Re: Sauropod necks????

[David Marjanovic <david.marjanovic@gmx.at>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "don ohmes" <d_ohmes@yahoo.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 22, 2005 12:13 AM

> I like the idea of hydrilla or some aquatic weed with
> similar interwined growth habit as a primary food
> source. [...]
>
> Hydrilla seems to grow best in water 1-2 m deep, and
> will utilize every cc of water column. So no need to
> move tree to tree, hold the head up, pull back to
> strip leaves, or separate/swallow twigs, just wade
> through it like a teenager sucking up a giant plate of
> spagetti. Only practical way I see to obtain the truly
> incredible bulk the biggest probably needed. Any
> thoughts?

Several.

- *Hydrilla* and most other water weeds are angiosperms, and thus 
unavailable in the Jurassic. I don't know enough about ferns like 
*Salvinia*, but AFAIK they don't get this productive...
- So much water may not have been available in, for example, the Morrison Fm 
environment.
- The neck length of *Dicraeosaurus* should suffice for this lifestyle. So 
why do sauropods vary so much in neck length?

Beautiful hypothesis, ugly facts... :-]