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An evaluation of individual seasonal changes in dental macro- and mesowear of wild-caught common vole (Microtus arvalis sensu lato) by the intravital impressions method

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Abstract

Evaluation of macro- and mesowear of the cheek teeth of Microtus voles as indicators of diet in paleoecological reconstructions are by now only at the level of pilot studies but already show promising results. Microtus voles exhibit food plasticity, and the structure of their molars determines a subtle response to changes in food composition. Dental remains of voles are abundant in Late Pleistocene and Holocene localities. However, before estimating fossil material, it is necessary to study the range of variation in extant samples. The aim of the current study is to evaluate whether or not seasonal variability of tooth wear is visible in the common vole M. arvalis from the Ural region (Russia). This is the first in vivo study of vole tooth wear using intravital impressions method. The process of individual macro- and mesowear of the first lower molar of wild-caught common voles has been investigated and quantified. The resulting data show a tendency of decreasing occlusal angle and increasing crown height from April to June/July. Moreover, the differentiation of wear of the dense and soft dentine of the occlusal surface of the enamel prisms decreased, and the depth of the relief increased. All these tendencies are obviously correlated with the change from less abrasive to more abrasive green feed components. From July to August, a reverse trend can be observed returning to a similar as during the spring months.

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Data availability

Raw data presented in this study are presented in Appendix II. The original specimens are curated and kept at the Laboratory of Paleoecology, Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Russian Academy of Sciences.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the reviewers for their thorough work and useful comments on the manuscript. We are grateful to Dr. N.G. Smirnov for comprehensive assistance at all stages of work.

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This research was performed under the state assignment of the Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences.

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  1. Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Yekaterinburg, 620144, Russia

    Yuliya E. Kropacheva & Sergey V. Zykov

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  1. Yuliya E. Kropacheva
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Correspondence to Yuliya E. Kropacheva.

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Kropacheva, Y.E., Zykov, S.V. An evaluation of individual seasonal changes in dental macro- and mesowear of wild-caught common vole (Microtus arvalis sensu lato) by the intravital impressions method. Mamm Biol 102, 501–516 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42991-022-00252-4

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