The dental microwear of hard-object feeding in laboratory Sapajus apella and its implications for dental microwear formation.
Title
The dental microwear of hard-object feeding in laboratory Sapajus apella and its implications for dental microwear formation.
Creator
Teaford Mark F; Ungar Peter S; Taylor Andrea B; Ross Callum F; Vinyard Christopher J
Publisher
American journal of physical anthropology
Date
2020
2020-03
Description
OBJECTIVES: This study seeks to determine if (a) consumption of hard food items or a mixture of food items leads to the formation of premolar or molar microwear in laboratory capuchin monkeys (Sapajus apella) in one feeding session and (b) rates of microwear formation are associated with the number of food items consumed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five adult male capuchins were used in two experiments, one where they were fed unshelled Brazil nuts, and the other where they were fed a mixture of food items. Dental impressions were taken before and after each feeding session. Epoxy casts made from those impressions then were used in SEM analyses of rates of microwear formation. Upper and lower premolars and molars were analyzed. Qualitative comparisons were made and Spearman's rank-order correlations used to examine the relationship between rates of microwear formation and number of Brazil nuts consumed. RESULTS: Premolars and molars generally showed new microwear in the form of pits and scratches. However, the incidence of those features was low (0-6%). Rates of microwear formation were highest during the consumption of Brazil nuts. DISCUSSION: Variations in the rate of microwear formation on the premolars likely reflected patterns of ingestion whereas consistency in the rate of microwear on the molars likely reflected patterns of chewing. While dental microwear formation seemed to be correlated with the number of hard objects consumed, rates did differ between individuals. Differences in results between the two experiments demonstrate some of the limitations in our knowledge of dental microwear formation.
Subject
ingestion; mastication; scanning electron microscopy; dental impressions; New World monkey
Identifier
Rights
Article information provided for research and reference use only. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
Format
Journal Article
URL Address
Search for Full-text
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Pages
439-455
Issue
3
Volume
171
NEOMED College
NEOMED College of Medicine
NEOMED Department
Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology
Update Year & Number
March 2020 Update
Citation
Teaford Mark F; Ungar Peter S; Taylor Andrea B; Ross Callum F; Vinyard Christopher J, “The dental microwear of hard-object feeding in laboratory Sapajus apella and its implications for dental microwear formation.,” NEOMED Bibliography Database, accessed February 8, 2025, https://neomed.omeka.net/items/show/11005.