Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39119105›Full record

ArticlePeerJ2024

Modelling take-off moment arms in an ornithocheiraean pterosaur.

Benjamin W Griffin, Elizabeth Martin-Silverstone, Rodrigo V Pêgas, Erik Anthony Meilak, Fabiana R Costa, Colin Palmer, Emily J Rayfield

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PeerJ, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Benjamin W GriffinPalaeobiology Group, School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
Elizabeth Martin-SilverstonePalaeobiology Group, School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
Rodrigo V PêgasLaboratory of Vertebrate Paleontology and Animal Behavior. Federal University of ABC, Alameda da Universidade, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil.
Erik Anthony MeilakSchool of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, University of Keele, Keele, United Kingdom.
Fabiana R CostaLaboratory of Vertebrate Paleontology and Animal Behavior. Federal University of ABC, Alameda da Universidade, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil.
Colin PalmerPalaeobiology Group, School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
Emily J RayfieldPalaeobiology Group, School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.

Funding

Alan & Charlotte Welch fund managed by the Geological Society of LondonBBSRC BB/W00867X/1Bob Savage Memorial Fund managed by the University of BristolConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Take-off is a vital part of powered flight which likely constrains the size of birds, yet extinct pterosaurs are known to have reached far larger sizes. Three different hypothesised take-off motions (bipedal burst launching, bipedal countermotion launching, and quadrupedal launching) have been proposed as explanations for how pterosaurs became airborne and circumvented this proposed morphological limit. We have constructed a computational musculoskeletal model of a 5 m wingspan ornithocheiraean pterosaur, reconstructing thirty-four key muscles to estimate the muscle moment arms throughout the three hypothesised take-off motions. Range of motion constrained hypothetical kinematic sequences for bipedal and quadrupedal take-off motions were modelled after extant flying vertebrates. Across our simulations we did not find higher hindlimb moment arms for bipedal take-off motions or noticeably higher forelimb moment arms in the forelimb for quadrupedal take-off motions. Despite this, in all our models we found the muscles utilised in the quadrupedal take-off have the largest total launch applicable moment arms throughout the entire take-off sequences and for the take-off pose. This indicates the potential availability of higher leverage for a quadrupedal take-off than hypothesised bipedal motions in pterosaurs pending further examination of muscle forces.

Indexed as

DinosaursFlight, AnimalAnimalsBiomechanical PhenomenaComputer SimulationForelimbFossilsModels, BiologicalMuscle, SkeletalBiomechanicsFlightModellingMoment armsPterosaurTake-off

Identifiers

PMID39119105
PMCPMC11308997

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.