Early life stress disrupts growth and creates horizontal grooves on the tooth surface in humans and other mammals, yet there is no consensus for their quantitative analysis. Linear defects are considered to be nonspecific stress indicators, but evidence suggests that intermittent, severe stressors create deeper defects than chronic, low-level stressors. However, species-specific growth patterns also influence defect morphology, with faster-growing teeth having shallower defects at the population level. Here we describe a method to measure the depth of linear enamel defects and normal growth increments (i.e., perikymata) from high-resolution 3D topographies using confocal profilometry and apply it to a diverse sample of Homo neanderthalensis and H. sapiens anterior teeth. Debate surrounds whether Neanderthals exhibited modern human-like growth patterns in their teeth and other systems, with some researchers suggesting that they experienced more severe childhood stress. Our results suggest that Neanderthals have shallower features than H. sapiens from the Upper Paleolithic, Neolithic, and medieval eras, mirroring the faster growth rates in Neanderthal anterior teeth. However, when defect depth is scaled by perikymata depth to assess their severity, Neolithic humans have less severe defects, while Neanderthals and the other H. sapiens groups show evidence of more severe early life growth disruptions.

Detailed knowledge of age-related changes in the structure and mineralization of bones is important for interpreting osseous changes in wild mammals caused by exposure to environmental contaminants. This study analyzed mandibular size, microarchitecture and volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) in harbor seals (n = 93, age range 0.5 months to 25 years) from the German North Sea. Bone microarchitecture and vBMD were assessed using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT). Significant differences were observed between the analyzed age classes (i) young juveniles (0.5-10 months), (ii) yearlings (12-23 months), and (iii) adults (12-25 years) for several of the variables, indicating an overall increase in cortical and trabecular area, cortical thickness and total and cortical vBMD with age. Furthermore, for juvenile animals (≤ 23 months), significant positive correlations with age were observed for mandible length and perimeter, cortical area, cortical thickness, trabecular separation, and total and cortical vBMD. The findings demonstrate a rapid increase in overall size, cortical dimensions and the degree of mineralization of the harbor seal mandible during the first two years after birth. Negative correlations with age existed for trabecular number and thickness as well as for trabecular bone volume fraction in the juveniles. The findings suggest a reduction in trabecular bone volume fraction with age, due to the bone trabeculae becoming thinner, less numerous and more widely spaced. Given the strong age dependence of most analyzed parameters, it is recommended to standardize samples with respect to age in future studies comparing microarchitecture and mineralization of harbor seal mandibles from different populations or different collection periods.

An alternative for agriculture at Lake Alaotra, Madagascar: organic fertilizer and soil amendment from the invasive water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

Antlers are bony appendages of deer that undergo periodic regeneration from the top of permanent outgrowths (the pedicles) of the frontal bones. Of the "less familiar" bone types whose study was advocated by John Currey to gain a better understanding of structure-function relationships of mineralized tissues and organs, antlers were of special interest to him. The present review summarizes our current knowledge about the evolution, development, structure, mineralization, and biomechanics of antlers and how their formation is affected by environmental factors like nutrition. Furthermore, the potential role of antlers as a model in bone biology and several fields of biomedicine as well as their use as a monitoring tool in environmental studies are discussed.

OBJECTIVES To study pre- and early postnatal tooth formation and to analyze the effects of physiological disturbances on enamel and dentin formation in deciduous teeth of infants from the Late Epipaleolithic (Natufian) site Shubayqa 1. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ten deciduous teeth from six infants (ages at death between 21 and 239 days) were analyzed by light and scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS Marked prism cross-striations and an abnormal wavy course of the prisms were recorded in pre- and postnatal enamel of all analyzed teeth. Single or multiple accentuated incremental lines were observed in prenatal enamel of nine teeth and in postnatal enamel of eight teeth. Accentuated Andresen lines and broader zones exhibiting an enhanced calcospheritic pattern were recorded in the pre- and postnatally formed dentin of nine teeth. DISCUSSION The structural abnormalities in the pre- and postnatally formed enamel of the infants are considered indicative of chronic stress that negatively affected the activity of secretory ameloblasts. The structural aberrations in pre- and postnatal dentin denote that odontoblasts were also affected by this stress. The presence of single or multiple accentuated incremental lines in pre- and postnatal enamel is interpreted as reflecting (short-term) impacts of higher intensity superimposed on the chronic stress. Our findings suggest compromised maternal health affecting the late fetus and compromised health in newborns. Although limited by the small number of analyzed individuals, the present study contributes to the knowledge of maternal and early infant health conditions in Late Epipaleolithic populations.

