Date of Graduation

5-2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Biological Sciences

Advisor/Mentor

Paul, Kathleen

Committee Member/Reader

Evans, Timothy

Committee Member/Second Reader

Beaulieu, Jeremy

Committee Member/Third Reader

Aloia, Lindsey

Abstract

This study is methods-focused, centering around molar crown macrowear and its performance as a proxy for age in a sample of pedigreed, non-human primates. It analyzes the correlation between age-structured variables and molar wear among both males and females in a captive group of baboons. Here, I examined whether wear is significantly correlated with age-related variables (i.e., generations/cohorts) and whether the structure of the “age” dataset differed across wear categories. Because chronological age is unknown, I used documented pedigrees and parent-offspring relationships to group individuals into possible generations. I then used dental development charts to group individuals into cohorts based on tooth eruption patterns observed from dental casts of each individual. A modified version of the Scott System was used to record degree of molar wear. Results indicate significant differences in both age and wear profiles between males and females. However, for both sex-groups, significant relationships exist between M1 and M2 wear and “age” (i.e., cohort/generation membership) that suggest, as expected, wear increases the longer an individual is alive. Results also indicate significant differences in age profiles for males and females across wear categories that might be useful in assigning cohort/generation membership when no pedigree records are available. These findings could be applied by other researchers, especially those wishing to include age as a model covariate in future analyses.

Keywords

Non-Human Primates; Pedigree; Generation; Cohort; Wear Score; Quantitative Genetic Analysis

Download

Share

COinS