Message in a dinosaur's teeth

Spinosaurs were large, meat-eating dinosaurs whose fossilized remains are often found in the same areas as the bones of tyrannosaurs (such as Tyrannosaurus rex). Fans of the movie Jurassic Park III may remember the spinosaur as the cranky dinosaur — the one with a sail-shaped fin on its back — that destroyed an airplane, ate a few people and took down a T. rex.

Paleontologists have wondered how such giants as spinosaurs and tyrannosaurs, both meat-eating and ferocious, could live in the same place while competing for food. In a recent study, a French researcher named Romain Amiot may have found the answer. Amiot, from the University of Lyon 1 in Villeurbanne, France, thinks that spinosaurs may have spent parts of their days in the water, thus avoiding clashes with tyrannosaurs, which lived on the land.

Preserved in the fossilized teeth of spinosaurs is chemistry hinting that the creatures (shown in an artist’s reconstruction) spent much of their time in the water, as crocodiles and hippos do today.

Preserved in the fossilized teeth of spinosaurs is chemistry hinting that the creatures (shown in an artist’s reconstruction) spent much of their time in the water, as crocodiles and hippos do today.

© M. Simonetti/courtesy of CNRS

This study isn’t the first one in which scientists have suggested spinosaurs spent time in the water. The creatures’ fossilized skeletons show they had long snouts, the way crocodiles do, and studies of spinosaur fossilized stomachs show that the creatures ate fish. But spinosaur skeletons don’t show adaptations to living in the water or swimming — they don’t have specialized feet, for example.

In this case, however, the bones didn’t tell the whole story. For Amiot and his team, it was the dino teeth that did the talking. Spinosaur teeth are smooth and shaped liked cones — more like those of modern crocodiles than of tyrannosaurs. An analysis of the chemical makeup of the teeth turned up even more evidence.

In particular, the researchers studied oxygen. At its center, an atom contains a nucleus, and the nucleus of an oxygen atom usually contains eight protons and eight neutrons. (Protons and neutrons are the particles in the nucleus of every atom.) But some kinds of oxygen are heavier — most of its atoms may each have 10 neutrons, instead of eight, for example. When an oxygen atom has 10 neutrons, or 18 total particles in its nucleus, it is called oxygen-18. In general, when an atom has a different number of neutrons in its nucleus, it is called an isotope. Oxygen-18 is an oxygen isotope.

Animals that live in the water, such as hippos and crocodiles, have different proportions of oxygen and oxygen-18 in their bones and teeth than animals that live on land. Amiot and his team looked at the proportions of oxygen isotopes in the fossilized spinosaur teeth. Comparing these ratios to those found in fossilized teeth and bones from other animals of the spinosaurs’ day, the researchers found a closer resemblance to water animals such as crocodiles and turtles than to land animals such as tyrannosaurs.

This analysis shows that spinosaurs probably spent part of their lives in lakes and rivers. This may solve the riddle of the grumpy neighbors: If spinosaurs lived and fed in the water, then they wouldn’t be competing with tyrannosaurs on the land. (And if the spinosaur had simply stayed in the water in Jurassic Park III, the plane would have been okay, the people could have left, and the movie would have been a lot shorter.)

The study may “solve the big ecological problem of how spinosaurs could live in the same areas as tyrannosaurs,” Amiot told Science News. “They were avoiding competition for food and territory by dividing up the ecosystem.”

Why Were Dinosaurs So Big?

The size and the weight of the dinosaurs are huge and no doubt that there have to be reasons for this. Dinosaurs like brachiosaurus and diplodocus were 50 tons in weights, while the fierce T. Rex was 7 to 8 tons. From the remainsof the dinosaurs, we can say that they were gigantic in size and ever since no other living being of this size has ever existed.

There are some theories which talk about the reasons for the dinosaurs to be huge and hefty. The first theory says that the dinosaurs were huge because of the vegetation during that era. In the Mesozoic era, which started with Triassic era and lasted till the Cretaceous era, 65 million years ago, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was higher when compared to the present times. As the carbon dioxide levels were high, the vegetation provided all kinds of food to the dinosaurs and this excess of food might have made them huge in size. However, this theory does not seem to be realistic enough.

