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Pampush JD, Morse PE, Kay RF. Dental sculpting and compensatory shearing crests demonstrated in a WEAR series of Presbytis rubicunda (Cercopithecoidea, Colobidae) with dental topography analysis. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2024; 185:e24953. [PMID: 38751320 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Maintaining effective and efficient occlusal morphology presents adaptive challenges for mammals, particularly because mastication produces interactions with foods and other materials that alters the geometry of occlusal surfaces through macrowear and/or catastrophic failure (i.e. "chipping"). Altered occlusal morphologies are often less effective for masticating materials of given diet-but not always-some species exhibit dental sculpting, meaning their dentitions are set up to harness macrowear to hone their occlusal surfaces into more effective morphologies (i.e. secondary morphologies). Here we show that dental sculpting is present in the folivorous Presbytis rubicunda of Borneo. METHODS Thirty-one undamaged lower second molars of P. rubicunda exhibiting various stages of macroscopic wear were micro-CT scanned and processed into digital surfaces. The surfaces were measured for convex Dirichlet normal energy (vDNE, a measure of surface sharpness), and degree of surface wear. Regression analyses compared surface sharpness with several measures of wear to test for the presence and magnitude of dental sculpting. RESULTS Positive correlations between the wear proxies and vDNE reveal that P. rubicunda wear in such a way as to become sharper, and therefore more effective chewing surfaces by exposing enamel-dentine junctions on their occlusal surfaces and then honing these junctions into sharpened edges. Compared to another primate folivore in which increasing surface sharpness with macrowear has been demonstrated (i.e., Alouatta palliata), the worn surfaces are similarly sharp, but the dental sculpting process appears to be different. DISCUSSION The results presented here suggest that not only do some primates exhibit dental sculpting and the attendant secondary morphology, but that there appear to be multiple different morphological configurations that can achieve this result. P. rubicunda has thicker enamel and a more stereotyped wear pattern than A. palliata, although both show positive correlations of occlusal surface sharpness (vDNE) with various wear proxies. These findings shed light on the varied approaches for the maintenance of effective and efficient occlusal surfaces in primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- James D Pampush
- Department of Health and Human Performance, High Point University, High Point, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Physician Assistant Studies, High Point University, High Point, North Carolina, USA
| | - Paul E Morse
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Richard F Kay
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Division of Earth and Climate Sciences, Nicholas School, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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Morse PE, Pampush JD, Kay RF. Dental topography of the Oligocene anthropoids Aegyptopithecus zeuxis and Apidium phiomense: Paleodietary insights from analysis of wear series. J Hum Evol 2023; 180:103387. [PMID: 37245335 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2023.103387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Fossil primate dietary inference is enhanced when ascertained through multiple, distinct proxies. Dental topography can be used to assess changes in occlusal morphology with macrowear, providing insight on tooth use and function across the lifespans of individuals. We measured convex Dirichlet normal energy-a dental topography metric reflecting occlusal sharpness of features such as cusps and crests-in macrowear series of the second mandibular molars of two African anthropoid taxa from ∼30 Ma (Aegyptopithecus zeuxis and Apidium phiomense). Wear was quantified via three proxies: occlusal dentine exposure, inverse relief index, and inverse occlusal relief. The same measurements were calculated on macrowear series of four extant platyrrhine taxa (Alouatta, Ateles, Plecturocebus, and Sapajus apella) to provide an analogical framework for dietary inference in the fossil taxa. We predicted that Ae. zeuxis and Ap. phiomense would show similar patterns in topographic change with wear to one another and to extant platyrrhine frugivores like Ateles and Plecturocebus. The fossil taxa have similar distributions of convex Dirichlet normal energy to one another, and high amounts of concave Dirichlet normal energy 'noise' in unworn molars-a pattern shared with extant hominids that may distort dietary interpretations. Inverse relief index was the most useful wear proxy for comparison among the taxa in this study which possess disparate enamel thicknesses. Contrary to expectations, Ae. zeuxis and Ap. phiomense both resemble S. apella in exhibiting an initial decline in convex Dirichlet normal energy followed by an increase at the latest stages of wear as measured by inverse relief index, lending support to previous suggestions that hard-object feeding played a role in their dietary ecology. Based on these results and previous analyses of molar shearing quotients, microwear, and enamel microstructure, we suggest that Ae. zeuxis had a pitheciine-like strategy of seed predation, whereas Ap. phiomense potentially consumed berry-like compound fruits with hard seeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul E Morse
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
| | - James D Pampush
- Department of Exercise Science, High Point University, High Point, NC 27260, USA; Department of Physician Assistant Studies, High Point University, High Point, NC 27260, USA
| | - Richard F Kay
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; Division of Earth and Climate Sciences, Nicholas School, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
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Guatelli-Steinberg D, Schwartz GT, O'Hara MC, Gurian K, Rychel J, Dunham N, Cunneyworth PMK, Donaldson A, McGraw WS. Aspects of molar form and dietary proclivities of African colobines. J Hum Evol 2023; 180:103384. [PMID: 37201412 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2023.103384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
This study investigates aspects of molar form in three African colobine species: Colobus polykomos, Colobus angolensis, and Piliocolobus badius. Our samples of C. polykomos and P. badius are from the Taï Forest, Ivory Coast; our sample of C. angolensis is from Diani, Kenya. To the extent that protective layers surrounding seeds are hard, we predicted that molar features related to hard-object feeding would be more pronounced in Colobus than they are Piliocolobus, as seed-eating generally occurs at higher frequencies in species of the former. We further predicted that among the colobines we studied, these features would be most pronounced in Taï Forest C. polykomos, which feeds on Pentaclethra macrophylla seeds encased within hard and tough seed pods. We compared overall enamel thickness, enamel thickness distribution, absolute crown strength, cusp tip geometry, and flare among molar samples. Sample sizes per species and molar type varied per comparison. We predicted differences in all variables except overall enamel thickness, which we expected would be invariant among colobines as a result of selection for thin enamel in these folivorous species. Of the variables we examined, only molar flare differed significantly between Colobus and Piliocolobus. Our findings suggest that molar flare, an ancient feature of cercopithecoid molars, was retained in Colobus but not in Piliocolobus, perhaps as a result of differences in the seed-eating proclivities of the two genera. Contrary to predictions, none of the aspects of molar form we investigated tracked current dietary differences in seed-eating between the two Colobus species. Finally, we explored the possibility that molar flare and absolute crown strength, when analyzed together, might afford greater differentiation among these colobine species. A multivariate t test of molar flare and absolute crown strength differentiated C. polykomos and P. badius, possibly reflecting known niche divergence between these two sympatric Taï Forest species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debbie Guatelli-Steinberg
- Department of Anthropology, The Ohio State University, 174 West 18th Ave, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA; School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NR, UK.
| | - Gary T Schwartz
- Institute of Human Origins & School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - Mackie C O'Hara
- Department of Anthropology, The Ohio State University, 174 West 18th Ave, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA; School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NR, UK
| | - Kaita Gurian
- Department of Anthropology, The Ohio State University, 174 West 18th Ave, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Jess Rychel
- Department of Anthropology, The Ohio State University, 174 West 18th Ave, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Noah Dunham
- Division of Conservation and Science, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, 4200 Wildlife Way, Cleveland, OH, 44109, USA; Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, 2080 Adelbert Road, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | | | - Andrea Donaldson
- Colobus Conservation, P.O. Box 5380-80401, Diani, Kenya; Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - W Scott McGraw
- Department of Anthropology, The Ohio State University, 174 West 18th Ave, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
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Avià Y, Romero A, Estebaranz-Sánchez F, Pérez-Pérez A, Cuesta-Torralvo E, Martínez LM. Dental topography and dietary specialization in Papionini primates. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.969007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Our understanding of primate adaptive evolution depends on appreciating the way in which dental functional morphology affects food processing. The Papionini tribe of Cercopithecoidea primates shows great dietary versatility and ecological adaptations to resource seasonality across the African and Asian ecosystems, however, there are few studies focusing on the occlusal topography of the bilophodont teeth and the effect of tooth wear in the crown shape. Here, we explore the relationship between wear-related dental functional morphology and dietary ecological constraints within the Papionini. Three-dimensional (3D) polygonal meshes of the upper permanent molar row (M1-3) were obtained in a large papionine sample (838 specimens) of known dietary preferences including species from six genera (Cercocebus, Lophocebus, Macaca, Mandrillus, Papio, and Theropithecus). All the sample was classified in four diet categories and four topographic metrics (orientation patch count rotated, OPCR; Dirichlet normal energy, DNE; occlusal relief, OR; and ambient occlusion, portion de ciel visible, PCV) were measured for each tooth-type according to wear stage (lightly and moderately worn) to determine diet-related interspecific morphological changes with long-term functionality. The results indicate that hard-object feeders (Cercocebus and Lophocebus) and grass eaters (Theropithecus gelada) exhibit a pattern of occlusal complexity (OPCR), surface curvature (DNE), relief (OR), and morphological wear resistance (PCV) that is significantly different from the omnivores and folivore-frugivore species (Mandrillus and Macaca) despite the overall homogeneity of the bilophodont dentition. A multifactorial ANOVA showed that the topographic metrics were sensitive to tooth wear as expected. The results also indicate that the interspecific variability of dental topography of the upper molars reflects dietary specializations rather than phylogenetic proximity. These findings support the hypothesis that evolutionary convergence processes could have affected the Papionini, clustering the hard-object feeders (Lophocebus and Cercocebus) together in the morphospace, and clearly discriminating this group from the graminivorous and frugivores-folivores.
