標題: Ultramicrostructural reductions in teeth: implications for dietary transition from non-avian dinosaurs to birds
作者: Li, Zhiheng
Wang, Chun-Chieh
Wang, Min
Chiang, Cheng-Cheng
Wang, Yan
Zheng, Xiaoting
Huang, E-Wen
Hsiao, Kiko
Zhou, Zhonghe
材料科學與工程學系
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
關鍵字: Tooth;Avialan;Feeding ecology;Non-avian dinosaurs
公開日期: 21-四月-2020
摘要: Background Tooth morphology within theropod dinosaurs has been extensively investigated and shows high disparity throughout the Cretaceous. Changes or diversification in feeding ecology, i.e., adoption of an herbivorous diet (e.g., granivorous), is proposed as a major driver of tooth evolution in Paraves (e.g., Microraptor, troodontids and avialans). Here, we studied the microscopic features of paravian non-avian theropod and avialan teeth using high-spatial-resolution synchrotron transmission X-ray microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Results We show that avialan teeth are characterized by the presence of simple enamel structures and a lack of porous mantle dentin between the enamel and orthodentin. Reduced internal structures of teeth took place independently in Early Cretaceous birds and a Microraptor specimen, implying that shifts in diet in avialans from that of closely related dinosaurs may correlate with a shift in feeding ecology during the transition from non-avian dinosaurs to birds. Conclusion Different lines of evidence all suggest a large reduction in biting force affecting the evolution of teeth in the dinosaur-bird transition. Changes in teeth microstructure and associated dietary shift may have contributed to the early evolutionary success of stemward birds in the shadow of other non-avian theropods.
URI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12862-020-01611-w
http://hdl.handle.net/11536/154302
ISSN: 1471-2148
DOI: 10.1186/s12862-020-01611-w
期刊: BMC EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
Volume: 20
Issue: 1
起始頁: 0
結束頁: 0
顯示於類別:期刊論文