Absolute abundance and preservation rate ofTyrannosaurus rex
- PMID:33859033
- DOI: 10.1126/science.abc8300
Absolute abundance and preservation rate ofTyrannosaurus rex
Abstract
Although much can be deduced from fossils alone, estimating abundance and preservation rates of extinct species requires data from living species. Here, we use the relationship between population density and body mass among living species combined with our substantial knowledge ofTyrannosaurus rex to calculate population variables and preservation rates for postjuvenileT. rex We estimate that its abundance at any one time was ~20,000 individuals, that it persisted for ~127,000 generations, and that the total number ofT. rex that ever lived was ~2.5 billion individuals, with a fossil recovery rate of 1 per ~80 million individuals or 1 per 16,000 individuals where its fossils are most abundant. The uncertainties in these values span more than two orders of magnitude, largely because of the variance in the density-body mass relationship rather than variance in the paleobiological input variables.
Copyright © 2021 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.
Similar articles
- Growing upTyrannosaurus rex: Osteohistology refutes the pygmy "Nanotyrannus" and supports ontogenetic niche partitioning in juvenileTyrannosaurus.Woodward HN, Tremaine K, Williams SA, Zanno LE, Horner JR, Myhrvold N.Woodward HN, et al.Sci Adv. 2020 Jan 1;6(1):eaax6250. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aax6250. eCollection 2020 Jan.Sci Adv. 2020.PMID:31911944Free PMC article.
- Cannibalism in Tyrannosaurus rex.Longrich NR, Horner JR, Erickson GM, Currie PJ.Longrich NR, et al.PLoS One. 2010 Oct 15;5(10):e13419. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0013419.PLoS One. 2010.PMID:20976177Free PMC article.
- Age and growth dynamics of Tyrannosaurus rex.Horner JR, Padian K.Horner JR, et al.Proc Biol Sci. 2004 Sep 22;271(1551):1875-80. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2004.2829.Proc Biol Sci. 2004.PMID:15347508Free PMC article.
- Tyrannosaur paleobiology: new research on ancient exemplar organisms.Brusatte SL, Norell MA, Carr TD, Erickson GM, Hutchinson JR, Balanoff AM, Bever GS, Choiniere JN, Makovicky PJ, Xu X.Brusatte SL, et al.Science. 2010 Sep 17;329(5998):1481-5. doi: 10.1126/science.1193304.Science. 2010.PMID:20847260Review.
- Dinosaur biomechanics.Alexander RM.Alexander RM.Proc Biol Sci. 2006 Aug 7;273(1596):1849-55. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2006.3532.Proc Biol Sci. 2006.PMID:16822743Free PMC article.Review.
Cited by
- Osteohistological description of ostrich and emu long bones, with comments on markers of growth.Ong N, Hart-Farrar B, Tremaine K, Woodward HN.Ong N, et al.J Anat. 2022 Aug;241(2):518-526. doi: 10.1111/joa.13665. Epub 2022 Apr 12.J Anat. 2022.PMID:35412666Free PMC article.
- The macroecology of Mesozoic dinosaurs.Chiarenza AA.Chiarenza AA.Biol Lett. 2024 Nov;20(11):20240392. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2024.0392. Epub 2024 Nov 13.Biol Lett. 2024.PMID:39535111Free PMC article.Review.
- Estimation of maximum body size in fossil species: A case study usingTyrannosaurus rex.Mallon JC, Hone DWE.Mallon JC, et al.Ecol Evol. 2024 Jul 24;14(7):e11658. doi: 10.1002/ece3.11658. eCollection 2024 Jul.Ecol Evol. 2024.PMID:39050661Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources