Predicted <i>M-S</i> distributions of carnivorous dinosaur and mammal assemblages, based on a model incorporating differences in availability of prey of different body sizes, and the resultant biomass intake (and requirements) by predators.

<p>Prey partitioning was assumed by setting prey:predator mass ratios at 1∶1, i.e. each predator is assumed to eat prey of its size only. When prey partitioning was not assumed, predators were allowed to feed on any prey they encountered of their size or smaller. Red curves are fitted visually to aid interpretation.</p

Outcomes of the size-specific competition model, comparing outcomes for <i>M-S</i> distributions of dinosaur (with a higher number of size-specific niche overlaps due to their more complex ontogenetic histories) and mammal communities.

<p>Competition co-efficients (α) represent the proportion of density-dependent mortalities that occur, due to competition between dinosaurs (subscript DD), between mammals (MM), from mammals on dinosaurs (MD), and from dinosaurs on mammals (DM). Post K-T extinction scenarios were simulated by setting initial conditions to exclude all individuals above 25 kg.</p

<i>M-S</i> distributions of extant mammal herbivores and carnivores.

<p>For comparison with <i>M-S</i> dinosaur distributions, only larger-bodied groups of mammals were included here, i.e. we omitted data for rodents, insectivores, and other smaller-bodied mammal groups. Thus, herbivores are represented only by the four living ungulate Orders (Artiodactyla, Perissodactyla, Proboscidea, and Hyracoidea), and carnivores by the Order Carnivora. Red curves are fitted visually to aid interpretation.</p

Prey partitioning amongst different-sized predators that arises in models where no prey partitioning was assumed <i>a priori</i>.

<p>In a) and b) bubbles represent relative contributions of different-sized prey to predator diets, based on numbers or total biomass (kg) consumed, respectively; for c) niche breadths were calculated based relative numbers of prey consumed per size class.</p

Body mass-species richness (<i>M-S</i>) distributions, represented on a log₂-scale, of extinct (non-avian) dinosaurs, in comparison with distributions of mammals and birds from the Mesozoic and present-day distributions.

<p>Data for Mesozoic vertebrates compiled in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0077110#pone.0077110-Codron1" target="_blank">[4]</a>, see references therein for primary sources, and data for extant mammals and birds are from <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0077110#pone.0077110-Smith1" target="_blank">[29]</a>–<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0077110#pone.0077110-Dunning2" target="_blank">[31]</a>. Red curves are fitted visually to aid interpretation.</p

Descriptive statistics for log₂<i>M</i>_adult (kg) of Mesozoic dinosaur, mammal, and bird taxa, and for living mammals and birds.

<p><i>n</i> = number of taxa; SW = Shapiro Wilks’ test for normal distribution.</p><p>Modern mammal subgroups: Incl. recent extinctions = data includes species that went extinct in the Late Pleistocene; Excl. airborne groups = data excludes the airborne mammalian orders Chrioptera (bats) and Dermoptera (colugos); carnivores = members of the Order Carnivora; Herbivores = members of the Orders Artiodactyla, Perissodactyla, Proboscidea, and Hyracoidea.</p

Description of the ISO/FDIS 25178 parameters.

<p>Description and units of the applied parameters are indicated according to ISO/FDIS 25178 analysis. The most effective parameters that are found to discriminate rabbit diets are set in bold.</p

Scaling (OLS regressions on log₁₀-transformed data) of Australian marsupial population energy use (PEU; kJ d⁻¹ km⁻²) with body mass, based on (A) basal metabolic rate (BMR; kJ d⁻¹) and (B) field metabolic rate (FMR; kJ d⁻¹).

<p>Scaling (OLS regressions on log₁₀-transformed data) of Australian marsupial population energy use (PEU; kJ d⁻¹ km⁻²) with body mass, based on (A) basal metabolic rate (BMR; kJ d⁻¹) and (B) field metabolic rate (FMR; kJ d⁻¹).</p

Scaling (OLS regressions on log₁₀-transformed data) of Australian marsupial population density (number of individuals km⁻²), basal (BMR) and field (FMR) metabolic rate (kJ d⁻¹) with body mass (g).

<p>Regressions were performed separately for all species for which density, BMR and FMR were available, in addition to those for which overlapping data were available (Note: overlap data for density, BMR and FMR are identified by respective subscripts, e.g. Density_BMR = density data for which BMR is also available; values in parentheses are 95% confidence limit ranges).</p

Box plots and discriminant analysis plot.

<p>Box plots indicating (a) the silica concentration (SC, %) in animal feeds, the microwear parameters (b) number of pits (<i>Np</i>), (c) length of scratches (<i>Ls</i>), the ISO/FDIS 25178-2 parameters: (d) closed dale area (<i>Sda</i> on primary surface, µm²), (e) maximum peak height (<i>Sp</i> on S-L surface, µm) within the feeding groups (G = grass meal, GO = grass meal with crushed oats, LO = lucerne with crushed oats, and L = lucerne), * = <i>p</i>≤0.05. Box plots showing the median (middle line), the interquartile range (IQR, box) and the minimum/maximum values 1.5×IQR (whiskers), extreme values are excluded. Discriminant analysis (f) using microwear (<i>Np</i>, <i>Ls</i>) and texture parameters (<i>Sda</i> on primary surface, <i>Sp</i> on S-L surface) indicating significant group differences (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0056167#pone-0056167-t002" target="_blank">Table 2</a>). The canonical discriminant function coefficients are <i>Np</i>_score1/2 = 0.038/0.015, <i>Ls</i>_{score 1/2} = −0.128/−0.014, <i>Sda</i>_score1/2 = −0.532/0.015, <i>Sp</i>_{score 1/2} = −0.076/−0.226.</p