Date of Graduation
5-2025
Document Type
UAF Access Only - Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science in Biology
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
Anthropology
Advisor/Mentor
Paul, Kathleen
Committee Member
Beaulieu, Jeremy
Second Committee Member
Siepielski, Adam
Abstract
Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) refers to small, random deviations from bilateral symmetry that are thought to arise due to developmental instability and an inability to fully buffer against genetic and environmental stressors. In primates, early life is a critical period of increased vulnerability, making FA a valuable tool in assessing potential developmental stress events. Teeth are ideal for these analyses because their enamel crowns do not remodel after mineralizing, and while FA has been extensively studied in skeletal structures of humans, few studies have examined FA in the dentitions of non-human primates. This study investigates FA in the postcanine dentition (premolars and molars) of pedigreed hamadryas baboons using three-dimensional scans of stone dental casts collected from a captive population. This study examines the relationship between FA and documented demographic and genealogical variables that represent proxies for stress during dental development. Results indicate no significant association between FA and sex, age (cohort), birth order, or sibling count. For individuals with high levels of FA (two standard deviations above the sample mean), no significant relationship was found for pedigree membership or maternal/paternal lineage. However, 63% of high FA individuals were male, and 75% belonged to the younger cohort, which suggests higher vulnerability to environmental stress for these demographic groups. These findings contribute to our understanding of developmental instability and variables that approximate early life stress in individuals with marked FA in their postcanine dentition.
Keywords
Fluctuating Asymmetry; Hamadryas Baboons; Dental Morphology
Citation
Clayton, A. C. (2025). Is “Stress” Structured?: Examining Patterns of Dental Asymmetry in a Pedigreed Sample of Captive Baboons. Anthropology Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/anthuht/15
