What distinguishes the growth and development patterns of early mammals of the Jurassic period? Paleontologists have been able to gauge the lifespan and growth rates of these ancient animals, and even when they reached maturity, by studying growth rings in fossilized tooth roots.
What distinguishes the growth and development patterns of early mammals of the Jurassic period? This is the question jointly investigated by researchers of Queen Mary University of London and the University of Bonn. Paleontologists have been able to gauge the lifespan and growth rates of these ancient animals, and even when they reached sexual maturity, by studying growth rings in fossilized tooth roots.
Researchers were able to image tiny growth rings in fossilized root cement -- the bone tissue that attaches the teeth to the jaw."The rings are similar to those in trees, but on a microscopic level," explains Professor Thomas Martin of the Vertebrates -- Mammals working group at the University of Bonn Institute of Organismic Biology, who is a senior author of the study.
"Our findings suggest that the distinctive life history patterns of mammals, characterized by high metabolic rates and extended parental care phases for example, have evolved over millions of years," Dr. Elis Newham explains,"The Jurassic period appears to have been a crucial time for this shift.
Nitrogen is one the most essential nutrients for plants. Its availability in the soil plays a major role in plant growth and development, thereby affecting agricultural productivity. Scientists were ...
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