Quantification of bone surface textures: exploring a new method of ontogenetic ageing
Abstract Identification of ontogenetic age classes plays an important role in the fields of zoology, palaeontology and archaeology, where accurate age classifications of (sub)fossil remains are a crucial component for the reconstruction of past life. Textural ageing—the identification of age-related...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Analytical Science and Technology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40543-023-00413-1 |
| _version_ | 1797388267581079552 |
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| author | Jimmy de Rooij Marleen Q. Vintges Thim Zuidwijk Carel T. H. Heerkens Anne S. Schulp |
| author_facet | Jimmy de Rooij Marleen Q. Vintges Thim Zuidwijk Carel T. H. Heerkens Anne S. Schulp |
| author_sort | Jimmy de Rooij |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Identification of ontogenetic age classes plays an important role in the fields of zoology, palaeontology and archaeology, where accurate age classifications of (sub)fossil remains are a crucial component for the reconstruction of past life. Textural ageing—the identification of age-related bone surface textures—provides a size-independent method for age assessment of vertebrate material. However, most of the work so far is limited to qualitative results. While qualitative approaches provide helpful insights on textural ageing patterns, they are heavily subject to observer bias and fall short of quantitative data relevant for detailed statistical analyses and cross-comparisons. Here, we present a pilot study on the application of 3D surface digital microscopy to quantify bone surface textures on the long bones of the grey heron (Ardea cinerea) and the Canada goose (Branta canadensis) using internationally verified roughness parameters. Using a standardised measuring protocol, computed roughness values show a strong correlation with qualitative descriptions of textural patterns. Overall, higher roughness values correspond to increased numbers of grooves and pits and vice versa. Most of the roughness parameters allowed distinguishing between different ontogenetic classes and closely followed the typical sigmoidal animal growth curve. Our results show that bone texture quantification is a feasible approach to identifying ontogenetic age classes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T22:38:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6525bd3c9759414ba07ff37e3fc051a6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2093-3371 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T22:38:23Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Analytical Science and Technology |
| spelling | doaj.art-6525bd3c9759414ba07ff37e3fc051a62023-12-17T12:20:12ZengSpringerOpenJournal of Analytical Science and Technology2093-33712023-12-011411910.1186/s40543-023-00413-1Quantification of bone surface textures: exploring a new method of ontogenetic ageingJimmy de Rooij0Marleen Q. Vintges1Thim Zuidwijk2Carel T. H. Heerkens3Anne S. Schulp4Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht UniversityNaturalis Biodiversity CenterDepartment of Imaging Physics, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of TechnologyDepartment of Imaging Physics, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of TechnologyFaculty of Geosciences, Utrecht UniversityAbstract Identification of ontogenetic age classes plays an important role in the fields of zoology, palaeontology and archaeology, where accurate age classifications of (sub)fossil remains are a crucial component for the reconstruction of past life. Textural ageing—the identification of age-related bone surface textures—provides a size-independent method for age assessment of vertebrate material. However, most of the work so far is limited to qualitative results. While qualitative approaches provide helpful insights on textural ageing patterns, they are heavily subject to observer bias and fall short of quantitative data relevant for detailed statistical analyses and cross-comparisons. Here, we present a pilot study on the application of 3D surface digital microscopy to quantify bone surface textures on the long bones of the grey heron (Ardea cinerea) and the Canada goose (Branta canadensis) using internationally verified roughness parameters. Using a standardised measuring protocol, computed roughness values show a strong correlation with qualitative descriptions of textural patterns. Overall, higher roughness values correspond to increased numbers of grooves and pits and vice versa. Most of the roughness parameters allowed distinguishing between different ontogenetic classes and closely followed the typical sigmoidal animal growth curve. Our results show that bone texture quantification is a feasible approach to identifying ontogenetic age classes.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40543-023-00413-1RoughnessSurfacesTaphonomyTopographyBoneOntogeny |
| spellingShingle | Jimmy de Rooij Marleen Q. Vintges Thim Zuidwijk Carel T. H. Heerkens Anne S. Schulp Quantification of bone surface textures: exploring a new method of ontogenetic ageing Journal of Analytical Science and Technology Roughness Surfaces Taphonomy Topography Bone Ontogeny |
| title | Quantification of bone surface textures: exploring a new method of ontogenetic ageing |
| title_full | Quantification of bone surface textures: exploring a new method of ontogenetic ageing |
| title_fullStr | Quantification of bone surface textures: exploring a new method of ontogenetic ageing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quantification of bone surface textures: exploring a new method of ontogenetic ageing |
| title_short | Quantification of bone surface textures: exploring a new method of ontogenetic ageing |
| title_sort | quantification of bone surface textures exploring a new method of ontogenetic ageing |
| topic | Roughness Surfaces Taphonomy Topography Bone Ontogeny |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40543-023-00413-1 |
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