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Ecological stress and linear enamel hypoplasia in Cebus
Author(s) -
Chollet Madeleine B.,
Teaford Mark F.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
american journal of physical anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1096-8644
pISSN - 0002-9483
DOI - 10.1002/ajpa.21182
Subject(s) - home range , ecology , significant difference , biology , habitat , enamel hypoplasia , range (aeronautics) , rainforest , stressor , zoology , enamel paint , medicine , dentistry , materials science , composite material , neuroscience
Although it is assumed that monkeys in some environments experience more nutritional or physiological stress than others, little research has been conducted on this topic. This study examines the relationship between linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) frequency, a physiological indicator of stress, and environmental stressors. To test this relationship, LEH frequencies were calculated for 144 Cebus from 54 locations in Brazil. Habitat, temperature range, and annual rainfall were compared between individuals with and without LEH. The LEH frequency for Cebus from semideciduous forests was significantly higher than that for monkeys from coastal areas, the rainforest, and the savanna (χ 2 = 9.97, df = 1; P = 0.0016). A significantly higher LEH frequency was also found for monkeys living in environments with the mean annual temperature between 15 and 18°C than for those in environments greater than 18°C (χ 2 = 7.74, df = 1, P = 0.0054). However, no significant difference was found between LEH frequency and annual rainfall ( t = 1.22, P = 0.23) or the average difference in rainfall between the driest and wettest months ( t = 0.77, P = 0.44). These results indicate that levels of physiological stress can differ among environments and that habitat and temperature, but not precipitation, may be driving the difference in stress levels among environments. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.