内蒙古晚白垩世似鸟龙与鸭嘴龙骨组织的研究

对采获于我国内蒙古二连浩特晚白垩世达布苏组的蜥臀目兽脚亚目似鸟龙科恐龙（Archaeornithomimius asiatcus)和鸟臀目鸟脚亚目鸭嘴龙科恐龙（Bactrosaurus johnsoni)的胫骨、排骨、股骨、尺骨、肋骨、椎骨骨组织结构特征进行了研究,并将它们的骨组织与爬行纲初龙亚钢的现存湾鳄（Crocodylus porosus)和非洲Tuo鸟（Struthio camelus)的骨组织进行直观比较,应用计算机图像分析技术及统计方法进行比较研究。结果显示：1）这两种恐龙的骨组织具有相似的基本结构特征,但也存在一些差异;2）两种恐龙的长骨组织均具有快速后生生长特点;3）似鸟龙科恐龙的幼年长骨只速率高,成体则相对减慢;4）似鸟龙科恐龙的幼体肋骨中具有生长轮,成体的肋骨中则生长轮有可能因骨改建而消失;5）两种恐龙、非洲Tuo鸟和湾鳄的长骨的血管分布密度有统计学的显著差异,两种恐龙的骨组织血管密度介于非洲Tuo鸟和湾鳄之间;6）这两种恐龙的骨组织既不同于现代鸟类骨组织,也不同于现代爬行类骨组织,有可能是介于这两种骨组织之间的一种独立的过渡类型或中间类型。     

我国晚白垩世恐龙与现代爬行类及鸟类骨组织的比较研究

报道了我国山西北部晚白垩世蜥臀目巨龙科的一种大型恐龙和鸟臀目甲龙科的一种小型恐龙的骨组织结构特征,以及这两种恐龙的骨组织与现代鸟类和现代爬行类的典型骨组织比较研究的结果。通过对两种恐龙的腿骨、肢骨近端部、肋骨、椎骨微观结构的观察,获得了对这些恐龙骨组织基本结构特征的认识。通过对这两种恐龙的腿骨组织与现代爬行类湾鳄（Crocodylusporosus）和非洲鸵鸟（Struthiocamelus）的腿骨组织进行的直观比较和应用计算机图象分析技术及统计方法进行的比较研究,获得如下的结果：（1）两种恐龙的骨组织和现代爬行类的典型骨组织之间有显著差异;（2）两种恐龙的长骨组织具有快速后生生长特点,因而比较接近现代鸟类骨组织的生长模式;（3）两种恐龙、非洲鸵鸟和湾鳄的腿骨组织的血管分布密度有统计学的显著差异,恐龙的骨组织血管密度介于非洲鸵鸟和湾鳄之间。     

早白垩世两只鸟类雌性个体的骨组织学研究（英文）

对发现于早白垩世热河生物群的两个达到性成熟的热河鸟(Jeholornis sp.)和反鸟(Enantiornithes indet.)的雌性个体进行了骨组织学研究。结果表明,在热河鸟和反鸟中,个体达到性成熟的时间要早于骨骼成熟。新的骨组织切片显示出与以往报道不同的骨组织结构,表明中生代鸟类的骨组织结构在个体发育过程中的变化比原有的认识更为复杂。与以前报道过的热河鸟的骨组织结构相比,本文研究的雌性热河鸟的骨骼切片显示出更高的血管化程度,网状和径向的管道同时存在。反鸟的骨组织结构与此前报道过的早白垩世的反鸟Concornis相似,其骨壁主要是由平行纤维板骨组成,骨骼的血管化程度要高于以往报道过的反鸟成年个体。骨组织结构显示出该反鸟个体的骨质沉积速率已明显下降,表明其已经达到了性成熟阶段。     

人类骨组织特征研究

为解决杀人毁尸案中骨骼残片的法医鉴定问题,对人类不同部位的骨骼进行组织学研究,为比较骨骼残片是否为人类骨骼提供科学基础。本研究提取的人类骨骼有颅骨、四肢长骨。将提取的骨片制成骨组织片,在显微镜下观察,并将观察结果输入计算机进行分析。通过对人类不同部位骨骼的组织学特征研究,描述了人类骨组织的板层结构、骨单位及骨小管的形态。本研究结果在法医学、人类学及考古学等领域有一定的应用价值。     

