Re: Sauropod ONP...and energetics

[dannj@alphalink.com.au]

On Mon, 23 Jan 2006 22:19:38 -0700 (MST), Richard W. Travsky wrote

> > A long neck would also allow saurpods to feed for a certain distance into
> > dense stands of trees which they'd otherwise not be able to penetrate at 
all
> > (not without emulating a bulldozer).
> 
> Well, heh, I think sauropods could do that with little trouble at 
> all ;)

Bulldozing trees would only be viable in the long term if it yielded more 
energy than it cost. Given those small heads, perhaps sauropods avoided 
anything that strenuous? (since energy can only be replaced by passing food 
through that relatively tiny opening).

Developing a series of physical specialisations that allowed the head to be 
raised high (if only for long enough to target specific highest-yield leaves) 
would seem to me to be more energy efficent... and a lot less dangerous. If a 
tree fell in an unexpected way, would a sauropod (either the pusher or a by-
stander) be able to react fast enough to avoid disaster?

--
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Dann Pigdon
GIS / Archaeologist         http://heretichides.soffiles.com
Melbourne, Australia        http://www.geocities.com/dannsdinosaurs
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