Project 4289: L. E. Wilson. 2023. Rapid growth in Late Cretaceous sea turtles reveals life history strategies similar to extant leatherbacks. PeerJ. 11:e14864.
Abstract
Modern sea turtle long bone osteohistology has been surprisingly well-studied, as it is used to understand sea turtle growth and timing of life history events, thus informing conservation decisions. Previous histologic studies reveal two distinct bone growth patterns in extant sea turtle taxa, with Dermochelys (leatherbacks) growing faster than the cheloniids (all other living sea turtles). Dermochelys also has a unique life history compared to other sea turtles (large size, elevated metabolism, broad biogeographic distribution, etc.) that is likely linked to bone growth strategies. Despite the abundance of data on modern sea turtle bone growth, extinct sea turtle osteohistology is virtually unstudied. Here, long bone microstructure of the large, Cretaceous sea turtle Protostega gigas is examined to better understand its life history. Humeral and femoral analysis reveals bone microstructure patterns similar to Dermochelys with variable but sustained rapid growth through early ontogeny. Similarities between Progostegea and Dermochelys osteohistology suggest similar life history strategies like elevated metabolic rates with rapid growth to large body size and sexual maturity. Comparison to the more basal protostegid Desmatochelys indicates elevated growth rates are not present throughout the entire Protostegidae, but evolved in larger and more derived taxa, possibly in response to Late Cretaceous ecological changes. Given the uncertainties in the phylogenetic placement of the Protostegidae, these results either support convergent evolution towards rapid growth and elevated metabolism in both derived protostegids and dermochelyids, or a close evolutionary relationship between the two taxa. Better understanding the evolution and diversity of sea turtle life history strategies during the Late Cretaceous greenhouse climate can also impact current sea turtle conservation decisions.Read the article »
Article DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14864
Project DOI: 10.7934/P4289, http://dx.doi.org/10.7934/P4289
This project contains |
---|
Download Project SDD File |
Currently Viewing:
MorphoBank Project 4289
MorphoBank Project 4289
- Creation Date:
27 June 2022 - Publication Date:
24 January 2023 - Project views: 5876
Authors' Institutions
- Fort Hays State University
Members
member name | taxa | specimens | media | media notes |
Laura Wilson Project Administrator | 3 | 7 | 21 | 10 |
Project has no matrices defined.
Project views
type | number of views | Individual items viewed (where applicable) |
Total project views | 5876 | |
Project overview | 316 | |
Media views | 2830 | Media search (568 views); M847715 (103 views); M847712 (96 views); M847785 (104 views); M847722 (101 views); M847729 (97 views); M847711 (101 views); M847725 (130 views); M847786 (128 views); M847733 (163 views); M847716 (104 views); M847731 (102 views); M847714 (104 views); M847784 (113 views); M847713 (99 views); M847718 (100 views); M847719 (101 views); M847720 (105 views); M847728 (101 views); M847730 (103 views); M847732 (104 views); M847787 (103 views); |
Views for media list | 439 | |
Taxon list | 503 | |
Bibliography | 120 | |
Folio views | 761 | Folio list (129 views); FHSM VP-700 (105 views); FHSM VP-17979 humerus (105 views); FHSM VP-17979 femur (105 views); CM 1393 (105 views); CM 1421 (105 views); FHSM VP-17470 (107 views); |
Specimen list | 905 | |
Matrix views | 1 | Matrix landing page (1 view); |
Documents list | 1 |