四种小哺乳动物四肢长骨重量配置分析

统计分析了甘肃鼢鼠Myospalax cansus、SD大鼠Rattus norvegicus、高原鼠兔Ochotona curzoniae及根田鼠Microtus oeconomu四种小哺乳动物四肢长骨(肱骨、桡尺骨、股骨和胫腓骨)重量分布和相互关联性.结果表明:1)与其他三种动物不同,甘肃鼢鼠前肢长骨重量大于后肢,且桡尺骨重量大于肱骨,体现了地下啮齿类对大量挖掘活动的适应性进化;2)SD大鼠和高原鼠兔虽然隶属不同的科,生活史特征迥异,其四肢长骨重量的分布却具有趋同性;3)四种动物不同骨骼重量之间都呈现出极显著相关性,然而其相关系数大小却表现为甘肃鼢鼠>SD大鼠>根田鼠>高原鼠兔,反映了不同挖掘强度的物种对四肢长骨之间协调性有不同要求;4)在重量百分比相互关系上,近端长骨(肱骨或股骨)和远端长骨(桡尺骨或胫腓骨)之间呈现出负相关关系,而近端或远端长骨之内仅有甘肃鼢鼠的肱骨和股骨呈现出显著正相关关系,显示近端骨骼和远端骨骼分属两类相互竞争的资源投资模块.     

日本梅花鹿与大丰麇鹿发情期反刍行为的差异

家养有蹄类动物的反刍行为已有大量研究,而受限于野外条件,野生有蹄类动物反刍行为的研究有限。以往研究认为,体型可能是影响动物反刍行为的重要因素。本研究以日本奈良公园日本梅花鹿Cervus nippon nippon和中国江苏大丰麋鹿Elaphurus davidianus为研究对象,观察记录并比较分析了发情期的日本梅花鹿与发情期的麋鹿在卧息时反刍行为的种内及种间差异。按照年龄性别差异,分5种类型(成年雄性、成年雌性、亚成雄性、亚成雌性和幼鹿)研究两物种食团咀嚼时间、咀嚼频率和咀嚼速率的差异。结果表明,1)日本梅花鹿的咀嚼速率和食团咀嚼时间受性别-年龄的显著影响:咀嚼速率为幼体>亚成雌性>亚成雄性>成年雌性>成年雄性,而食团咀嚼时间为成年雄性>亚成雄性>成年雌性>亚成雌性>幼体;2)性别-年龄对麋鹿咀嚼频率有显著的影响,成年雄性<成年雌性<亚成雄性<亚成雌性<幼体;3)两物种在咀嚼频率、食团咀嚼时间和咀嚼速率上的差异均有统计学意义,体型更大的麋鹿咀嚼速率更慢,食团咀嚼时间更长。与体型相关的性别及年龄显著影响了日本梅花鹿和麋鹿的反刍行为。     

野生五唇兰菌根显微结构观察

兰科菌根菌对兰花种子萌发和原球茎生长起了重要作用,在成年阶段也扮演着重要角色(即使该兰花含有叶绿素)。为了解东南亚特有种五唇兰的菌根形态和菌根真菌的动态侵染过程,对不同生境下两种变异类型叶背绿色和叶背紫色的成年植株菌根分三个时间段采样并进行显微观察。结果表明,成年的五唇兰植株与菌根真菌有着密切关系,菌丝的侵染、定殖和消解程度随着生长发育变化而变化;在营养生长阶段和生殖生长阶段都发现菌丝结,这两个阶段的菌丝特征有所不同;而在休眠阶段的菌根中观察不到菌丝结;不同生境和不同变异类型的菌根结构无明显区别。研究结果为附生兰、地生兰和腐生兰的菌根结构的比较提供了参考。     

山东莱阳晚白垩世鸭嘴龙动物群化石特异埋藏初步研究

近年来对位于莱阳棘鼻青岛龙发现地点(1号化石地点)以东新发现的2号化石地点进行大规模发掘,已发现5个化石富集层,赋存的化石均以鸭嘴龙科为主,一部分个体可能代表栉龙亚科的成员,而另一部分个体归于赖氏龙亚科的棘鼻青岛龙。这些鸭嘴龙化石从个体大小上分别代表成年、亚成年和幼年晚期个体。化石富集层以灰绿色和褐红色含砂砾泥岩沉积为主,具有典型的泥石流沉积特征和骨骼埋藏特征,并具有两种主要的死亡和埋藏模式,即恐龙群体活着时遭遇泥石流被吞没集群死亡后,肢体在短距离搬运中被撕裂并迅速沉积掩埋,骨骼分散但完整,同一个体的骨骼相距不远;恐龙正常或经泥石流导致其非正常死亡后,部分遗体未被掩埋,经暴露软组织腐烂,被后续发生的泥石流卷入并二次搬运,最终埋藏,表现为分散但较完整的骨骼与破碎呈砾石磨圆状的骨骼共生保存。这些富集层的化石及其埋藏特征反映了生活在河湖边的鸭嘴龙动物群,在鸭嘴龙幼年晚期刚刚加入成年鸭嘴龙动物群后,被卷入突发的洪水泥石流导致其集群死亡并快速埋藏的事件。     

