Dental microwear texture as a proxy for diet in xenarthrans

Haupt, Ryan J.; DeSantis, Larisa R.G.; Green, Jeremy L.; Ungar, Peter S.

doi:10.1644/12-mamm-a-204.1

Cited by 56 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 67 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The DMTA analysis of bovids described here derives from the same dataset and demonstrates how increased complexity ( Asfc ) and decreasing anisotropy ( epLsar ) occurs with the predictable consumption of harder and/or less abrasive food items. Lastly, the convergence of similar DMTA results across disparate taxonomic groups (e.g., bovids, macropods, primates, xenarthrans) [18,19,21–25] contributes to greater comparability amongst diverse organisms.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Complexity ( Asfc ) distinguishes taxa that consume brittle foods from taxa that consume softer and/or tougher ones, by assessing the change in surface roughness across changing scale of observation [19,20]. Organisms that consume harder and/or more brittle food items have higher complexity [19–25]. Scale of maximum complexity (Smc) measures the fine-scale limits of the Asfc with greater Smc surface values associated with fewer small features [20].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While some observer biases may still be present (e.g., area of wear facet chosen for analysis by individual observers), DMTA has been shown to distinguish between disparate diets in mammals including bovids [21], carnivorans [22,23], marsupials [24], primates [18,19], and xenarthrans [25]. Specifically, greater values in features such as complexity (i.e., surface roughness at varying scales) occur in taxa consuming brittle food items, such as frugivores and bone consumers, while greater anisotropy (i.e., the orientation of wear features of similar depth) occurs in grazers and carnivores that avoid bone.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Direct Comparisons of 2D and 3D Dental Microwear Proxies in Extant Herbivorous and Carnivorous Mammals

et al. 2013

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The analysis of dental microwear is commonly used by paleontologists and anthropologists to clarify the diets of extinct species, including herbivorous and carnivorous mammals. Currently, there are numerous methods employed to quantify dental microwear, varying in the types of microscopes used, magnifications, and the characterization of wear in both two dimensions and three dimensions. Results from dental microwear studies utilizing different methods are not directly comparable and human quantification of wear features (e.g., pits and scratches) introduces interobserver error, with higher error being produced by less experienced individuals. Dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA), which analyzes microwear features in three dimensions, alleviates some of the problems surrounding two-dimensional microwear methods by reducing observer bias. Here, we assess the accuracy and comparability within and between 2D and 3D dental microwear analyses in herbivorous and carnivorous mammals at the same magnification. Specifically, we compare observer-generated 2D microwear data from photosimulations of the identical scanned areas of DMTA in extant African bovids and carnivorans using a scanning white light confocal microscope at 100x magnification. Using this magnification, dental microwear features quantified in 2D were able to separate grazing and frugivorous bovids using scratch frequency; however, DMTA variables were better able to discriminate between disparate dietary niches in both carnivorous and herbivorous mammals. Further, results demonstrate significant interobserver differences in 2D microwear data, with the microwear index remaining the least variable between experienced observers, consistent with prior research. Overall, our results highlight the importance of reducing observer error and analyzing dental microwear in three dimensions in order to consistently interpret diets accurately.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Direct Comparisons of 2D and 3D Dental Microwear Proxies in Extant Herbivorous and Carnivorous Mammals

et al. 2013

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Extant cougar (Puma concolor) specimens were examined from both southern California (Puma concolor cougar, n ¼ 17; Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History) and from Florida (Puma concolor coryi, n ¼ 21; Florida Museum of Natural History, some noted in reference [13]). These specimens were compared with the following extant species: Acinonyx jubatus (cheetah, n ¼ 9), Panthera leo (African lion, n ¼ 15) and Crocuta crocuta (spotted hyaena, n ¼ 12) from reference [12].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cougars’ key to survival through the Late Pleistocene extinction: insights from dental microwear texture analysis

DeSantis

Haupt

2014

Biol. Lett.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Cougars (Puma concolor) are one of only two large cats in North America to have survived the Late Pleistocene extinction (LPE), yet the specific key(s) to their relative success remains unknown. Here, we compare the dental microwear textures of Pleistocene cougars with sympatric felids from the La Brea Tar Pits in southern California that went extinct at the LPE (Panthera atrox and Smilodon fatalis), to clarify potential dietary factors that led to the cougar's persistence through the LPE. We further assess whether the physical properties of food consumed have changed over time when compared with modern cougars in southern California. Using dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA), which quantifies surface features in three dimensions, we find that modern and Pleistocene cougars are not significantly different from modern African lions in any DMTA attributes, suggesting moderate durophagy (i.e. bone processing). Pleistocene cougars from La Brea have significantly greater complexity and textural fill volume than Panthera atrox (inferred to have primarily consumed flesh from fresh kills) and significantly greater variance in complexity values than S. fatalis. Ultimately, these results suggest that cougars already used or adopted a more generalized dietary strategy during the Pleistocene that may have been key to their subsequent success.

show abstract

“…However, recently, (ortho-)dentine has come into focus in taxonomic groups lacking enamel, such as xenarthrans (e.g., Oliveira 2001; Green 2009a, 2009b; Green and Resar 2012; Haupt et al 2013; Resar et al 2013). As reviewed by Green and Kalthoff (2015), microwear studies have proven feasible with all three microscopic techniques and offer insight into feeding habits of xenarthrans.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feeding Ecology in Oligocene Mylodontoid Sloths (Mammalia, Xenarthra) as Revealed by Orthodentine Microwear Analysis

Kalthoff

Green

2017

J Mammal Evol

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Recently, dental microwear analysis has been successfully employed to xenarthran teeth. Here, we present new data on use wear features on 16 molariforms of Orophodon hapaloides and Octodontotherium grande. These taxa count among the earliest sloths and are known from the Deseadan SALMA (late Oligocene). Modern phylogenetic analyses classify Octodontotherium and Orophodon within Mylodontoidea with whom they share lobate cheek teeth with an outer layer of cementum and a thick layer of orthodentine. Similar target areas of 100μm2 were analyzed on the orthodentine surface of each tooth by stereomicroscopic microwear and by SEM microwear. Results were unlike those of extant sloths (stereomicroscopic microwear: Bradypus, Choloepus) and published data from fossil sloths (SEM microwear: Acratocnus, Megalonyx, Megatherium, Thinobadistes); thus, both approaches independently indicate a different feeding ecology for the Oligocene taxa. The unique microwear results suggest that both taxa fed on plant material with low to moderate intrinsic toughness (foliage, twigs) but also proposes intake of tougher food items (e.g., seeds). Frequent gouging of the tooth surfaces can be explained by exogenous influence on microwear, such as possible intake of abrasive grit. We suggest an unspecialized herbivorous diet for Octodontotherium and Orophodon utilizing diverse food resources of their habitat. These interpretations support the reconstruction of (1) Deseadan environments as open habitats with spreading savannas/grasslands and (2) both taxa as wide-muzzled bulk feeders at ground level.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10914-017-9405-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

show abstract

Dental microwear texture as a proxy for diet in xenarthrans

Cited by 56 publications

References 67 publications

Direct Comparisons of 2D and 3D Dental Microwear Proxies in Extant Herbivorous and Carnivorous Mammals

Direct Comparisons of 2D and 3D Dental Microwear Proxies in Extant Herbivorous and Carnivorous Mammals

Cougars’ key to survival through the Late Pleistocene extinction: insights from dental microwear texture analysis

Feeding Ecology in Oligocene Mylodontoid Sloths (Mammalia, Xenarthra) as Revealed by Orthodentine Microwear Analysis

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About