Task 1 The article summary

The article “A dinosaur egg bonanza is helping ecologists understand prehistoric parenting” written by Jason Gilchrist published in the Guardian  09.08.19 is devoted to the discussion of the eggs of dinosaurs.

First, the author announces the discovery of the dinosaur hunters who have recently discovered 15 well preserved clutches of eggs that came from a species of theropod dinosaur in the Javkhlant region of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia. He states this fossil site provides the strongest evidence yet that such dinosaurs nested in colonies and protected their eggs. These dinosaurs may have protected their eggs as a community rather than caring solely for their own nests. It is also possible that these dinosaurs didn't need to care for their young once they had hatched.

Then he draws readers’ attention to the spherically-shaped eggs that were laid towards the end of the Cretaceous period around 66m years ago, not long before the dinosaurs disappeared. The scientists identified that these specimens likely came from the Therizinosauroidea family. The author affirms that these species cover or bury their eggs in organic-rich material, which generates heat as it rots, in order to incubate the eggs. The fossils also indicated that all the eggs were laid and hatched in the same nesting season, providing evidence that the dinosaurs nested in colonies.

In conclusion, he underlines whatever future fossil finds serve up, there is no question that they will open more windows of understanding into the behavioral ecology of long-extinct dinosaurs. Our understanding will also be informed, not only by the fossils themselves, but by interpretation of the behavior of modern species.

Useful phrases/ws:

1)     clutch

The children from your final clutch have all matured.

2)     arid environment

There is so arid environment that nothing can grow there.

3)     water loss

Most of them will either try to resist or avoid water loss.

4)     nesting season

Bird nesting season usually occurs in spring

5)     well preserved

It was a pretty town with a picturesque tower and well-preserved buildings.

6)     fossils

Their fossils have been found in the tens of thousands, all over southern Europe.

7)     rotting vegetation

Rotting vegetation, such as compost heaps, are preferred locations.