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Sign-oriented Dirichlet Normal Energy: Aligning Dental Topography and Dental Function in the R-package molaR. J MAMM EVOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10914-022-09616-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Heffernan KS, Samonds KE, Godfrey LR, Raharison JL, Ranaivoarisoa JF, Irwin MT. Diademed sifakas (Propithecus diadema) in intact and degraded forest habitat at Tsinjoarivo, Madagascar, show high reproductive success and no evidence that dental senescence or rainfall affects reproductive output. Folia Primatol (Basel) 2022. [DOI: 10.1163/14219980-20210403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Sifakas (genus Propithecus) diverge from other lemurs in their strategy to contend with Madagascar’s highly seasonal climate and maximize reproductive success: they have long lifetimes (presumably to wait out unfavorable times) and extreme dental precocity (to allow weanlings to effectively process tough foods and thereby relieve energetic stress on mothers). However, as sifakas age, dental senescence can contribute to reproductive failure, especially when coupled with unfavorable weather conditions (as shown by King et al., 2005 for P. edwardsi at Ranomafana). To extend the effective life of the teeth, compensatory blades maintain functionality for the female sifaka, but wear may eventually have consequences on infant survival in certain climatic scenarios. We investigate the impacts of climate, age, and dental senescence on the reproduction of another sifaka, Propithecus diadema, in fragmented and intact habitats of Tsinjoarivo, Madagascar. We documented birth and infant survival between 2002 and 2017 across twelve groups, including 73 births, and we used 77 dental casts representing 54 adults to estimate age when exact age was not known. We report that sifakas in Tsinjoarivo do not conform to the expectations that link advanced age with dental and reproductive senescence. Propithecus diadema at Tsinjoarivo show slower tooth wear, higher reproductive output and higher infant survival compared to congeners. Likelihood of birth and infant mortality do not correlate with intrinsic (mother’s age, tooth wear) or extrinsic (rainfall or habitat type) stressors. However, the small number of years without births or with infant deaths limits statistical power. At the local level, this study suggests that the long-term viability of Propithecus diadema at Tsinjoarivo is promising and reproductive output is high, even in disturbed fragments where nutrient intakes are reduced. Further research is needed to contextualize and understand these differences among sites and regions within Madagascar and avoid over-generalizing from single study sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie S. Heffernan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA
- Department of Natural Sciences & Mathematics, Richard Bland College, Petersburg, VA 23805, USA
| | - Karen E. Samonds
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA
| | - Laurie R. Godfrey
- Department of Anthropology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | | | - Jean Freddy Ranaivoarisoa
- Anthropobiologie et Développement Durable, Faculté des Sciences, Université d’Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Mitchell T. Irwin
- Department of Anthropology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA
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McGrath K, Eriksen AB, García-Martínez D, Galbany J, Gómez-Robles A, Massey JS, Fatica LM, Glowacka H, Arbenz-Smith K, Muvunyi R, Stoinski TS, Cranfield MR, Gilardi K, Shalukoma C, de Merode E, Gilissen E, Tocheri MW, McFarlin SC, Heuzé Y. Facial asymmetry tracks genetic diversity among Gorilla subspecies. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20212564. [PMID: 35193404 PMCID: PMC8864355 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.2564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Mountain gorillas are particularly inbred compared to other gorillas and even the most inbred human populations. As mountain gorilla skeletal material accumulated during the 1970s, researchers noted their pronounced facial asymmetry and hypothesized that it reflects a population-wide chewing side preference. However, asymmetry has also been linked to environmental and genetic stress in experimental models. Here, we examine facial asymmetry in 114 crania from three Gorilla subspecies using 3D geometric morphometrics. We measure fluctuating asymmetry (FA), defined as random deviations from perfect symmetry, and population-specific patterns of directional asymmetry (DA). Mountain gorillas, with a current population size of about 1000 individuals, have the highest degree of facial FA (explaining 17% of total facial shape variation), followed by Grauer gorillas (9%) and western lowland gorillas (6%), despite the latter experiencing the greatest ecological and dietary variability. DA, while significant in all three taxa, explains relatively less shape variation than FA does. Facial asymmetry correlates neither with tooth wear asymmetry nor increases with age in a mountain gorilla subsample, undermining the hypothesis that facial asymmetry is driven by chewing side preference. An examination of temporal trends shows that stress-induced developmental instability has increased over the last 100 years in these endangered apes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate McGrath
- State University of New York, College at Oneonta, Oneonta, NY 13820, USA,Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, MC, PACEA, UMR 5199, 33615, Pessac, France,Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, Department of Anthropology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA,Department of Anthropology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | | | - Daniel García-Martínez
- Physical Anthropology Unit, Department of Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Galbany
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, MC, PACEA, UMR 5199, 33615, Pessac, France,Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d'Hebron 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Aida Gómez-Robles
- Department of Anthropology, University College London, 14 Taviton St, London WC1H 0BW, UK
| | - Jason S. Massey
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Lawrence M. Fatica
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, MC, PACEA, UMR 5199, 33615, Pessac, France,Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Halszka Glowacka
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix 85004, USA
| | - Keely Arbenz-Smith
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Richard Muvunyi
- Department of Tourism and Conservation, Rwanda Development Board, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Tara S. Stoinski
- The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, Atlanta, GA 30315, USA
| | - Michael R. Cranfield
- Gorilla Doctors (MGVP, Inc.), Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Kirsten Gilardi
- Gorilla Doctors (MGVP, Inc.), Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Chantal Shalukoma
- Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature, Virunga National Park, Rumangabo, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Emmanuel de Merode
- Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature, Virunga National Park, Rumangabo, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Emmanuel Gilissen
- Department of African Zoology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium,Laboratory of Histology and Neuropathology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Matthew W. Tocheri
- Department of Anthropology, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada P7B 5E1,Human Origins Program, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013, USA,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia
| | - Shannon C. McFarlin
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, MC, PACEA, UMR 5199, 33615, Pessac, France,Human Origins Program, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013, USA
| | - Yann Heuzé
- State University of New York, College at Oneonta, Oneonta, NY 13820, USA
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Lee J, Fung S, Yong R, Ranjitkar S, Kaidonis J, Evans AR, Fiorenza L. Tooth wear development in the Australian Aboriginal dentition from Yuendumu: A longitudinal study. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254151. [PMID: 34242291 PMCID: PMC8270463 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The analysis of dental wear, at both the microscopic and macroscopic scale, is one of the most widely used tools in archeology and anthropology to reconstruct the diet and lifestyle of past human populations. Biomechanical studies have indicated that tooth wear helps to dissipate the mechanical load over the crown surface, thus reducing the risk of tooth fracture. To date, there are only a few studies that have examined functional tooth wear variation in modern humans. Here we propose to study masticatory efficiency through the use of the Occlusal Fingerprint Analysis method, a well-developed digital approach that allows the reconstruction of the occlusal dynamics occurring during mastication. The aim of this study is to provide the first longitudinal quantitative data of molar and premolar macrowear patterns within a functional context. We examined the mixed and permanent dentition of one Australian Aboriginal child (from ages 8 to 17) from Yuendumu, using high-resolution surface scans of dental casts including both upper and lower arches. Our results suggest that the occlusal macrowear patterns of this individual did not significantly change through time. Occlusal contact parameters such as functional area, inclination and direction remain relatively unaltered throughout childhood and adolescence, indicating little change in the masticatory function of this individual. The functional tooth wear pattern in this individual did not change longitudinally indicating the degree of masticatory efficiency has most probably remained unaltered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyoung Lee
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sarah Fung
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Robin Yong
- Adelaide Dental School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Sarbin Ranjitkar
- Adelaide Dental School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - John Kaidonis
- Adelaide Dental School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Alistair R. Evans
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Geosciences, Museums Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Luca Fiorenza
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Earth Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
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Berthaume MA, Lazzari V, Guy F. The landscape of tooth shape: Over 20 years of dental topography in primates. Evol Anthropol 2020; 29:245-262. [PMID: 32687672 PMCID: PMC7689778 DOI: 10.1002/evan.21856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Revised: 11/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Diet plays an incontrovertible role in primate evolution, affecting anatomy, growth and development, behavior, and social structure. It should come as no surprise that a myriad of methods for reconstructing diet have developed, mostly utilizing the element that is not only most common in the fossil record but also most pertinent to diet: teeth. Twenty years ago, the union of traditional, anatomical analyses with emerging scanning and imaging technologies led to the development of a new method for quantifying tooth shape and reconstructing the diets of extinct primates. This method became known as dental topography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A. Berthaume
- Division of Mechanical Engineering and DesignLondon South Bank UniversityLondonUK
- Department of BioengineeringImperial College LondonLondonUK
| | - Vincent Lazzari
