When dinosaurs are involved, rules can sometimes be thrown out the window.
The fossil record provides evidence to the contrary.
“Our research demonstrates that the development of various body sizes in dinosaurs and mammals cannot be simply attributed to latitude or temperature,” stated Lauren Wilson, a UAF graduate student and lead author of a paper recently published in the journal Nature Communications. “We have discovered that Bergmann’s rule only applies to a specific group of homeothermic animals (those that maintain stable body temperatures), and only when temperature is considered, disregarding all other climatic factors. This indicates that Bergmann’s ‘rule’ is more of an exception than a rule.”
The study originated from a basic question Wilson discussed with her undergraduate mentor: Does Bergmann’s rule hold true for dinosaurs?
After analyzing numerous data points extracted from the fossil record, the answer appeared to be a resounding “no.”
2024-04-07 06:51:02
Source from phys.org