The Association Between Dietary Niche Variation in Rodents and Climate Change Across the Paleocene-eocene Thermal Maximum
Location
Hager-Lubbers Exhibition Hall
Description
PURPOSE: Mammalian teeth play a crucial role in food acquisition and breakdown. Therefore, they are closely tied to dietary niche. This study reconstructed the diet of early Paleogene paramyid rodents across the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum climatic event in an effort to understand the role of climate in mammalian dietary niche change. SUBJECTS: µCT scans of ninety-three first or second mandibular molars were utilized in this study. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Dietary niches were quantified using three dental topographic measures (Dirichlet normal energy, relief index, and orientation patch count rotated) and known climate data was collected from literature. ANALYSES: Analysis of variance was utilized to examine dietary niche change, and this was compared to known climate data using correlation analysis. RESULTS: Correlation analysis indicated that dietary niche change in these paramyid rodents was associated with climate change across the time period studied (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate the significance of climate change on the dietary niche of these rodents. There are potentially broader implications for mammalian interactions such as competition for resources.
The Association Between Dietary Niche Variation in Rodents and Climate Change Across the Paleocene-eocene Thermal Maximum
Hager-Lubbers Exhibition Hall
PURPOSE: Mammalian teeth play a crucial role in food acquisition and breakdown. Therefore, they are closely tied to dietary niche. This study reconstructed the diet of early Paleogene paramyid rodents across the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum climatic event in an effort to understand the role of climate in mammalian dietary niche change. SUBJECTS: µCT scans of ninety-three first or second mandibular molars were utilized in this study. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Dietary niches were quantified using three dental topographic measures (Dirichlet normal energy, relief index, and orientation patch count rotated) and known climate data was collected from literature. ANALYSES: Analysis of variance was utilized to examine dietary niche change, and this was compared to known climate data using correlation analysis. RESULTS: Correlation analysis indicated that dietary niche change in these paramyid rodents was associated with climate change across the time period studied (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate the significance of climate change on the dietary niche of these rodents. There are potentially broader implications for mammalian interactions such as competition for resources.