Relation of dental wear to the concentrations of essential minerals in teeth of the California sea lion <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zalophus Californianus Californianus</Emphasis> |
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Authors: | Vanessa Labrada-Martagón David Aurioles-Gamboa Ma Isabel Castro-González |
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Institution: | (1) Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Av. IPN s/n, Colonia Playa de Santa Rita, A. P. 592. La Paz, Baja California Sur, C. P. 23096 México;(2) Dirección de Nutrición, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Vasco de Quiroga 15, Tlalpan, CP14000 México, D.F. México |
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Abstract: | Tooth wear in marine mammals has been attributed to age, feeding habits, behavior, and contaminants. Advanced tooth wear in
some California sea lions, including some of very young age (<5 yr), in the Gulf of California, suggests that there are variations
in chemical composition of tooth parts, wherein the concentrations of certain trace minerals might be anomalous, making them
more susceptible to erosion. The concentrations of the essential minerals Ca, P, K, Na, Fe, Mg, and Zn in the dentition of
Zalophus c. californianus are documented for the first time and are compared for sea lion teeth with different degrees of wear. Canine teeth and molars
from 45 skulls collected at 15 localities since 1978 were digested in perchloric acid and analyzed using atomic adsorption
spectrometry, the results being expressed in milligrams per 100 g. An index of tooth wear (Id) was established, involving
the average wear on the teeth and the age of the organism. No significant difference was detected in the variables, but there
was one between ages (p=0.02). A higher degree of wear was observed up to 7 yr of age than from this age onward. Mineral concentrations did not explain
the excessive wear observed (correlation, p>0.09; ANOVA, p>0.15); however, the Ca concentration of the teeth was inversely proportional to the age of the animal (sexes combined, p=0.026) and particularly significant for the females (r
2=0.112, r=−0.335, p=0.039). Females could be more prone to decalcification because of their annual bone investment in their offspring. Animals
of both sexes were susceptible to tooth wear as their age increased, but the higher frequency of animals between 4 and 7 yr
suggests an impact on survival at early stages probably linked to deficient feeding and chronic malnutrition. |
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Keywords: | Zalophus californianus California sea lion dental wear essential minerals teeth |
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