Pelvic girdle design and the evolution of size in dinosaurs

• Applicant: Dr. Regina Fechner
• Subject Area: Palaeontology
• Term: from 2009 to 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 131932909

The pelvis of ornithischian dinosaurs is certainly one of the most characteristic anatomical features of this clade. In ornithischian dinosaurs, the pubis is directed posteroventrally, parallel to the ischium. The so-called opisthopubic pelvis of ornithischian dinosaurs was already present in basal members of this clade and evolved from the propubic pelvis of their ancestors by the retroversion of the pubis. Yet, the functional and/or mechanical significance of the retroversion of the pubis in ornithischian dinosaurs is not understood. Muscles associated with the pubis are related to locomotion, ventilation and trunk stabilization. All these aspects are essential aspects of the biology of an organism and the retroversion of the pubis must have had effect on locomotion, ventilation and trunk stabilization. Investigating the changes in the muscles correlated with the changes in the morphology helps to identify the changes in their function. Protoceratops is a well-known herbivorous basal ceratopsian from the Upper Cretaceous of Mongolia. The pelvis of Protoceratops shows an intermediate stage between the pelvis architecture of basal and more derived ornithischian dinosaurs. With the aim to improve our understanding of the mechanical design of the pelvis of ornithischian dinosaurs a multibody dynamics analysis and finite element analysis will be applied to the pelvis of Protoceratops. The great potential of applying the multibody dynamics analysis and finite element analysis for solving fundamental questions of organismal complexity has been demonstrated. Thus, is is well suited for significantly improving our understanding of the biology of ornithischian dinosaurs.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Host: Professor Dr.-Ing. Ulrich Witzel