Kendall MacKenzie, Cynthia S.
Abstract:
Mammalian teeth are used to obtain and consume food resources and, in some cases, for self-defence. As such, tooth quality is important for individuals to maintain body condition and meet daily nutritive requirements. This study investigates unexplained tooth breakage in the moose ( Alces alces ) populations of Atlantic Canada. By way of comparison of>5500 incisors from multiple North American moose jurisdictions, we found breakage frequency ranged from 1-6% except in Atlantic Canada (Cape Breton 6-34% and Newfoundland 24-47%). Population age structure effects were not detected. To investigate whether moose incisor elemental composition is related to high breakage in Atlantic Canada, elemental analyses and microhardness tests were performed on a subset of samples. Though tooth chemistry did not explain all of the existing variation, a negative relationship was found between Cu, Pb, Zn and breakage. Tooth microhardness did not significantly differ among regions. Other environment factors, such as density-related food resource declines, likely contribute to tooth breakage in Atlantic Canadian moose.