Sexual dimorphism in some functional features of the ungulate mouth in relation to grazing behaviour

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Project objective

Research objectives and content It has been widely highlited that the relationships between the type of diet and the muzzle morphology of ungulate species (i.e. muzzle shape) plays an important role in the community structure of the ungulates. The grazing species have a wider muzzle enabling them to increase the intake rate on highly abundant but poorly nutritious pastures. In comparison, the muzzle morphology of browsing species should be that in which it enables them to pick up certain plants or plant parts from within a tall stand of vegetation. However, there are some evidences that indicate that after controlling for the effect of body mass, some morphological and physiological differences between diet categories of ungulates disappear (e.g. the Hoffman's theory about gut adaptations in browsing and grazing species, reviewed by Gordon and Illius, 1994).We will test (i) that the differences in some muzzle and teeth traits between diet categories in ungulates (i.e. frugivorous, browsing, mixed feeding and grazing species) can be explained on the basis of body mass differences,(ii) on the other hand, that the posterior part of the mandible bone traits, can reflect, body mass independent differences between diets,(iii) that as a consequence of the higher metabolic requirements of females, due to the higher nutritional demands of lactation and pregnancy, they have narrower muzzles, after controlling for body weight, which enables female ungulates to select high quality vegetational components.For all analyses the phylogenetic effect will be removed using two different comparative methods (Harvey and Pagel 1991). Training content (objective, benefit and expected impact) The research will give an improved understanding of the relationships between mouth and mandible traits which are involved in ingestion and food processing, with body mass and diet categories in ungulates. Also, the consolidation of a research team in an less-favoured area.Publications in refereed journals - 2 Presentations at lectures/meetings -2 Links with industry / industrial relevance (22) None

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Participants

• UNIVERSIDAD DE OVIEDO · OVIEDOCoordinatorSpain

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