中国亚热带不同菌根树种的根叶形态学性状特征与生长差异: 以江西新岗山为例

探究植物功能性状的种内和种间变异不仅有助于揭示植物对环境的适应, 也能够反映植物的生态策略, 但不同菌根类型树木生长过程中根叶形态学功能性状的适应策略仍有待探究。本研究依托中国亚热带森林生物多样性与生态系统功能实验研究平台(BEF-China)选取7种丛枝菌根(AM)树木和7种外生菌根(EM)树木的纯林, 测定各个树种的比叶面积、叶干物质含量、比根长、根系直径、树高生长速率、地径生长速率及细根生物量等根叶形态学功能性状和生长指标, 探讨了两种菌根类型树种间的根叶形态学特征的差异。结果表明: 与AM树种相比, EM树种具有较小的比叶面积、吸收根平均直径和生长速率, 但具有更大的叶干物质含量; 两种菌根树种之间的比根长和细根生物量无显著差异。比叶面积、叶干物质含量、树高生长速率、地径生长速率和细根生物量等功能性状及生长指标在不同菌根类型、树种及二者的交互作用中均存在显著差异; 且树种、根功能型、菌根类型及三者之间的交互作用均对根功能性状有显著影响。EM树种地上指标的种内变异均大于种间变异, 而AM树种地上指标的种内和种间变异程度类似; 但两种菌根树种细根生物量的种间变异均大于种内变异。尽管两种菌根树种地上部分生长速率较快通常表现为较低的叶干物质含量, 但AM树种通常拥有较高的吸收根比根长, 而EM树种拥有较粗的运输根平均直径。吸收根比根长越低, 两类菌根树种的细根生物量就越多。由此可见, 根叶功能性状对植物地上部分的生长具有一定的协同效应, 其中运输根主要在EM树种地上生长过程中发挥重要作用, 吸收根主要与AM树种的地上部分生长有关; 但两类菌根树种的地下细根生物量均与吸收根有关。     

自然珍闻

鹭鸳状的小恐龙在法国土伦附近的一小片高原上,法国地质学家在砂岩中发现很多化石动物的印痕。这些动物生活在距今一亿四千万年前。其中最出奇的是一种矮小恐龙的印痕。这种恐龙的成年个体身高还不到1米。根据骨骼的解剖特点,科学家们断定这种小恐龙是肉食恐龙,生活在     

蜥脚类骨质尾锤之发现

自贡大山铺恐龙化石坑中出土的李氏蜀龙(Shunosaurus lii)和天府峨眉龙(Omeisaurustianfuensis)均发现由尾端脊椎愈合膨大而成之纺锤形骨质尾锤。这一特征在蜥脚类中尚属首次记述。骨质尾锤是一种适应陆地生活之特殊构造。它作为一种防御武器,主要起防卫身体的作用。它的存在说明R.T.Bakker提出的蜥脚类是一类营陆地生活的恐龙的观点是正确的。     

Growth of the pectoral girdle of the Leopard frog, Rana pipiens (Anura: Ranidae)

This article describes the growth of the anuran pectoral girdle of Rana pipiens and compares skeletal development of the shoulder to that of long bones. The pectoral girdle chondrifies as two halves, each adjacent to a developing humerus. In each, the scapula and coracoid form as single foci of condensed chondrocytes that fuse, creating a cartilaginous glenoid bridge articulating with the humerus. Based on histological sections, both the dermal clavicle and cleithrum begin to ossify at approximately the same time as the periosteum forms around the endochondral bones. The dermal and endochondral bones of the girdle form immobile joints with neighboring girdle elements; however, the cellular organization and growth pattern of the scapula and coracoid closely resemble those of a long bone. Similar to a long bone epiphysis, distal margins of both endochondral elements have zones of hyaline, stratified, and hypertrophic cartilages. As a result, fused elements of the girdle can grow without altering the glenoid articulation with the humerus. Comparisons of anuran long bone and pectoral girdle growth suggest that different bones can have similar histology and development regardless of adult morphology.     

