Ornithopod dinosaurs were a phenomenally successful group of ornithischian dinosaurs. They first appeared and became widespread in the Middle Jurassic (~164 million years ago [Ma]), then proliferated during the Late Jurassic and Cretaceous (until the non-avian dinosaur extinction ~66 Ma). Ornithopod fossils have been found in rocks of Cretaceous age on every continent, with the group Elasmaria being particularly well represented in Australia, Antarctica and South America.
The Victorian record of ornithopods is the best of any Australian state. All Victorian ornithopod fossils derive from either the upper Strzelecki Group (\u2018Wonthaggi Formation\u2019; upper Barremian\u2013lower Aptian, ~121 Ma) exposed along the Bass Coast, or the Eumeralla Formation (lower Albian, ~113 Ma) exposed along the Otway Coast. Five monotypic genera have been named to date \u2014 two from the upper Strzelecki Group, three from the Eumeralla \u2014 and all were relatively small-bodied, likely no larger than a wallaroo.
The five Victorian ornithopod taxa named to date are:
\u2022 Leaellynasaura amicagraphica, based on a partial skull including maxilla with teeth (NMV P185991) and an isolated maxilla from the Eumeralla Formation, with the type skull possibly associated with paired frontals and parietals (NMV P185990) and a partial postcranial skeleton (NMV P185992\u20133);
\u2022 Atlascopcosaurus loadsi, based on a partial maxilla with teeth (NMV 166409) and several referred maxillae from the Eumeralla Formation;
\u2022 Qantassaurus intrepidus, based on a partial dentary with teeth (NMV P199075) from the upper Strzelecki Group;
\u2022 Diluvicursor pickeringi, based on a partial postcranial skeleton (NMV P221080) from the Eumeralla Formation; and
\u2022 Galleonosaurus dorisae, based on a maxilla with teeth (NMV P229196) and several additional maxillae from the upper Strzelecki Group.
Although most of these species are based on frustratingly incomplete specimens, those known from maxillae and teeth are sufficiently distinct from each other to justify classification as separate genera. Curiously, these craniodental morphotypes are known to be strikingly consistent between the upper Strzelecki Group and the Eumeralla Formation, with dentaries similar to Qantassaurus and maxillae similar to Galleonosaurus known from the Eumeralla Formation, and maxillae similar to Atlascopcosaurus known from the upper Strzelecki Group. This implies remarkable morphological conservatism in several coeval Victorian ornithopod forms through at least eight million years of geologic time, despite significant global climatic warming and concomitant regional floral turnover (most patently manifested through the decline of lycophytes and the proliferation of angiosperms).
In addition to craniodental material, several partial ornithopod postcranial skeletons have been found in Victoria. Although some published works have focused on specific aspects of these specimens (particularly a clear pathology in the tibia of one, interpreted as osteomyelitis), much remains to be detailed in the literature.
The aim of this project is to digitally prepare and describe the osteology of several ornithopod specimens from the Cretaceous of Victoria, housed at Melbourne Museum (formerly the National Museum of Victoria [NMV]), using Synchrotron computed tomography data; specifically:
\u2022 NMV P185990, a partial skull roof, possibly attributable to Leaellynasaura amicagraphica;
\u2022 NMV P185991, the holotype skull of Leaellynasaura amicagraphica;
\u2022 NMV P185992\u20133, a partial postcranial skeleton with a hyperelongate tail, possibly attributable to Leaellynasaura amicagraphica;
\u2022 NMV P186047 (\u2018Junior\u2019), the partial postcranial skeleton with a pathological tibia; and
\u2022 NMV P231553 (\u2018Noddy\u2019), a partial skull and postcranial skeleton.
In addition, at least one or two recently discovered partial skeletons from the upper Strzelecki Group \u2014 soon to be registered as NMV specimens \u2014 are planned to be incorporated into this work.
Virtually all specimens remain partially embedded within sedimentary rock matrix; the only exceptions are those that have been embedded in carbowax to enable complete physical isolation from matrix. Consequently, non-destructive digital scanning of all registered specimens has been undertaken, with a view to facilitating their digital extraction and characterisation.