- PALEVOPRIM—UMR 7262 CNRS INEE Laboratoire Paléontologie Evolution Paléoécosystèmes PaléoprimatologieUniversité de PoitiersPoitiersFrance
| | - Franck Guy
- PALEVOPRIM—UMR 7262 CNRS INEE Laboratoire Paléontologie Evolution Paléoécosystèmes PaléoprimatologieUniversité de PoitiersPoitiersFrance
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10
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Silvester CM, Hillson S. A critical assessment of the potential for Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry to produce high fidelity 3D dental models. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2020; 173:381-392. [PMID: 32748988 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The recent proliferation of methods of 3D model generation has enabled the development of new approaches to the analysis of dental form, function and wear. This article assesses whether Structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry is capable of producing virtual 3D models of teeth of adequate quality for assessing fine scale surface details, such as dental macrowear patterns. Reference models were generated using a high resolution structured light scanner to assess the accuracy of the photogrammetric models generated. MATERIALS AND METHODS Dental gypsum models of the molar teeth of human individuals from St. Michael's Litten, Chichester, Post-medieval assemblage (n = 17) were used for 3D model generation. Photogrammetry was performed using Agisoft Metashape and reference 3D models were generated using a GOM ATOS 80 scanner. Focus stacking was explored as a method of enhancing 3D model detail. Differences between the photogrammetric and reference models were assessed using CloudCompare and the quality of the surface detail was examined quantitatively using Occlusal Fingerprint Analysis. RESULTS Photogrammetric model generation was highly replicable and the tooth models produced closely approximated the overall geometry of those derived from the structured light scanner. Dental wear facet area measurements on the photogrammetric models differed significantly, however, from those derived from the structured light scanning reference models. DISCUSSION Photogrammetry can create virtual dental models from which crude quantitative size and shape data can be obtained. Finer scale surface details are not accurately reproduced on SfM models using the methods outlined in the current article due to high levels of surface noise.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Simon Hillson
- Institute of Archaeology, University College London, London, UK
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11
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Li P, Morse PE, Kay RF. Dental topographic change with macrowear and dietary inference in Homunculus patagonicus. J Hum Evol 2020; 144:102786. [PMID: 32402847 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2020.102786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Revised: 03/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Homunculus patagonicus is a stem platyrrhine from the late Early Miocene, high-latitude Santa Cruz Formation, Argentina. Its distribution lies farther south than any extant platyrrhine species. Prior studies on the dietary specialization of Homunculus suggest either a mixed diet of fruit and leaves or a more predominantly fruit-eating diet. To gain further insight into the diet of Homunculus, we examined how the occlusal surfaces of the first and second lower molars of Homunculus change with wear by using three homology-free dental topographic measures: Dirichlet normal energy (DNE), orientation patch count rotated (OPCR), and relief index (RFI). We compared these data with wear series of three extant platyrrhine taxa: the folivorous Alouatta, and the frugivorous Ateles and Callicebus (titi monkeys now in the genus Plecturocebus). Previous studies found Alouatta and Ateles exhibit distinctive patterns of change in occlusal morphology with macrowear, possibly related to the more folivorous diet of the former. Based on previous suggestions that Homunculus was at least partially folivorous, we predicted that changes in dental topographic metrics with wear would follow a pattern more similar to that seen in Alouatta than in Ateles or Callicebus. However, wear-induced changes in Homunculus crown sharpness (DNE) and complexity (OPCR) are more similar to the pattern observed in the frugivorous Ateles and Callicebus. Based on similar wear modalities of the lower molars between Homunculus and Callicebus, we infer that Homunculus had a primarily frugivorous diet. Leaves may have provided an alternative dietary resource to accommodate fluctuation in seasonal fruiting abundance in the high-latitude extratropical environment of late Early Miocene Patagonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peishu Li
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, Chicago IL, USA; Division of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
| | - Paul E Morse
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Richard F Kay
- Division of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
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12
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Lockey AL, Alemseged Z, Hublin JJ, Skinner MM. Maxillary molar enamel thickness of Plio-Pleistocene hominins. J Hum Evol 2020; 142:102731. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2019.102731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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13
