MSc Student
Advisor: Philipp Mitteröcker

Unit for Theoretical Biology, Department of Evolutionary Biology
University of Vienna

Abstract

Teeth are the most frequently preserved element in the hominin fossil record, and provide a wealth of taxonomic, developmental and functional information. In particular, the enamel–dentine junction (EDJ) retains key taxonomically relevant features even when the outer enamel surface is worn.

Previous research has demonstrated the strong taxonomic signal preserved in EDJ morphology across both extant apes and fossil hominins, yet the degree of intraspecific variation in EDJ form—and its consistency across different tooth positions—remains insufficiently understood. This means it is currently challenging to determine how much variation we should expect to see in a fossil species.

This thesis investigates the level of variation in EDJ shape in extant apes (Pan troglodytes, Gorilla gorilla, and Pongo pygmaeus). The EDJ will be imaged using micro-CT scanning, and EDJ surfaces are extracted through image filtering and segmentation. I will use landmark-based geometric morphometric analysis to quantitatively analyse size and shape variation in two tooth positions, the P4 and M2. Levels of within- and between- taxon variation will offer a comparative basis for interpreting the morphological variability seen in the hominin fossil record.