasticity but sexual dimorphism in growth patterns and the presence of different taxa in the sample cannot be ruled out.

scholarly journals Growth patterns in brooding dinosaurs reveals the timing of sexual maturity in non-avian dinosaurs and genesis of the avian condition

2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 558-561 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory M Erickson ◽  
Kristina Curry Rogers ◽  
David J Varricchio ◽  
Mark A Norell ◽  
Xing Xu
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Maturation ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Reproductive Activity ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
The Other ◽  
Growth Line ◽  
Adult Size ◽  
Secondary Sexual Characteristics ◽  
Sexual Characteristics ◽  
Population Sizes

The timing of sexual maturation in non-avian dinosaurs is not known. In extant squamates and crocodilians it occurs in conjunction with the initial slowing of growth rates as adult size is approached. In birds (living dinosaurs) on the other hand, reproductive activity begins well after somatic maturity. Here we used growth line counts and spacing in all of the known brooding non-avian dinosaurs to determine the stages of development when they perished. It was revealed that sexual maturation occurred well before full adult size was reached—the primitive reptilian condition. In this sense, the life history and physiology of non-avian dinosaurs was not like that of modern birds. Palaeobiological ramifications of these findings include the potential to deduce reproductive lifespan, fecundity and reproductive population sizes in non-avian dinosaurs, as well as aid in the identification of secondary sexual characteristics.

scholarly journals Osteohistology of Late Triassic prozostrodontian cynodonts from Brazil

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e5029 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Botha-Brink ◽  
Marina Bento Soares ◽  
Agustín G. Martinelli
Keyword(s):  
Bone Tissue ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Small Body ◽  
Growth Period ◽  
Early Ontogeny ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Late Triassic ◽  
Adult Size ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
One Year

The Prozostrodontia includes a group of Late Triassic-Early Cretaceous eucynodonts plus the clade Mammaliaformes, in which Mammalia is nested. Analysing their growth patterns is thus important for understanding the evolution of mammalian life histories. Obtaining material for osteohistological analysis is difficult due to the rare and delicate nature of most of the prozostrodontian taxa, much of which comprises mostly of crania or sometimes even only teeth. Here we present a rare opportunity to observe the osteohistology of several postcranial elements of the basal prozostrodontid Prozostrodon brasiliensis, the tritheledontid Irajatherium hernandezi, and the brasilodontids Brasilodon quadrangularis and Brasilitherium riograndensis from the Late Triassic of Brazil (Santa Maria Supersequence). Prozostrodon and Irajatherium reveal similar growth patterns of rapid early growth with annual interruptions later in ontogeny. These interruptions are associated with wide zones of slow growing bone tissue. Brasilodon and Brasilitherium exhibit a mixture of woven-fibered bone tissue and slower growing parallel-fibered and lamellar bone. The slower growing bone tissues are present even during early ontogeny. The relatively slower growth in Brasilodon and Brasilitherium may be related to their small body size compared to Prozostrodon and Irajatherium. These brasilodontids also exhibit osteohistological similarities with the Late Triassic/Early Jurassic mammaliaform Morganucodon and the Late Cretaceous multituberculate mammals Kryptobaatar and Nemegtbaatar. This may be due to similar small body sizes, but may also reflect their close phylogenetic affinities as Brasilodon and Brasilitherium are the closest relatives to Mammaliaformes. However, when compared with similar-sized extant placental mammals, they may have grown more slowly to adult size as their osteohistology shows it took more than one year for growth to attenuate. Thus, although they exhibit rapid juvenile growth, the small derived, brasilodontid prozostrodontians still exhibit an extended growth period compared to similar-sized extant mammals.