Palaeohistology and external microanatomy of rauisuchian osteoderms (Archosauria: Pseudosuchia)

Abstract: The presence of postcranial dermal armour is plesiomorphic for Archosauria. Here, we survey the external microanatomy and histology of postcranial osteoderms (i.e. dorsal paramedian and caudal osteoderms) of rauisuchians, a widely distributed assemblage of extinct predatory pseudosuchians from the Triassic. The osteoderms of eight rauisuchian taxa were found to be rather compact bones, which usually lack significant bone remodelling or large areas of cancellous bone. The presence of highly vascularized woven or fibrolamellar bone tissue deposited in the core areas indicates higher growth rates during earlier life stages, whereas a more compact parallel‐fibred bone matrix indicates reduced growth rates in later development. This pattern of change corroborates earlier studies on long bone histology. With the exception of a bone tissue found in the sample of Batrachotomus kupferzellensis, which might be the result of metaplastic ossification, the general mode of skeletogenesis is comparable with intramembraneous ossification. The lack of cancellous bone tissue and remodelling processes associated with bone ornamentation, as well as the predominantly intramembraneous mode of ossification, indicates that rauisuchian osteoderm formation differs profoundly from that of the osteoderms of the only extant pseudosuchian lineage, the crocodylians.     

Bone histology of Silesaurus opolensisDzik, 2003 from the Late Triassic of Poland

Fostowicz‐Frelik, ?. & Sulej, T. 2009: Bone histology of Silesaurus opolensisDzik, 2003 from the Late Triassic of Poland. Lethaia, Vol. 43, pp. 137–148. The phylogenetic relationships of Silesaurus opolensis have been the subject of intense debate since its discovery. Silesaurus possesses some features characteristic of ornithischian dinosaurs, such as the presence of a beak at the front of the lower jaw, yet it lacks a number of important femoral and dental synapomorphies of Dinosauria. The microstructure of the long bones (femur, tibia and metatarsal) and ribs of this species reveals a relatively intensive rate of growth, comparable with that seen in small dinosaurs and the gracile crocodylomorph Terrestrisuchus. Cortical bone formed mainly by periosteal tissue with fibro‐lamellar matrix (in older specimens parallel fibred) shows very little secondary remodelling and only in one specimen (large tibia ZPAL Ab III/1885) few lines of arrested growth are present in the outermost cortex. The vascularization is relatively dense, mainly longitudinal and ceases towards the periphery, forming almost avascular parallel fibred bone at the bone surface. This indicates maturation and significant decrease in the growth ratio in mature specimens of S. opolensis. The delicate trabeculae exhibit cores formed by the primary cancellous tissue lined with lamellar endosteal bone. The rather intense growth of S. opolensis implies a relatively high metabolic rate. Moreover, evidence from the fibro‐lamellar tissue, predominant in the cortex, suggests that this kind of rapid bone deposition could be more typical of Archosauria than previously assumed, a prerequisite for the evolution of the very fast growth rates observed in large ornithischians, sauropods and large theropods. □Archosauria, Bone histology, Dinosauriformes, Late Triassic, Silesaurus opolensis.     

四川自贡中侏罗世峨眉龙—新种

记述了产自四川自贡大山铺中侏罗世峨眉龙属一新种——焦氏峨眉龙(Omeisaurus jiaoisp.nov.)。新种为大型蜥脚类恐龙,以如下特征区别于其他蜥脚类:前、中部背椎为典型的后凹型,后部背椎为双平型,背椎神经棘呈高大棒状,不分叉;尾椎为弱双凹型,第一尾椎不具扇形尾肋;第一脉弧短小且与第一尾椎关联;锁骨长大;肱骨和股骨细长而圆实;肱骨与股骨长度之比为0.83,尺骨与肱骨长度之比为0.72,胫骨与股骨长度之比为0.63。     

Sizing the Jurassic theropod dinosaur Allosaurus: assessing growth strategy and evolution of ontogenetic scaling of limbs

Allosaurus is one of the most common Mesozoic theropod dinosaurs. We present a histological analysis to assess its growth strategy and ontogenetic limb bone scaling. Based on an ontogenetic series of humeral, ulnar, femoral, and tibial sections of fibrolamellar bone, we estimate the ages of the largest individuals in the sample to be between 13-19 years. Growth curve reconstruction suggests that maximum growth occurred at 15 years, when body mass increased 148 kg/year. Based on larger bones of Allosaurus, we estimate an upper age limit of between 22-28 years of age, which is similar to preliminary data for other large theropods. Both Model I and Model II regression analyses suggest that relative to the length of the femur, the lengths of the humerus, ulna, and tibia increase in length more slowly than isometry predicts. That pattern of limb scaling in Allosaurus is similar to those in other large theropods such as the tyrannosaurids. Phylogenetic optimization suggests that large theropods independently evolved reduced humeral, ulnar, and tibial lengths by a phyletic reduction in longitudinal growth relative to the femur.     