The overarching aim of this work is to determine whether the ornithopod postcranial skeletons from Victoria mimic the craniodental remains in terms of both disparity within the upper Strzelecki Group and Eumeralla Formation respectively, and continuity between the two units in the case of each morphotype. This will provide important insights into ornithopod evolution in response to protracted warming and significant palaeofloral turnover at high palaeolatitudes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aim <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The primary aim of this project is to establish the morphological diversity displayed by ornithopod dinosaurs in the Cretaceous of Victoria to better understand their evolution, palaeoecology, and response to high palaeolatitude climate change in Deep Time.
A central aim is to use Synchrotron and micro-CT data to digitally prepare the various skeletons of Victorian ornithopods. This will provide the foundation for a comprehensive comparative osteological study of the various skeletons, while also providing the raw data for phylogenetic assessment of the specimens. This component of the project will likely be divided into two sections \u2014 one on the skeletons from the upper Strzelecki Group, the other on those from the Eumeralla Formation \u2014 with a third constituting a synthesis of the ornithopod including an attempt to reconcile the craniodental record with the postcranial one.
An additional component of the project \u2014 either to be embedded into the sections outlined immediately above \u2014 will assess the body proportions of the various taxa with a view to determining the diversity of feeding, locomotory, and ecological adaptations displayed by the Victorian ornithopod fauna.
The final component of this project \u2014 to be undertaken if an ARC Future Fellowship is awarded to the proposed primary supervisor \u2014 is to radiometrically date the various ornithopod-bearing site in Victoria. The ages of these sites have previously been constrained through studies of fossilised palynomorphs, but recent works involving radiometric dating of detrital zircons have implied that the ages of many Australian deposits have been overestimated. If the upper Strzelecki Group and Eumeralla Formation were found to be closer in age than the palynomorphs and fossil macroplants suggest, then the significance of multiple morphotypes being present in both units would be cast into a different light.
Results from this study will be disseminated through conference presentations, and published in peer-reviewed journals. We aim to use this project as a way to build collaborations between Curtin University in Perth, Melbourne Museum, Dinosaur Dreaming, and the Australian Synchrotron in Victoria, and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) in Sydney.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Objectives <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Synchrotron or neutron tomography scan several as yet incompletely prepared Victorian Cretaceous ornithopod skeletons
\u2022 Digitally prepare said Victorian Cretaceous ornithopod skeletons
\u2022 Undertake detailed osteological analyses of the ornithopods and perform comparisons with other specimens from both Australia and around the world
\u2022 Score the ornithopod skeletons for phylogenetic and palaeobiogeographic analyses
\u2022 Translate results into museum-ready outputs, specifically 3D reconstructed skeletons that will be able to be printed either life size or at scale<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Significance <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The significance of this project is that it will vastly improve our understanding of ornithopod dinosaur evolution during a significant period of climatic warming, and coincident palaeofloral turnover, at high palaeolatitude. Nowhere else in the world is there a record of ornithopod dinosaurs at such high latitude in rocks older than uppermost Cretaceous (Campanian\u2013Maastrichtian); this underscores the significance of these fossils and their host deposits.
Scientifically, this project will substantially advance our understanding of Australian dinosaur evolution, palaeobiogeography, palaeobiology and palaeoecology. Moreover, it will provide unprecedented anatomical insights into some of Australia\u2019s smallest known non-avian dinosaurs.
From the perspective of Melbourne Museum, where all of these fossils are reposited, this project will propel several skeletons that have largely languished in the collections, away from public view, into the present for a new generation of budding STEM students. By demonstrating to them the importance of fossil from rocks exposed barely two hours\u2019 drive from Melbourne, we hope this project inspires more people to volunteer for Dinosaur Dreaming and at Melbourne Museum, and engages children in such a way that they pursue a career in STEM.
Overall, the project significantly enhances both scientific knowledge and public understanding of ornithopod dinosaurian evolution and ecology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ideal Candidate <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, the applicants should meet the eligibility criteria for entry into a PhD program at Curtin University. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This project is open to Domestic applicants only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Internship<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through this project you may also have an internship opportunity with Melbourne Museum, involving some time there either physically preparing fossils or scanning and studying them.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scholarship <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are identified as the preferred candidate for this project, you may be considered for an RTP scholarship<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Enquires and How to Apply <\/p>\n\n\n\n For enquires about this opportunity contact Dr Stephen Poropat at Steve.Poropat@curtin.edu.au<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n