Performance and carcase characteristics of pigs grown along three growth curves to bacon weight

1968 ◽  
Vol 8 (31) ◽  
pp. 162 ◽  
Author(s):  
BR Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Treatment Effects ◽  
Growth Curves ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
The Other ◽  
Feeding Level

Using low, medium, and high feeding levels, three growth patterns were designed to produce pigs of 160 lb liveweight at about the same age. Daily liveweight gains closely followed level of feeding. Pigs on the low feeding level required more feed per pound of liveweight gain than those fed at higher levels. The overall feed efficiency of pigs fed a high-low pattern was less than that of pigs fed medium-medium or low-high patterns. Although the low-high pigs had significantly more (P<0.05) fat than pigs on the other treatments, mean carcase characteristics on all treatments generally fulfilled the requirements of a local premium grade. There were no treatment effects on the weights of shoulders, middles, and hams, nor was there any evidence that treatments had affected the distribution of muscle and fat within the side. When carcases were adjusted for weight of bone plus muscle in the side, there were no treatment effects on weights of tissues nor on the distribution of bone plus muscle in the shoulder, middle, and ham. The significance of these findings is discussed in relation to feeding standards and theories on pig growth and development.

A study of cometary eruptions through OH radio-lines

1999 ◽  
Vol 173 ◽  
pp. 249-254
Author(s):  
A.M. Silva ◽  
R.D. Miró
Keyword(s):  
Short Duration ◽  
Growth Curves ◽  
The Other ◽  
Initial Mass ◽  
Radio Lines ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Sudden Rise

AbstractWe have developed a model for theH2OandOHevolution in a comet outburst, assuming that together with the gas, a distribution of icy grains is ejected. With an initial mass of icy grains of 108kg released, theH2OandOHproductions are increased up to a factor two, and the growth curves change drastically in the first two days. The model is applied to eruptions detected in theOHradio monitorings and fits well with the slow variations in the flux. On the other hand, several events of short duration appear, consisting of a sudden rise ofOHflux, followed by a sudden decay on the second day. These apparent short bursts are frequently found as precursors of a more durable eruption. We suggest that both of them are part of a unique eruption, and that the sudden decay is due to collisions that de-excite theOHmaser, when it reaches the Cometopause region located at 1.35 × 105kmfrom the nucleus.

RHYNCHOLITES AND THE PROBLEM OF NARROW AND BROAD CONCEPTION OF TAXONS

2018 ◽  
pp. 12-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. R. Khuzina ◽  
V. N. Komarov
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Mass Scale ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
The Other ◽  
New Taxon ◽  
Artificial System ◽  
Broad Understanding

The paper considers a point of view, based on the conception of the broad understanding of taxons. According to this point of view, rhyncholites of the subgenus Dentatobeccus and Microbeccus are accepted to be synonymous with the genus Rhynchoteuthis, and subgenus Romanovichella is considered to be synonymous with the genus Palaeoteuthis. The criteria, exercising influence on the different approaches to the classification of rhyncholites, have been analyzed (such as age and individual variability, sexual dimorphism, pathological and teratological features, degree of disintegration of material), underestimation of which can lead to inaccuracy. Divestment of the subgenuses Dentatobeccus, Microbeccus and Romanovichella, possessing very bright morphological characteristics, to have an independent status and denomination to their synonyms, has been noted to be unjustified. An artificial system (any suggested variant) with all its minuses is a single probable system for rhyncholites. The main criteria, minimizing its negative sides and proving the separation of the new taxon, is an available mass-scale material. The narrow understanding of the genus, used in sensible limits, has been underlined to simplify the problem of the passing the view about the genus to the other investigators and recognition of rhyncholites for the practical tasks.

Problems of species and the features of geographical distribution in colonial volvocine algae (Chlorophyta)

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 299-311
Author(s):  
A. G. Desnitskiy
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Geographical Distribution ◽  
World Literature ◽  
The Other ◽  
Disjunct Distribution ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Species Problem ◽  
Comprehensive Review ◽  
Volvocine Algae ◽  
Cryptic Taxa

More than ten new species of colonial volvocine algae were described in world literature during recent years. In present review, the published data on taxonomy, geographical distribution and the species problem in this group of algae, mainly from the genera Gonium, Pandorina, Eudorina, and Volvox, are critically discussed. There are both cosmopolitan volvocalean species and species with local or disjunct distribution. On the other hand, the description of new cryptic taxa in some genera of the colonial family Volvocaceae, such as Pandorina and Volvox, complicates the preparation of a comprehensive review on their geography.