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Galbany J, Muhire T, Vecellio V, Mudakikwa A, Nyiramana A, Cranfield MR, Stoinski TS, McFarlin SC. Incisor tooth wear and age determination in mountain gorillas from Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2018; 167:930-935. [PMID: 30368801 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2018] [Revised: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Ecological factors, but also tooth-to-tooth contact over time, have a dramatic effect on tooth wear in primates. The aim of this study is to test whether incisor tooth wear changes predictably with age and can thus be used as an age estimation method in a wild population of mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) from Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. MATERIALS AND METHODS In mountain gorillas of confidently known chronological age (N = 24), we measured the crown height of all permanent maxillary and mandibular incisors (I1 , I1 , I2 , I2 ) as a proxy for incisal macrowear. Linear and quadratic regressions for each incisor were used to test whether age can be predicted by crown height. Using these models, we then predicted age at death of two individual mountain gorillas of probable identifications, based on their incisor crown height. RESULTS Age decreased significantly with incisor height for all teeth, but the upper first incisors (I1 ) provided the best results, with the lowest Akaike's Information Criterion corrected for small sample size (AICc) and lowest Standard Error of the Estimate (SEE). When the best age equations for each sex were applied to gorillas with probable identifications, the predicted ages differed 1.58 and 3.33 years from the probable ages of these individuals. CONCLUSIONS Our findings corroborate that incisor crown height, a proxy for incisal wear, varies predictably with age. This relationship can be used to estimate age at death of unknown gorillas in the skeletal collection, and in some cases, to corroborate the identity of individual gorillas recovered from the forest postmortem at an advanced state of decomposition. Such identifications help fill gaps in the demographic database and support research that requires individual-level data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Galbany
- Department of Anthropology, Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia.,Department of Social Psychology and Quantitative Psychology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Thadée Muhire
- Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, Atlanta, Georgia
| | | | - Antoine Mudakikwa
- Department of Tourism and Conservation, Rwanda Development Board, Kigali, Rwanda
| | | | - Michael R Cranfield
- Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project, University of California at Davis, Davis, California
| | | | - Shannon C McFarlin
- Department of Anthropology, Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia
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14
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McRae R, Aronsen GP. Inventory and Assessment of theGorilla gorilla(Savage, 1847) Skeletal Collection Housed at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History. BULLETIN OF THE PEABODY MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 2018. [DOI: 10.3374/014.059.0205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan McRae
- Department of Anthropology, Yale University, New Haven CT 06520-8277 USA
| | - Gary P. Aronsen
- Biological Anthropology Laboratories, Department of Anthropology, Yale University, New Haven CT 06520-8277 USA
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15
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Pampush JD, Spradley JP, Morse PE, Griffith D, Gladman JT, Gonzales LA, Kay RF. Adaptive wear-based changes in dental topography associated with atelid (Mammalia: Primates) diets. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/bly069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- James D Pampush
- Department of Exercise Science, High Point University, High Point, NC, USA
- Department of Physician Assistant Studies, High Point University, High Point, NC, USA
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jackson P Spradley
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, USA
| | - Paul E Morse
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Darbi Griffith
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Justin T Gladman
- Shared Materials Instrumentation Facility (SMIF), Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Lauren A Gonzales
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, Greenville, SC, USA
| | - Richard F Kay
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Division of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
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16
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Dental topography and the diet of Homo naledi. J Hum Evol 2018; 118:14-26. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2018.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2017] [Revised: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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17
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18
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Oliveira LF, Palinkas M, Vasconcelos PBD, Regalo IH, Cecilio FA, Oliveira EF, Semprini M, Siéssere S, Regalo SCH. Influence of age on the electromyographic fatigue threshold of the masseter and temporal muscles of healthy individuals. Arch Oral Biol 2017; 84:1-5. [PMID: 28926743 DOI: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2017.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Revised: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lígia Franco Oliveira
- Department of Morphology, Physiology and Basic Pathology, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Palinkas
- Department of Morphology, Physiology and Basic Pathology, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Paulo Batista de Vasconcelos
- Department of Morphology, Physiology and Basic Pathology, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Isabela Hallak Regalo
- Department of Morphology, Physiology and Basic Pathology, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Flávia Argentato Cecilio
- Department of Morphology, Physiology and Basic Pathology, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Erica Franco Oliveira
- Department of Morphology, Physiology and Basic Pathology, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marisa Semprini
