Enamel Corrosion Levels on Squirrel Teeth from the Fox Canyon Locality, Pliocene of Kansas

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Department

Biology

Abstract

The enamel of teeth may be corroded after death, especially if the teeth pass through the digestive tract of a predator with low gastric pH. This study characterized enamel corrosion of fossil squirrel teeth from two species (Otospermophilus rexroadensis and Ictidomys meadensis) obtained from the Fox Canyon locality of Kansas. Using microscopic imaging, I categorized teeth based on corrosion level. For both species, over 40% of specimens exhibited heavy to extreme corrosion, suggesting gastric digestion. There was no significant difference in the distribution of corrosion categories between both upper and lower teeth of either species. Furthermore, there was no difference in the distribution of corrosion categories between the two species.

Acknowledgments

Advisor: Tom Goodwin

Thesis Record URL

https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/honors/259/

Session

Department of Biology

Event Website

https://www.andrews.edu/services/research/research_events/conferences/urs_honors_poster_symposium/index.html

Start Date

3-26-2021 2:00 PM

End Date

3-26-2021 2:20 PM

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Mar 26th, 2:00 PM Mar 26th, 2:20 PM

Enamel Corrosion Levels on Squirrel Teeth from the Fox Canyon Locality, Pliocene of Kansas

The enamel of teeth may be corroded after death, especially if the teeth pass through the digestive tract of a predator with low gastric pH. This study characterized enamel corrosion of fossil squirrel teeth from two species (Otospermophilus rexroadensis and Ictidomys meadensis) obtained from the Fox Canyon locality of Kansas. Using microscopic imaging, I categorized teeth based on corrosion level. For both species, over 40% of specimens exhibited heavy to extreme corrosion, suggesting gastric digestion. There was no significant difference in the distribution of corrosion categories between both upper and lower teeth of either species. Furthermore, there was no difference in the distribution of corrosion categories between the two species.

https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/honors-undergraduate-poster-symposium/2021/symposium/3