Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
image/svg+xml Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Closed Access logo, derived from PLoS Open Access logo. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Closed_Access_logo_transparent.svg Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Small Ruminant Resea...arrow_drop_down
image/svg+xml Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Closed Access logo, derived from PLoS Open Access logo. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Closed_Access_logo_transparent.svg Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao
Small Ruminant Research
Article . 2004 . Peer-reviewed
License: Elsevier TDM
Data sources: Crossref
versions View all 1 versions
addClaim

Tooth microwear pattern in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) from Chizé (Western France) and relation to food composition

Authors: G. Merceron; L. Viriot; C. Blondel;

Tooth microwear pattern in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) from Chizé (Western France) and relation to food composition

Abstract

This study was designed to correlate the dental microwear pattern in a population of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) with seasonal dietary data. Fifty roe deer specimens from the Chize Forest in western France provides the material of this study. The shearing facet of the second molars is digitized using a 256 level gray scale light stereomicroscope equipped with a CCD camera. Numbers and dimensions of scratches and pits are quantified using a semi-automatic protocol. Considering the population as a whole, the results are consistent with previous dental microwear analysis and suggest a browsing diet (sensu lato). In fact, the percentage of pits exceeds 50%, which is correlated with a browsing and not grazing. Furthermore, the dental microwear excludes foraging on tubers or roots. Although no significant differences are found between sexes, males from the autumn sample have a higher number of scratches on the shearing molar facets than the females. This may be correlated with the more important intake of fruits by males than females during the rutting period. The number of scratches also suggests a dietary difference between two seasonal clusters. Summer and autumnal samples have a higher frequency of highly scratched dental facets that correlate with the fruit consumption by the roe deer during these periods. Fewer dental pits were found in the roe deer sampled during summer and spring than during the other seasons. This suggests seasonal diet shifts among plant life forms with consumption of soft green leaves during the spring and summer. In winter and autumn, the roe deer feeds often on dead leaves, acorns and ivy. These food items are often consumed with sand or bark particles during the prehension of the food, this would increase the likelihood of more pits than would occur with soft semi-ligneous leaves. This seasonal dental microwear pattern has revealed a relationship between seasonal food availability and deer diets. The dental microwear analysis on this population of roe deer will help determine the paleodietary patterns of extinct ungulates.

Related Organizations
  • BIP!
    Impact byBIP!
    selected citations
    These citations are derived from selected sources.
    This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    71
    popularity
    This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
    Top 10%
    influence
    This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    Top 10%
    impulse
    This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
    Top 10%
Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
71
Top 10%
Top 10%
Top 10%
Upload OA version
Are you the author of this publication? Upload your Open Access version to Zenodo!
It’s fast and easy, just two clicks!