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Elemental Analysis of Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) Teeth Using X-ray Fluorescence and a Comparison to Other Species

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Abstract

Elemental composition in bone of the different species has variation depending on genetic and environmental factors especially their food habitat. The aims of this study were to conduct an elemental analysis of Asian elephant teeth, both deciduous (first molar, second molar, and tusk) and permanent (molar and tusk), and compare the elemental composition of permanent teeth among 15 species, mostly mammalian. These teeth were analyzed using X-ray fluorescence at two voltages: 15 and 50 kV. In Asian elephants, deciduous tusk showed a lower Ca/Zn ratio compared to permanent tusk, because of the lack of Zn in permanent molars. Ca/Fe ratio was higher in deciduous than permanent molars. For permanent teeth, elephant molars presented a high Ca/Pb ratio but no Ca/Zn, Ca/Sr, and Zn/Fe ratios because of the lack of Zn and Sr in the samples tested. The key elemental ratios for differentiating elephant deciduous and permanent tusk were Ca/P and Ca/Zn. The considerable variation in elemental ratio data across 15 species was observed. All tooth samples contained Ca and P, which was not surprising; however, Pb also was present in all samples and Cd in a large majority, suggesting exposure to environmental contaminants. From discriminant analysis, the combination of Ca/P+Ca/Zn+Ca/Pb+Ca/Fe+Ca/Sr+Zn/Fe can generate two equations that successfully classified six (dog, pig, goat, tapir, monkey, and elephant) out of 15 species at 100 % specificity. In conclusion, determining the elemental profile of teeth may serve as a tool to identify the tooth “type” of elephants and to potentially classify other species.

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Abbreviations

F:

Fluorine (9)

Al:

Aluminum (13)

Si:

Silicon (14)

P:

Phosphorous (15)

S:

Sulfur (16)

Ca:

Calcium (20)

Cr:

Chromium (24)

Fe:

Iron (26)

Co:

Cobalt (27)

Ni:

Nickel (28)

Cu:

Copper (29)

Zn:

Zinc (30)

Br:

Bromine (35)

Sr:

Strontium (38)

Mo:

Molybdenum (42)

Rh:

Rhodium (45)

Cd:

Cadmium (48)

Hf:

Hafnium (72)

Hg:

Mercury (80)

Ti:

Titanium (81)

Pb:

Lead (82)

U:

Uranium (92)

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge Miss Nutcatcher Pitakarnnop for her diligent laboratory work. Special thanks to Dr. Patcharaporn Kaewmong, Phuket Marine Biological Center, Thailand and Dr. Raksiri Nomsiri, Chiang Mai Night Safari, Thailand from the Animal Anatomy Museum, Department of Veterinary Bioscience and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University for providing all samples used in this study. The authors are also grateful for research funding from the Elephant Research and Education Center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors’ Contributions

KN designed and performed the experiments. KB performed the statistical analysis. CS and CT supported elephant sample. KN, JLB, and CT wrote the paper. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Animal Bone and Joint Research Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Biosciences and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50100, Thailand

    Korakot Nganvongpanit & Kittisak Buddhachat

  2. Elephant Research and Education Center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50100, Thailand

    Korakot Nganvongpanit, Chaleamchat Somgird & Chatchote Thitaram

  3. Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Center for Species Survival, National Zoological Park, 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA, 22630, USA

    Janine L. Brown

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  1. Korakot Nganvongpanit
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Correspondence to Korakot Nganvongpanit.

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Nganvongpanit, K., Brown, J.L., Buddhachat, K. et al. Elemental Analysis of Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) Teeth Using X-ray Fluorescence and a Comparison to Other Species. Biol Trace Elem Res 170, 94–105 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-015-0445-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-015-0445-x

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