Posted on 01/17/2003 6:35:24 AM PST by forsnax5
Arlington, Va. -- Two-legged dinosaurs may have used their forelimbs as wing-like structures to propel themselves rapidly up steep inclines long before they took to the skies, reports a University of Montana researcher in the January 17 issue of the journal Science. The new theory adds a middle step that may link two current and opposing explanations for how reptiles evolved into flying birds.
According to Kenneth Dial, author of the report, the transition from ground travel to flight may have required a "ramp-up" phase in which rapid movement of the animal's front appendages actually forced its body downward to gain more foot traction as it made its way up increasingly vertical slopes.
"The big dilemma has been, 'How do you explain the partial wing?,'" says Dial, who is a professor of vertebrate morphology and ecology. "It turns out the proto-wings -- precursors to wings birds have today -- actually acted more like a spoiler on the back of a race car to keep the animal sure-footed even while climbing up nearly vertical surfaces," he said.
"The development and role of movement in animals is critical to every aspect of their lives, " says William Zamer of the National Science Foundation (NSF), the agency that funded the study. "The results may also one day help humans design better vehicles for both land and air travel."
NSF is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education in all fields of science and engineering.
The evolution of flying vertebrates has been a bone of contention since the 1800's. One school, which embraced the cursorial theory, argued that two-legged, ground-dwelling animals developed feathered wings that allowed them to become airborne. The opposing school, which favored the arboreal theory, held that flight originated in tree-dwelling animals that leapt from limb to limb and eventually developed gliding structures to soften their landings. For a century-and-a-half, each camp has tendered evidence to challenge the opposing theory.
The solution, Dial says, may lie in an ordinary flapping behavior, which he calls "wing-assisted incline running," or WAIR, found in many modern-day hatchling and adult birds. "Although this behavior is common in nature, " he writes, WAIR's role in the evolution and survival of birds "has remained unappreciated" because it happens in short bursts that are difficult to study in the wild.
So, Dial, who is also a licensed commercial an instrument-rated pilot, applied to partridges devices that sensed g-force and used high-speed film to document wing orientation in a laboratory setting. He found that newly hatched birds, yet unable to fly, successfully used WAIR to climb a 50-degree incline. Slightly older birds used WAIR to climb a 90-degree, or straight-up, surface, and adult birds used their wings literally to defy gravity. Wing flapping kept their bodies secured to the underside surface of a 105-degree overhang.
"A significant portion of the wing beat cycle involves...forces that push the bird toward the inclined substrate, permitting animals to run vertically," Dial observed.
Dial proposes that WAIR in modern-day birds is a remnant of their prehistoric ancestors. "In the proto-bird, this behavior would have represented the intermediate stage in the development of flight-capable, aerodynamic wings." Further re-orientation of the wings could then allow birds to make successful ascents into the air as well as safe landings.
Experts believe birds evolved from a common ancestral protoavis dinosaur some 225 million years ago during the Mesozoic era. As the continental land mass broke apart, birds inhabited all corners of the Earth. While most bird species were wiped out with the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, many scientists consider birds the only true living relative of the dinosaurs.
Actually, that was my point.
A Christian places Faith as the starting point of his knowledge. The Christian believes a priori that God exists. From there, the Christian can explore the natural world and learn a great deal. Perhaps even prove Evolution.
A scientist places Faith as the starting point of his knowledge. The scientist believes a priori that God does not exist. From there, the scientist can explore the natural world and be confused by things which have supernatural explanations. Perhaps including Evolution.
Christians can cover both natural and supernatural fields. Scientists are handicapped because they can only do half the job. Unless they are Christians first and scientists second.
Finally, I chuckle at this comment.
and adult birds used their wings literally to defy gravity.
What are wings for?
I challenge you to a scamper up a 60 degree slope. You run and flap your arms. I, being two-legged, will use my arms and hands to assist my running ascent. Guess who will get higher, faster.
Now, strap on big fans on all our arms and put mittens on our hands. Running the same race and using the same techniques who will get higher, faster?
Strawman
Your arguments against my position are well-thought out and thorough. Concise and cogent -- you seem to have got to the heart of my errors. I have tried to articulate and explain my position in an adult fashion -- but I crumble before your rapier-like intelligence. I can come up with no reposte. No rejoinder. I shall slink away into darkness, having been thoroughly defeated by your well-crafted logic and skillfully delivered argument.
Bravo!
Well then graft on whatever kind of arm you want short of a lift producing arm and have the same contest. I believe all 2-legged dinosaurs grasped something.
The place the penguins that taught the other penguins to do laps all day had a cassawarry. BIG irritable bird.
The place the penguins that taught the other penguins to do laps all day came from had a cassawarry. BIG irritable bird.
The current issue of "Outside" magazine has an article about cassawarys. It tells about a busload of Japanese tourists trapped in their bus by one, and about a group of them totalling several cars in a parking lot by pecking at them. Apparently they get particularly cranky after eating fermented berries.
The same issue also has a good piece about the battlelines at 21,000 feet between the Pakistanis and the Indians--a low grade war at very high altitude. More guys are killed by cold, avalanches, and edema than by the enemy.
Then you must not be a very good Christian either...because a true walk with God requires a tremendous amount of faith.
LOL! ... and a bow in your direction.
What does it say about TV and can openers?
rolling (@v@)
Stay safe; stay armed.
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Have you asked your mom?
Stay safe; stay armed.
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