Earth And Space Science Project Abstract
DETERMINING GROWTH PATTERNS IN EARLY CRETACEOUS THEROPOD TEETH FROM THE TRINITY GROUP
Presenter:
Emma L. Cape, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 West Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL, 60506; ecape@imsa.edu
Mentor:
Dr. Peter Makovicky, Assistant Curator of Dinosaurs, Field Museum of Natural History, Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology, 1400 S. Lakeshore Drive, Chicago, IL, 60605-1000; 312-665-7633; pmakovicky@fieldmuseum.org
Abstract:
This study was done to determine possible growth patterns for theropod dinosaur teeth from the early Cretaceous Trinity Group, and to compare these results with results of similar studies done on other teeth of similar faunas from different locations. A total of 84 teeth were microscopically examined, identified, and data such as size and denticle density was recorded for each. The data was examined graphically, and equations were arrived at using best of fit trend lines. General results for previous studies have shown that size factors, such as tooth base length versus tooth base to crown height, have a linear relationship. On the other hand, size versus denticle factors, such as denticle density, have a more exponential relationship, showing that denticle size does not increase significantly as an animal grows. The data from this study was mostly consistent with previous studies. In addition it found some possible growth relationships and implications of those relationships not discussed in previous known studies.