- Department of Morphology, Physiology and Basic Pathology, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Selma Siéssere
- Department of Morphology, Physiology and Basic Pathology, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Simone Cecilio Hallak Regalo
- Department of Morphology, Physiology and Basic Pathology, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil
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19
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Weary TE, Wrangham RW, Clauss M. Applying wet sieving fecal particle size measurement to frugivores: A case study of the eastern chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii). AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2017; 163:510-518. [PMID: 28374441 PMCID: PMC5493990 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2016] [Revised: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Fecal particle size (FPS) as quantified by wet sieving analysis is a measure of chewing efficiency relevant for the understanding of physiological adaptations and constraints in herbivores. FPS has not been investigated systematically in frugivores, and important methodological problems remain. In particular, food items that are not chewed may skew estimates of FPS. We address such methodological issues and also assess the influence of diet type and age on FPS in wild chimpanzees. MATERIALS AND METHODS About 130 fecal samples of 38 individual chimpanzees (aged from 1.3 to ∼55 years) from the Kanyawara community of Kibale National Park (Uganda) were collected during three fruit seasons and analyzed using standardized wet sieves (pores from 16 to 0.025 mm). The effects of using different sieve series and excluding large seeds were investigated. We also assessed the relationship between FPS and sex, age, and fruit season. RESULTS The treatment of seeds during the sieving process had a large influence on the results. FPS was not influenced by chimpanzee sex or age, but was smaller during a fig season (0.88 ± 0.31 mm) than during two drupe-fruit seasons (1.68 ± 0.37 mm) (0.025-4 mm sieves, excluding seeds). DISCUSSION The absence of an age effect on FPS suggests that dental senescence might be less critical in chimpanzees, or in frugivores in general, than in folivorous herbivores. To increase the value of FPS studies for understanding frugivore and hominoid dietary evolution we propose modifications to prior herbivore protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor E. Weary
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
| | - Richard W. Wrangham
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
| | - Marcus Clauss
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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20
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Glowacka H, McFarlin SC, Vogel ER, Stoinski TS, Ndagijimana F, Tuyisingize D, Mudakikwa A, Schwartz GT. Toughness of the Virunga mountain gorilla (
Gorilla beringei beringei
) diet across an altitudinal gradient. Am J Primatol 2017; 79. [DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2016] [Revised: 03/04/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Halszka Glowacka
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Institute of Human OriginsArizona State UniversityTempeArizona
| | - Shannon C. McFarlin
- Department of Anthropology and Center for the Advanced Study of Human PaleobiologyThe George Washington UniversityWashingtonDistrict of Columbia
| | - Erin R. Vogel
- Department of Anthropology, RutgersThe State University of New JerseyNew BrunswickNew Jersey
| | | | - Felix Ndagijimana
- Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund InternationalKarisoke Research CenterMusanzeRwanda
| | - Deo Tuyisingize
- Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund InternationalKarisoke Research CenterMusanzeRwanda
| | - Antoine Mudakikwa
- Department of Tourism and ConservationRwanda Development BoardKigaliRwanda
| | - Gary T. Schwartz
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Institute of Human OriginsArizona State UniversityTempeArizona
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21
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Pampush JD, Spradley JP, Morse PE, Harrington AR, Allen KL, Boyer DM, Kay RF. Wear and its effects on dental topography measures in howling monkeys (Alouatta palliata). AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2016; 161:705-721. [PMID: 27634058 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Revised: 08/05/2016] [Accepted: 08/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Three dental topography measurements: Dirichlet Normal Energy (DNE), Relief Index (RFI), and Orientation Patch Count Rotated (OPCR) are examined for their interaction with measures of wear, within and between upper and lower molars in Alouatta palliata. Potential inferences of the "dental sculpting" phenomenon are explored. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifteen occluding pairs of howling monkey first molars (15 upper, 15 lower) opportunistically collected from La Pacifica, Costa Rica, were selected to sample wear stages ranging from unworn to heavily worn as measured by the Dentine Exposure Ratio (DER). DNE, RFI, and OPCR were measured from three-dimensional surface reconstructions (PLY files) derived from high-resolution CT scans. Relationships among the variables were tested with regression analyses. RESULTS Upper molars have more cutting edges, exhibiting significantly higher DNE, but have significantly lower RFI values. However, the relationships among the measures are concordant across both sets of molars. DER and EDJL are curvilinearly related. DER is positively correlated with DNE, negatively correlated with RFI, and uncorrelated with OPCR. EDJL is not correlated with DNE, or RFI, but is positively correlated with OPCR among lower molars only. DISCUSSION The relationships among these metrics suggest that howling monkey teeth adaptively engage macrowear. DNE increases with wear in this sample presumably improving food breakdown. RFI is initially high but declines with wear, suggesting that the initially high RFI safeguards against dental senescence. OPCR values in howling monkey teeth do not show a clear relationship with wear changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- James D Pampush
