The functional relationship between feeding type and jaw and cranial morphology in ungulates
Start Date
29-4-2022 3:45 PM
Location
Alter Hall Poster Session 2 - 2nd floor
Abstract
The term Ungulata refers to a group of hoofed mammals which fall into three feeding categories: grazers, browsers, and mixed feeders. Grazers feed mainly on grasses and lower vegetation, while browsers feed on woody and non-woody dicotyledonous plants. The mixed feeding ungulates exhibit both types of feeding habits. This study investigated the relationship between feeding type and skull structure in several representative ungulates in each of the feeding groups. Several cranial and jaw indices were computed from measurements taken from digital images of jaws and skulls of each species using lmageJ, a morphometrics software program. The indices were standardized and subjected to an analysis of variance. I hypothesized that grazers should exhibit larger jaw muscles (especially the masseter) with enhanced moment arms that correlate to tougher diets (abrasive grasses with high silicon content) compared to browsers (consume <25% grass) or mixed feeders (consume 25-75% grass).
The functional relationship between feeding type and jaw and cranial morphology in ungulates
Alter Hall Poster Session 2 - 2nd floor
The term Ungulata refers to a group of hoofed mammals which fall into three feeding categories: grazers, browsers, and mixed feeders. Grazers feed mainly on grasses and lower vegetation, while browsers feed on woody and non-woody dicotyledonous plants. The mixed feeding ungulates exhibit both types of feeding habits. This study investigated the relationship between feeding type and skull structure in several representative ungulates in each of the feeding groups. Several cranial and jaw indices were computed from measurements taken from digital images of jaws and skulls of each species using lmageJ, a morphometrics software program. The indices were standardized and subjected to an analysis of variance. I hypothesized that grazers should exhibit larger jaw muscles (especially the masseter) with enhanced moment arms that correlate to tougher diets (abrasive grasses with high silicon content) compared to browsers (consume <25% grass) or mixed feeders (consume 25-75% grass).
