Articles in Integrative Zoology

["Thomas R. Holtz, Jr." <tholtz@geol.umd.edu>]

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