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jackson P Spradley
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Paul E Morse
- Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.,Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | - Kari L Allen
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Doug M Boyer
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Richard F Kay
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.,Division of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
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22
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Growing up tough: Comparing the effects of food toughness on juvenile feeding in Sapajus libidinosus and Trachypithecus phayrei crepusculus. J Hum Evol 2016; 98:76-89. [PMID: 27544691 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2016.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2014] [Revised: 06/17/2016] [Accepted: 07/19/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Studies of primate feeding ontogeny provide equivocal support for reduced juvenile proficiency. When immatures exhibit decreased feeding competency, these differences are attributed to a spectrum of experience- and strength-related constraints and are often linked to qualitative assessments of food difficulty. However, few have investigated age-related differences in feeding ability relative to mechanical property variation across the diet, both within and among food types. In this study, we combined dietary toughness and feeding behavior data collected in the wild from cross-sectional samples of two primate taxa, Sapajus libidinosus and Trachypithecus phayrei crepusculus, to test the prediction that small-bodied juveniles are less efficient at processing tough foods than adults. We defined feeding efficiency as the time spent to ingest and masticate one food item (item bout length) and quantified the toughness and size of foods processed during those feeding bouts. To make the datasets comparable, we limited the dataset to foods processed by more than one age class and opened without tools. The overall toughness of foods processed by both species overlapped considerably, and juveniles and adults in both taxa processed foods of comparable toughness. Feeding efficiency decreased in response to increasing food toughness in leaf monkeys and in response to food size in both taxa. Age was found to be a significant predictor of bout length in leaf monkeys, but not in bearded capuchins. Juvenile S. libidinosus processed smaller fruits than adults, suggesting they employ behavioral strategies to mitigate the effect of consuming large (and occasionally large and tough) foods. We suggest future intra- and interspecific research of juvenile feeding competency utilize intake rates scaled by food size and geometry, as well as by detailed measures of feeding time (e.g., ingestion vs. mastication), in addition to food mechanical properties to facilitate comparisons across diverse food types and feeding behaviors.
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23
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Galbany J, Romero A, Mayo-Alesón M, Itsoma F, Gamarra B, Pérez-Pérez A, Willaume E, Kappeler PM, Charpentier MJE. Age-related tooth wear differs between forest and savanna primates. PLoS One 2014; 9:e94938. [PMID: 24732967 PMCID: PMC3986402 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2013] [Accepted: 03/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Tooth wear in primates is caused by aging and ecological factors. However, comparative data that would allow us to delineate the contribution of each of these factors are lacking. Here, we contrast age-dependent molar tooth wear by scoring percent of dentine exposure (PDE) in two wild African primate populations from Gabonese forest and Kenyan savanna habitats. We found that forest-dwelling mandrills exhibited significantly higher PDE with age than savanna yellow baboons. Mandrills mainly feed on large tough food items, such as hard-shell fruits, and inhabit an ecosystem with a high presence of mineral quartz. By contrast, baboons consume large amounts of exogenous grit that adheres to underground storage organs but the proportion of quartz in the soils where baboons live is low. Our results support the hypothesis that not only age but also physical food properties and soil composition, particularly quartz richness, are factors that significantly impact tooth wear. We further propose that the accelerated dental wear in mandrills resulting in flatter molars with old age may represent an adaptation to process hard food items present in their environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Galbany
- Center for the Advanced Study of Hominid Paleobiology, Department of Anthropology, The George Washington University, Washington DC, United States of America
- Departament de Biologia Animal – Secció d'Antropologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alejandro Romero
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | - Mercedes Mayo-Alesón
- Departament de Biologia Animal – Secció d'Antropologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Fiacre Itsoma
- SODEPAL (Société du Parc d'Exploitation de la Lékédi)-COMILOG Society. Bakoumba, Gabon
| | - Beatriz Gamarra
- Departament de Biologia Animal – Secció d'Antropologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alejandro Pérez-Pérez
- Departament de Biologia Animal – Secció d'Antropologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eric Willaume
- SODEPAL (Société du Parc d'Exploitation de la Lékédi)-COMILOG Society. Bakoumba, Gabon
| | - Peter M. Kappeler
- Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center (DPZ), Göttingen, Germany
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