Abstract
BackgroundIn many mammalian species, once the permanent teeth have erupted, the only change to dentition is a gradual loss of tooth surface/height through wear. The crown of the teeth cannot be repaired once worn. When dental crown tissue has been depleted due to wear, the animal is expected to have a suboptimal body condition. We evaluated the role of tooth wear in causing a reduction of physical condition in adult roe deer females (Capreolus capreolus).ResultsThe progressive wearing of the lower cheek teeth was assessed in a Northern Apennines (Italy) population with a new scoring scheme based on objectively described tooth characteristics (morphotypes) being either present or absent. Eviscerated body mass and mandible length, which is a good proxy for body size in roe deer, were related to the tooth wear score by the use of linear regressions. The sum of wear scores for molariform teeth correlated most strongly with body condition (i.e., eviscerated body mass/mandible length), showing the importance of the entire chewing surface for acquiring energy by food comminution, chewing, and digestion. In comparison with individuals of comparable size experiencing minor tooth wear, the body mass of those with the most advanced stage of tooth wear was decreased by 33.7%. This method was compared to the height and the hypsodonty index of the first molar, the most commonly used indices of tooth wear. The sum of molariform wear scoring scheme resulted in a more suitable index to describe the variation in body condition of roe deer.ConclusionsDescribing tooth wear patterns in hunted populations and monitoring at which tooth wear level (and therefore dental morphotype) an animal is no longer able to sustain its physical condition (i.e. when it begins to lose body mass) can be a useful tool for improving the management of the most widespread and abundant deer species in Europe. At the same time, such an approach can clarify the role of tooth wear as a proximate cause of senescence in ungulates.
Highlights
In many mammalian species, once the permanent teeth have erupted, the only change to dentition is a gradual loss of tooth surface/height through wear
Our study focuses on roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), the most widespread and abundant deer species in Europe, and a highly valued game species for which monitoring of population status is often required [39]
Hypsodonty index (HI), despite their correlation with M1 wear score, were not suitable indices to describe the variation in body condition of roe deer (Table 2, Fig. 3)
Summary
Once the permanent teeth have erupted, the only change to dentition is a gradual loss of tooth surface/height through wear. The crown of the teeth cannot be repaired once worn. Permanent teeth in many mammalian herbivores do not grow once fully emerged, and their crowns cannot be repaired when damaged or worn [11, 12]. These types of teeth are used throughout an individual’s lifetime to comminute food up to the point when their crowns are fully eroded. The compensatory mechanism of adding cementum at the roots of the teeth, as demonstrated in some ruminants [13, 14], might only serve to delay but cannot prevent the loss of dental functionality associated with wear
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