The second theory claims that the hugeness of the dinosaurs must have been a defense mechanism against the predators. To a certain extent this theory seems acceptable as large herbivores flourished and were nearly not preyed upon by predators.

The third theory makes things complicated. Paleontologists who studied dinosaurs say that they were cold blooded based on two reasons. The first reason is related to the metabolism. If the dinosaurs were warm blooded, they would have had internal combustion and died instantaneously. The second reason that the scientists claim is that no modern-day warm blooded mammal living on land comes anywhere close to the size of a dinosaur. Scientists believed that dinos were cold blooded, but when they were large in size, they could regulate their body temperature. So, basically the size of the dinosaur was supposed to be a by-product of being cold blooded. However, this theory does not sit well with all scientists as many claim that dinos were warm blooded and not cold, as suggested by this theory.

Weapons Used by Dinosaurs

When it came to fighting, dinosaurs did not fight like how it is often depicted on the big screen. The reality was quite different. The fights of the dinosaurs can be divided into predator battle and intra-species fight. In the predator battle, the creatures followed 'kill or be killed" rule. And, the intra-species fight was to attract the opposite sex and fight the rival.

Although the dinosaurs did not have weapons like firearms, they were dependent on their natural weapons to get food or mate.

The dinosaur weapons are divided into offensive and defensive weapons. The offensive weapons were teeth and claws which were used by the carnivorous dinosaurs, who lived on herbivores. The defensive weapons like armor plating and tail were used to by the herbivores to defend themselves from the carnivorous dinosaurs.

The offensive weapons of carnivores were primarily teeth, claws, smell and eyesight, momentum, speed and bad breath.

Teeth were used as offensive weapons by T. Rex and allosaurus, whose teeth were neither big nor sharp. They hunted for their food like the cheetahs of today. And, on the basis on analogy of the carnivorous today, the predators of the Jurassic era must have targeted the neck and the belly of the herbivores.

Some dinosaurs like Baryonyx had strong front, while some dinosaurs like Deinonychus and raptors had single curved claw which was rather lengthy. Some of the dinosaurs like troodon had big eyes to see things at far off places which helped them in hunting for the food. Some were able to smell the herbivores which were at distant places.

Momentum was the weapon of tyrannosaurs which hunted with a force that made it difficult for an herbivore to escape. The speed at which the raptors attacked the herbivores was a weapon also. Paleontologists say that the tyrannosaurs teeth had bacteria which would fatally infect the prey. Once the prey died, the tyrannosaurus would consume the prey.

Are You a Leader Or a Dinosaur?

During my studies at Duquesne University, I recall the age old disputes we had about whether "leaders were born - or made." Our discussions were insightful and always lively. Frequently, our points of view ranged from one end of the spectrum to the other. A large cup of coffee, a note pad, and an open mind were among the things I always brought to class.

Are leaders born with particular genetic traits - or are they shaped by their environment? That's the question. Figuratively speaking, we start-off as "soft clay." And over time, we're shaped and formed by many different experiences. Eventually, we become fixed in place like a piece of hard clay.

But it doesn't stop there - because a person's upbringing has impact, too. Just as a good cook adds different ingredients to prepare a meal, leaders are made the same way. They encounter all kinds of experiences, both good and bad. These events shape them in different ways. Even the customs of a big city can shape a leader. Pittsburgh was once known as the "Steel City." It was like a big dinosaur that could wag its tail and send contenders scampering.

As competition increased, the Steel City lost its swagger. It was cheaper to order steel from Japan versus the plant right across the river. Clearly, the steel industry was changing and Pittsburgh had to change, too. If we didn't, the city would literally become extinct like a dinosaur. Today, Pittsburgh is a symbol of transformation. It's eco-friendly and green, a leader in healthcare and well-known for cutting edge technology.

So what's the connection between the Steel City, dinosaurs, and modern day leadership? Well, the old leadership model was very straight-forward. Managers used to say, "I'm the boss - it's my way or the highway." They were like dinosaurs. But over the last decade, I saw a transformation happen. Our workforce began to change. The demand for leaders increased as our need for managers faded away. A younger more educated generation came on the scene. And the old model of leadership became a thing of the past.

