TY - JOUR
T1 - Ondatra zibethicus (Arvicolinae, Rodentia) dental microwear patterns as a potential tool for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction
AU - Lewis, Patrick J.
AU - Gutierrez, Maria
AU - Johnson, Eileen
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank the SEM lab, Biology Department of Texas Tech University, and technician Mark Grimson in particular, for help with this research. Rebecca Lewis (then of the Museum of Texas Tech University) provided the photographic services. The comments of Drs Ernest L. Lundelius Jr (Vertebrate Palaeontology Lab, University of Texas) and Holmes A. Semken Jr (Department of Geology, University of Iowa) and two anonymous reviewers greatly improved the manuscript. Funding for this research was in the form of a graduate research assistantship from the Museum of Texas Tech University provided to the senior and first junior authors and a Summer Thesis Research Grant from the Graduate School of Texas Tech University provided to the senior author. The specimens studied resulted from excavations at the Lubbock Lake Landmark under Texas Antiquities Permit #36 and all specimens and documentation are held-in-trust for the People of the State of Texas at the Museum of Texas Tech University. Those excavations were supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (SOC-14857; BNS76-12006; BNS76-12006-A01), National Geographic Society, Texas Historical Commission (National Register Program), Moody Foundation (Galveston), Center for Field Research (EARTHWATCH), City and County of Lubbock, West Texas Museum Association, Institute of Museum Research, the Museum of Texas Tech University, and the Lubbock Lake Landmark Community Volunteers. This study is part of the ongoing Lubbock Lake Landmark regional research program into late Quaternary climatic and environmental change on the Southern High Plains.
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - Subfossil muskrat remains are numerous in the lower strata at the Lubbock Lake Landmark, Southern High Plains of Texas, dating from c. 11,100 BP to 8500 BP. This period witnessed a significant change in palaeoclimate and habitat at Lubbock Lake and the Southern High Plains. These changes caused the disappearance of many plant and animal species, and the emergence of many others. The muskrat, primarily herbivorous, altered their diet to accommodate these new plants. The scanning electron microscope and qualitative methods were used to analyse differences in dental microwear patterns for the two Lubbock Lake populations most distant temporally. Differential microwear patterns on the enamel of the lower first molars consistent with the changes in vegetation known for Lubbock Lake during the period of muskrat habitation were found. (C) 2000 Academic Press.
AB - Subfossil muskrat remains are numerous in the lower strata at the Lubbock Lake Landmark, Southern High Plains of Texas, dating from c. 11,100 BP to 8500 BP. This period witnessed a significant change in palaeoclimate and habitat at Lubbock Lake and the Southern High Plains. These changes caused the disappearance of many plant and animal species, and the emergence of many others. The muskrat, primarily herbivorous, altered their diet to accommodate these new plants. The scanning electron microscope and qualitative methods were used to analyse differences in dental microwear patterns for the two Lubbock Lake populations most distant temporally. Differential microwear patterns on the enamel of the lower first molars consistent with the changes in vegetation known for Lubbock Lake during the period of muskrat habitation were found. (C) 2000 Academic Press.
KW - Dental microwear
KW - Environmental reconstruction
KW - Muskrat
KW - Scanning electron microscope
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0033796401&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1006/jasc.1999.0502
DO - 10.1006/jasc.1999.0502
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0033796401
SN - 0305-4403
VL - 27
SP - 789
EP - 798
JO - Journal of Archaeological Science
JF - Journal of Archaeological Science
IS - 9
ER -