Honors Program Theses
Award/Availability
Honors Program Thesis (UNI Access Only)
First Advisor
Nathan Bird, Honors Thesis Advisor, Biology
Keywords
Dental enamel; Vertebrates--Phylogeny;
Abstract
Enamel, the outermost layer of a tooth, is known for being the hardest tissue in the vertebrate body. Its strength and structure prevent tooth erosion and maintain tooth shape and functionality. The thickness of enamel varies across vertebrate species, often related to trophic needs. Many existing studies of tooth morphology are limited to closely related species, are almost always mammalian, and focus on feeding rather than evolution. This study offers a broad comparison across a diverse range of species. It seeks to determine if phylogeny (shared ancestry) also plays a role in enamel variation by examining the variation of relative enamel thickness within and among major vertebrate lineages. Microcomputed tomography was utilized to obtain images of the inner dental anatomy, after which statistical analyses were performed to compare clades, including individual by tooth types (incisor, canine, premolar, and molar, or their relative position along the jaw in homodontous species). Overall, the results of this study support the hypothesis that a phylogenetic component regulates enamel thickness in limited cases; however, the data do not suggest any broad phylogenetic influence. It is more likely that dietary niche and jaw strength constraints have a more significant impact, as seen in previous studies. This study accentuates the need for more robust analyses extending beyond mammals to understand better the evolution of arguably one of the most essential bodily components of feeding.
Year of Submission
2022
Department
Department of Biology
University Honors Designation
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the designation University Honors
Date Original
12-2022
Object Description
1 PDF file (42 pages)
Copyright
©2022 Carly Jewel Baker
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Baker, Carly Jewel, "Analysis of phylogenetic-based variation in enamel thickness in vertebrate teeth" (2022). Honors Program Theses. 557.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/hpt/557
