科研之友
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摘要
In order to determine the incubation temperature of eggs laid by non-avian dinosaurs, we analysed the oxygen isotope compositions of both eggshell carbonate (delta O-18(c)) and embryo bone phosphate (delta O-18(p)) from seven oviraptorosaur eggs with preserved in ovo embryo bones. These eggs come from the Upper Cretaceous Nanxiong Formation of Jiangxi Province, China. Oviraptorosaur theropods were selected because of their known brooding behaviour as evidenced by preserved adult specimens fossilized in brooding posture on their clutch. Incubation temperature of these embryos was estimated based on the following considerations: eggshell delta O-18(c) value reflects the oxygen isotope composition of egg water fluid; embryo bones precipitate from the same egg fluid; and oxygen isotope fractionation between phosphate and water is controlled by the egg temperature. A time-dependent model predicting the delta O-18(p) evolution of the embryo skeleton during incubation as a function of egg temperature was built, and measured delta O-18(c) and delta O-18(p) values used as boundary conditions. According to the model outputs, oviraptorosaurs incubated their eggs within a 35-40 degrees C range, similar to extant birds and compatible with the known active brooding behaviour of these theropod dinosaurs. Provided that both eggshell and embryo bones preserved their original oxygen isotope compositions, this method could be extended to investigate some reproductive traits of other extinct groups of oviparous amniotes.
- 出版日期2017-9
- 单位中国科学院地质与地球物理研究所; 广西壮族自治区自然博物馆; 中国科学院古脊椎动物与古人类研究所; 首都师范大学; 中国地质博物馆; 中国科学院地质与地球物理研究所兰州油气资源研究中心; 中国科学院大学