In most organizations, the days of absolute power are long gone. Because the source of power has drastically changed. Companies are smarter, and they recognize the benefits of tapping into their human assets. Organizations have become flatter in order to achieve faster results. In other words, the speed at which you can move a product to market determines success - providing of course, the product is high quality.

Today, leaders have to be visionary and open to new ideas. They also have to understand that good ideas sometimes come from the bottom-up, and not necessarily top-down. It's all about optimizing resources and market differentiation. Leaders need to be resilient. It's critical that they have the ability to bounce back.

Speaking of resilience, I was as pathetic a baseball player as you can imagine. In little league, I once made all three outs in the same inning. We beat the opposing team 45-0. As expected, the coach cut me from the team. I was very disappointed in my performance and kept practicing on my own. Despite being cut from the team, I showed-up everyday to watch them practice.

The head coach said "Isn't that the guy we cut last week?" Yup, the other coach said - that's the fellow. He's here everyday before everyone else. The head coach said, "Really - well if the boy's that persistent, give him a uniform and sit him on the bench." By the end of the summer, I was a star player with a great batting average. Here's my point; if you want to be an effective leader, you have to be able to bounce back.

Sometimes we're victims of our past. I remember another situation, when a guy described how he asked a manager for help on a project. The manager's lip started to quiver, his eyes turned beet red and he yelled "I gave you all the help you're gonna get - now make it happen!" Needless to say, that poor guy was convinced his manager was a born tyrant. It made him cynical. But sadder still, this guy was his mentor. And he had taken on some of the same traits. He had become a tyrant, too.

He was convinced a strong leader had to "knock some heads" to gain respect. A few years later, I saw him on the street. He said "I learned a lesson the hard way. I got fired. My hard-nose attitude got me in trouble." Basically, he tried to hold on to some primitive ways in changing times. More importantly, he tried to hold on to his respect as a leader - but he couldn't.

I said, it's up to you to change that image. Don't become a victim of your past. You can still grow as a leader. Admit your faults and apologize to the people you offended. Don't let the phantoms of your past haunt you. I further explained how leaders ought to be resilient. They need to be able to bounce back. Learn from your mistakes. You don't have to be a manager to be a leader, I said. However, you do have to treat people with respect and speak to them with dignity. Give others the same courtesy that you want. Remember, the dinosaur is extinct... and their ways are, too.

Bottom line; "Leaders are made - not born!" They're shaped by their experiences, both good and bad. They are resilient and able to bounce back. Unlike the dinosaur, effective leaders learn from their mistakes. Stay flexible, be open to change - and be a continuous learner.

Camping With the Dinosaurs in Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta

Nestled amongst the sagebrush some 50 km NE of Brooks, Alberta lies a striking example of Mother Natures power as well as one of her best kept secrets (until the last century that is) in the form of one of the worlds richest deposits of dinosaur bones.

Dinosaur Provincial Park campground offers campers the unique experience of going back in time and camping where dinosaurs lived some 75 million years ago.

The park is now home to a wide variety of animals (Coyotes, Porcupines, Pheasants, Pronghorn Antelope, Snakes, Hawks, and Owls) and during your stay you are almost guaranteed to encounter a great many of them.

The park was established in 1966 in order to protect its rich deposits of dinosaur fossils and diverse ecosystems of prairie grasslands, "badlands" and riverside cottonwood trees. In 1979 it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. So rich is this land in dinosaur fossils, they are to this day being unearthed by the rain which simply washes them out of the banks of the hoodoos or rock formations carved from the land by the wind and rain.

There is a wide variety of interpretive programs, including guided and self guided hikes and two outdoor fossil exhibits available. No trip to Dinosaur Provincial Park would be complete without a visit to the interpretative centre which has been revamped recently and is spectacular! The kids will love it.

The campground itself is located in the river valley on either side of the Little Sandhill Creek that empties into the Red Deer River. Most of the 126 campsites are scattered amongst the Cottonwood trees native to the area, with a few under the area known as the Badlands Slopes or hoodoos that can become excruciatingly hot during the Summer months. About half of the campsites have power. Also available is a 10 unit group campsite facility complete with its own cookhouse.

Because of the low lying location of this campground, in July of 2009 during a torrential downpour the valley was flooded and campers were forced to evacuate. The campground has since been largely rebuilt but the storms effects are still noticeable. After surveying the remaining flood damage one can get a true sense of how powerful the forces that formed this areas rock formations were.