Some aspects of the system of Haversian canals in the diaphysary compact bone in man

The general aspect of the network of Haversian canals was studied on tangential and radial sections from the diaphysary compact bone of the human long bones. The network-like aspect was much varied even in the same bone and at the same level from which the samples were obtained. No obvious differences were found between the studied bones or between the two limbs. Certain peculiarities of the canal system were noticed as regards the trajectory of canals, disposition and number of anastomoses, and the network aspect, depending on the region of the diaphysis, but especially on the depth.     

New insights from bone microanatomy of the Late Triassic Hyperodapedon (Archosauromorpha,Rhynchosauria): implications for archosauromorph growth strategy

Bone microanatomy of multiple postcranial skeletal elements of several individuals of Hyperodapedon collected from India is reported. This reveals that fibrolamellar bone tissue is predominant in the mid‐ and inner cortices, whereas the peripheral region of the cortex is composed of either parallel‐fibred and/or lamellar bone. The pattern of primary osteons mostly ranges between laminar and subplexiform. Such predominance of fibrolamellar bone tissue in the cortex suggests an overall fast growth, which slowed down considerably later in ontogeny. Four distinct ontogenetic stages are identified based on the bone microstructure. During the juvenile stage, growth was fast and continuous, but it became punctuated during the early and late sub‐adult stages. In adult individuals, growth was slow and showed periodic interruption but did not stop completely, suggesting that Hyperodapedon had an indeterminate growth strategy. Interelemental histovariations affecting cortical thickness, organization of the vascular network, incidence of growth rings and extent of secondary reconstruction are noted. Throughout ontogeny, the femora show higher cortical thickness than humeri and tibiae, suggesting differential appositional growth rate between the skeletal elements. Differences in cortical thickness are noted in the ribs, which suggest differential functional constraints based on anatomical site‐specific occurrences. Although fibrolamellar bone tissue became progressively more dominant towards the archosaurs, there are considerable variations in the growth patterns of the archosauromorphs. This is exemplified by the bone microstructure of Hyperodapedon, which deviates from the generalized slow‐growth pattern proposed for all basal archosauromorphs, suggesting that rapid growth was already present in the archosauromorphs. The cortical thickness of various long bones of Hyperodapedon bears similarity with that of several extant terrestrial quadrupeds, suggesting that Hyperodapedon was essentially a terrestrial quadruped.     

Non‐traumatic bone infection in stegosaurs from Como Bluff,Wyoming

Palaeopathologies are relatively common in the fossil record; however, bone histological analyses of these are rare as they are more commonly discovered and described using radiological scans. Here, we describe the bone microstructure of infectious abscesses (osteomyelitis) in the long bones of two Stegosaurus individuals from the Como Bluff area of the Late Jurassic Morrison Formation. Multiple lytic, geographical lesions filled with reactive lamellar bone occur in a femur of a juvenile specimen. A single lesion was found in an adult tibia. This lesion is characterized by the presence of spiculated periosteal reactive growth perpendicular to the bone surface and the formation of new trabeculae within the lesion.     

Evolutionary Patterns of Bone Histology and Bone Compactness in Xenarthran Mammal Long Bones

Bone microstructure reflects physiological characteristics and has been shown to contain phylogenetic and ecological signals. Although mammalian long bone histology is receiving increasing attention, systematic examination of the main clades has not yet been performed. Here we describe the long bone microstructure of Xenarthra based on thin sections representing twenty-two species. Additionally, patterns in bone compactness of humeri and femora are investigated. The primary bone tissue of xenarthran long bones is composed of a mixture of woven, parallel-fibered and lamellar bone. The vascular canals have a longitudinal, reticular or radial orientation and are mostly arranged in an irregular manner. Concentric rows of vascular canals and laminar organization of the tissue are only found in anteater bones. The long bones of adult specimens are marked by dense Haversian bone, a feature that has been noted for most groups of mammals. In the long bones of armadillos, secondary osteons have an oblique orientation within the three-dimensional bone tissue, thus resulting in their irregular shape when the bones are sectioned transversely. Secondary remodeling is generally more extensive in large taxa than in small taxa, and this could be caused by increased loading. Lines of arrested growth are assumed to be present in all specimens, but they are restricted to the outermost layer in bones of armadillos and are often masked by secondary remodeling in large taxa. Parameters of bone compactness show a pattern in the femur that separates Cingulata and Pilosa (Folivora and Vermilingua), with cingulates having a lower compactness than pilosans. In addition, cingulates show an allometric relationship between humeral and femoral bone compactness.