Comparative breathing mechanics in the Archosauria
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences
Abstract
The origin of Aves in one of the great transitions in vertebrate evolution. Modern birds possess a highly derived respiratory system with a rigid lung with air sacs that evolved from their dinosaur ancestors. Understanding the evolution of these respiratory structures is complicated as soft tissues rarely fossilise so inference must be made from skeletal elements and computational reconstruction techniques. Hard skeletal remains known to relate to respiratory mechanics (uncinate processes and gastralia) are well known but poorly described in the Archosuar fossil record. In this project we will combine functional morphometrics with state of the art imaging scanning and physiological techniques to develop a 3-Dimensional model of the evolution of respiratory mechanics in the lineage to modern birds. This project will combine data from museum collections with high performance computing to allow unprecedented insights into the functioning of these basal structures.
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BB/M011208/1 | 01/10/2015 | 31/03/2024 | |||
| 1618718 | Studentship | BB/M011208/1 | 01/10/2015 | 30/09/2019 |
| Description | Through this award, we were able to collect data on the breathing mechanics and, for the first time, three-dimensional rib movements of birds and crocodilians. These data were used to test long-standing hypotheses of rib motion in these animals and reconstruct rib motion in dinosaurs. We found that bony anatomy is a better predictor of rib movements in birds than in crocodilians and dinosaurs had rib movements more like those of birds. We also identified new bony features associated with lung structure and reconstructed bird-like lungs in even very early dinosaurs. This is particularly important for dinosaur palaeobiology and evolution, as the Mesozoic is generally considered to have been relatively hypoxic compared with today and so an efficient bird-like lung may have helped dinosaurs compete more effectively. |
| Exploitation Route | Studying breathing in birds and other animals is important for understanding the evolution of high-performance metabolism (e.g. the evolution of endothermy or elevated aerobic activity) in birds and possibly in their dinosaur ancestors. This has major implications for dinosaur palaeobiology and hypotheses on their origin and explosive radiation in the Mesozoic. In other sectors, an accurate understanding of respiratory biology and breathing in birds is important for animal welfare (esp in domestic poultry), and can be used to model effects on selective breeding for meat on respiratory capacity. Our findings regarding dinosaur palaeobiology will likely be of significant interest to museums, and that work gathered substantial press coverage when released. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Education,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Description | XROMM of Breathing in Archosaurs |
| Organisation | Brown University |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Expertise in 3D modelling and data analysis. Intellectual input into the project, and resulting publications. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Access to equipment, expertise and training (world leaders in the application of XROMM technology). Also included access to data and intellectual input. |
| Impact | The main outcome of this collaboration is in the form of scientific papers, the first of which is already published (10.1242/jeb.156166) and several others are in preparation. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Featured on Audiobook |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interviewed for and featured on an audiobook series on palaeontology "A Grown-Up Guide to Dinosaurs". The audiobook is available on major retailing sites and has reached a very large audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Interview for i24News |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Interviewed about my research on a live TV broadcast for the i24News channel. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Interview with New Scientist |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interviewed by New Scientist magazine regarding my research. Resulting article was published online and in print |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.newscientist.com/article/2183495-bird-like-lungs-may-have-helped-dinosaurs-rule-the-worl... |
| Description | Interview with Science magazine |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interviewed by Science magazine about my research. Article published online and in print. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/10/superlungs-gave-dinosaurs-energy-run-and-fight? |
| Description | PDS in the Pub |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | ~20 postgraduate students attended an informal talk on my PhD research. The event involved students with backgrounds in both sciences and humanities. There were questions and discussion afterwards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Palaeontology Online Article |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Wrote a piece on my PhD research for the website www.palaeontologyonline.com, which is aimed at non-specialists interested in any aspect of palaeontology. Friends and colleagues who read the piece, including those who did not have a background in science, asked questions afterwards and expressed increased interest in the subject area. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.palaeontologyonline.com/articles/2017/fossil-focus-archosaur-respiratory-system-breathin... |