The campground is open year round. Campsites are reserved through either the online reservation system or through their toll free line at 1-877-577-2737 mid May through early September or on a first come first serve basis the remainder of the year. Campground services are limited during the off season.

Camping with the dinosaurs makes this one of our kids' most popular campgrounds. Be sure to add it to your list of must see campgrounds!

Creationism Vs Evolution - Did Dinosaurs Live Among Us?

Young earth creationists believe that the world was created only a few thousand years ago. While many paleontologists argue that carbon dating indicates that life had existed over a million years ago, there is reason to speculate that this is untrue.

If the Earth is merely thousands (and not millions) of years old, what does this mean in regards to the existence of dinosaurs? More specifically, what does this mean in regards to the existence of dinosaurs as it relates to the human species? Could the dinosaurs have lived among us? Some findings suggest this could have been the case.

The term "dinosaur" has only existed since 1842 when it was first coined by English paleontologist Richard Owen, yet their existence had been acknowledged in writing centuries previous to this. Sometime between the 8th and 11th centuries, a poem was written about the Scandinavian king, Beowulf.. In the poem, the writer gives a detailed description about a beast that the king had killed in battle. If you look at the description, it accurately describes the appearance of a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Since paleontology had only existed since the 18th century as a result of Georges Cuvier's work on comparative anatomy, how is it possible that the author could so accurately describe a creature he should know nothing about?

The written word is not the only place where dinosaurs are mentioned. Aboriginal legends have been passed from one generation to another by word of mouth. One such legend exists among the Native American tribes about the "thunderbirds". According to the legend, large bird-like creatures flew around and they would bring thunder with them wherever they went. In South Dakota, the Native American groups have pointed to pteranodon fossils located at the base of the Black Hills and referred to them as thunderbirds. Had pteradons flown past the aboriginals centuries ago, or is this a mere coincidence?

One of the most compelling arguments relates to the processes used among the paleontologists. Arguments have been made that because of carbon-dating, paleontologists can accurately estimate when a species lived and when it no longer existed, however this isn't always the case. It was thought that the Coelacanth had been extinct since the end of the Cretaceous period. However, when the species resurfaced in 1938, many were baffled. If a species thought to have died out millions of years ago could still exist, how could we be so certain that dinosaurs never lived among us?

Tyrannosaurus Rex

Name:
Tyrannosaurus Rex (Greek for "tyrant lizard king"); pronounced tih-RAN-oh-SORE-us REX
Habitat:
Forests and swamps of North America
Historical Period:
Late Cretaceous (70-65 million years ago)
Size and Weight:
About 40 feet long and 7 tons
Diet:
Other dinosaurs
Distinguishing Characteristics:
Large head with numerous teeth; stubby, almost vestigial arms
About Tyrannosaurus Rex:

Tyrannosaurus Rex is by far the most popular of all dinosaurs, spawning a huge number of books, movies, TV shows and video games. What's truly amazing, though, is how much about this carnivore that was once assumed as fact has lately been called into question. (See more facts, figures and news about Tyrannosaurus Rex, as well as a gallery of Tyrannosaurus Rex pictures and 10 Facts About T. Rex.)

For example, one controversy that's currently making the rounds among paleontologists is whether T. Rex was a hunter or scavenger. Some experts think T. Rex feasted on already dead prey, on the premise that it couldn't have been fast enough or smart enough to hunt down other dinosaurs--but it was equipped with features (such as a superior sense of smell) that are found in modern scavengers, like vultures. In another development, it's now believed that T. Rex individuals may have succumbed to trichomonosis, a parasitic disease that affects modern birds, and it's entirely possible that T. Rex juveniles were covered in downy coats of feathers, at least to judge by another genus of tyrannosaur, the Asian Dilong.

Despite how it's depicted in action movies, we don't know for sure how speedy Tyrannosaurus Rex was. Unlike the juggernaut of the Jurassic Park movies, it's possible that this dinosaur lumbered along at a poky 10 miles per hour, max--meaning a hungry female would have found it hard to outrun a kid on a bicycle! (For the record, other theropods of the late Cretaceous period, notably the ornithomimids, were capable of sprinting at a zippy 50 miles per hour or so.)