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Articles in Integrative Zoology
A journal to which I don't have access... (Pdfs appreciated if someone has
them). In any case, here are the articles:
Integrative Zoology
Volume 1 Page 4 - March 2006
doi:10.1111/j.1749-4877.2006.00004.x
Volume 1 Issue 1
Feathered dinosaurs from China and the evolution of major avian characters
Xing XU1
Abstract
Recent discoveries of feathered dinosaurs from Early Cretaceous deposits in
Liaoning, China, have not only lent strongest support
for the dinosaurian hypothesis of bird origins, but have also provided
much-needed information about the origins of feathers and
avian flight. Preliminary analysis of character evolution suggests that the
major avian osteological characters were acquired during
the early evolution of maniraptoran dinosaurs. The available evidence also
suggests that the first feathers with a filamentous
morphology probably evolved in basal coelurosaurs and pennaceous feathers
(including those with aerodynamic features) were developed
in non-avian maniraptorans, indicating that feathers evolved before the origin
of birds and their flight. An evolutionary model is
proposed here to describe the major stages of feather evolution, a process
characterized by a combination of both transformational
and innovative modifications. This model is different from some recent
developmental models, which suggest that feathers are
evolutionary novelties without a homologous relationship to reptilian scales.
Although non-avian theropods are traditionally
regarded as distinctly cursorial animals, recent discoveries suggest that the
closest relatives of birds might be arboreal
theropods. Many bird features, such as the furcula and pennaceous feathers,
evolved in a terrestrial context, whereas others, such
as some pedal modifications, may have evolved in an arboreal context.
Consequently, arboreality may have also contributed to the
origin of avian flight
Integrative Zoology
Volume 1 Page 15 - March 2006
doi:10.1111/j.1749-4877.2006.00006.x
Volume 1 Issue 1
The Jehol Biota (Lower Cretaceous, China): new discoveries and future prospects
, Paul M. BARRETT1 and Jason M. HILTON2
Abstract
Continuing work on the paleontology and sedimentology of the Jehol Group (Lower
Cretaceous, China) is yielding numerous new insights
into the evolution of many Mesozoic plant and animal clades. Nevertheless, many
questions remain unanswered regarding Jehol
paleoenvironments, paleobiology and paleobiogeography. All of this information
will be crucial in providing a detailed
reconstruction of this extinct ecosystem.
Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.
Senior Lecturer, Vertebrate Paleontology
Department of Geology Director, Earth, Life & Time Program
University of Maryland College Park Scholars
Mailing Address:
Building 237, Room 1117
College Park, MD 20742
http://www.geol.umd.edu/~tholtz/
http://www.geol.umd.edu/~jmerck/eltsite
Phone: 301-405-4084 Email: tholtz@geol.umd.edu
Fax (Geol): 301-314-9661 Fax (CPS-ELT): 301-405-0796