Removal of Trace Metals From Wastewater by Activated Carbon

1973 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 110-121
Author(s):  
A. Netzer ◽  
J.D. Norman
Keyword(s):  
Activated Carbon ◽  
Trace Metals ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
The Other ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Ph Adjustment ◽  
Nickel Silver ◽  
Ph Range ◽  
Carbon Treatment ◽  
Cobalt Copper

Abstract The merits of activated carbon for removal of organic compounds from wastewater have been well documented in the literature. On the other hand there is a lack of published data on the use of activated carbon for the removal of trace metals from wastewater. Experiments were designed to assess the possibility that activated carbon treatment would remove aluminum, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, silver and zinc from wastewater. All metals studied were tested over the pH range 3-11. Greater than 99.5% removal was achieved by pH adjustment and activated carbon treatment for most of the metals tested.

Capture of conspecific planktonic larvae by the suspension-feeding gastropod Crepipatella peruviana: association between adult and larval size

2021 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
G A Rivera-Figueroa ◽  
J A Büchner-Miranda ◽  
L P Salas-Yanquin ◽  
J A Montory ◽  
V M Cubillos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Larval Mortality ◽  
Feeding Preference ◽  
The Other ◽  
Suspension Feeding ◽  
Adult Size ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Larval Size ◽  
Suspension Feeders ◽  
Planktonic Larvae

ABSTRACT Free-living, planktonic larvae can be vulnerable to capture and ingestion by adult suspension-feeders. This is particularly the case for larvae that settle gregariously in benthic environments where suspension-feeders occur at high densities. Larvae of gregarious suspension-feeding species are at particularly high risk, as adults of their own species often serve as cues for metamorphosis. We conducted laboratory experiments to assess the extent to which adults of the suspension-feeding caenogastropod Crepipatella peruviana would capture and ingest their own larvae. Experiments were conducted with adults of different sizes, with larvae of different ages and sizes, and in the presence or absence of phytoplankton. Adults captured larvae in all experiments. The presence of microalgae in the water did not influence the extent of larval capture. On average, 39% of larvae were captured during the 3-h feeding periods, regardless of adult size. However, up to 34% of the larvae that were captured on the gill were later discarded as pseudofaeces; the other 64% were ingested. The extent of capture by adults was not related to adult size, or to larval size and, thus, to larval age. Our results suggest that the filtration of congeneric larvae by adult C. peruviana is a result of accidental capture rather than a deliberate feeding preference. Such ingestion could, however, still be an important source of larval mortality, especially when the advanced larvae of this species are searching for a suitable substrate for metamorphosis.

Neuroblastoma—When are Urinary Catecholamines and Their Metabolites ‘Normal’?

1988 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 620-626 ◽  
Author(s):  
D J Worthington ◽  
E M Hammond ◽  
B B Eldeeb ◽  
A Green ◽  
G M Addison ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urinary Excretion ◽  
The Other ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Single Test ◽  
Creatinine Concentration ◽  
Urinary Catecholamines ◽  
Clinical Sensitivity ◽  
Reference Limit ◽  
Upper Reference Limit ◽  
The Individual

The overproduction of catecholamines and their metabolites is a well recognised feature of neuroblastoma. Published data are scarce for their urinary excretion in children with neuroblastoma and in ill children in whom this diagnosis may be considered. We have determined a graphical upper reference limit for total catecholamines, total metadrenalines and HMMA in urine, expressed as a ratio to the creatinine concentration, for a group of 174 children with neuroblastoma and 704 hospitalised children with other disorders. This graph has been determined by examining the overlap region between the results for the two groups of children and avoids the irregularities caused by statistical outliers. The sensitivity and specificity of the individual tests indicate that total catecholamines is marginally the best single test to perform when trying to diagnose neuroblastoma, with the best clinical sensitivity being achieved by examining both total catecholamines and HMMA. Only two of the 174 children with neuroblastoma would not have been detected using these two tests. Total metadrenalines did not appear to add any further information and could be dropped from the repertoire in favour of the other two measurements.

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