Analysen physischer Belastungsmuster an archäologischen Skeleten dienen der Rekonstruktion von Lebensstilen vergangener Populationen. Die mechanische Beanspruchung wirkt direkt auf die Form- und Strukturentwicklung der Knochen. Anhand dieser Merkmale sind im Umkehrschluss Aussagen über die physische Belastung eines Individuums auch lange nach dessen Tod möglich. Ziel dieser Arbeit war eine vergleichende Betrachtung sowie eine humanökologische Interpretation des physischen Belastungsmusters zweier Stichproben der klassischen Maya von Xcambo (Yukatan, Mexiko, 350-700 n.Chr.) und der frühmittelalterlichen Population von Barbing-Kreuzhof (Bayern, 400-500 n. Chr.). An Humeri und Femora ausgewählter Individuen wurden histologische, biomechanische und makromorphologische Merkmale der funktionellen Anpassung untersucht. Die signifikanten Unterschiede in den Belastungsmustern der beiden Populationen können auf Unterschiede in der Wirtschaftsweise, der Kultur, der Geographie des Siedlungsgebiets als auch technologische Errungenschaften zurückgeführt werden. Bei den Maya von Xcambo lassen sich zudem klare Differenzen im physischen Belastungsmuster zwischen der Stichprobe des frühen und des späten Klassikums nachweisen, welche die Annahme eines sozioökonomischen Wandels in Richtung einer administrativeren Funktion der Siedlung untermauern. Neben der bioarchäologischen Interpretation wurden methodische Aspekte sowie die Vergleichbarkeit und Verlässlichkeit unterschiedlicher Methoden zur Rekonstruktion von physischen Belastungsmustern angesprochen und diskutiert. Diskrepanzen, welche zwischen der Evaluation unterschiedlicher Belastungsmerkmale auftraten, legen die Wichtigkeit paralleler Anwendungen unterschiedlicher Methoden dar, und können in zukünftigen Studien möglicherweise einer Methodenoptimierung dienen.

Für die geschützte Feuchtwiesenorchidee Breitblättriges Knabenkraut (Dactylorhiza majalis) wurden die allgemeine Bestandsentwicklung in brandenburgischen Schutzgebieten und mögliche Gefährdungsfaktoren untersucht. Hierfür wurden langjährige Bestandszählungen zwischen 1975 und 2016 aus 51 Populationen ausgewertet und durch aktuelle Vegetationsaufnahmen ergänzt. Etwa drei Viertel dieser Populationen waren über den Untersuchungszeitraum stabil oder nahmen zu. Die meisten Bestände wuchsen in Reichen Feuchtwiesen des Verbandes Calthion. Die Standorte waren jedoch trockener, nährstoffreicher und schattiger als für D. majalis erwartet. Als wichtige Ursache für schrumpfende Populationen wurden vor allem geringe Habitatgrößen identifiziert. Die bisher auf den untersuchten Flächen praktizierten Pflegeregimes – unterteilt in frühe bzw. späte Mahd sowie Beweidung – scheinen hingegen vergleichbar geeignet für den Populationserhalt. Klimatische Faktoren hatten insgesamt nur geringen Einfluss, auch wenn positive Effekte durch wärmere und feuchtere Frühjahre nachweisbar waren. Eine stark gesteigerte Gefährdung der Art durch den Klimawandel lässt sich daraus vorerst nicht ableiten. Von vorrangiger Bedeutung für die positive Bestandsentwicklung sind demnach Erhalt und Entwicklung geeigneter, ausreichend großer Habitate.

This paper reports a case of delayed velvet shedding and bilateral premature antler casting above the coronets in a young adult red deer stag from Germany. Based on the established role of testosterone in the control of the antler cycle, the antler abnormality is considered to have been the result of a (temporary) androgen deficiency. The basal surfaces (separation planes or seals) of the cast antlers were markedly concave. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the separation plane was densely covered with Howship's lacunae, denoting intense osteoclastic activity along the border between the proximal (living) and distal (dead) antler portions. Our observations and those of previous studies indicate that antler casting does not occur at a pre-determined separation plane, but along the border between living and dead bone, regardless of the position of this border within the cranial appendages. This is a major difference to autotomy of (living) appendages at fixed breakage planes, as it occurs for instance in lizard tails.

Human skeletal remains are one of several find categories from archaeological sites. The skeleton constitutes only a small part of a former living organism that was exposed to a variety of environmental factors. As a highly adaptive mineralized tissue, bone – and to a lesser extent also teeth – stores information on an individual’s life. Reading out this information contributes to the historical understanding of individuals and societies from the past. However, obtaining this information can be challenging in many aspects, and, due to the very nature of the archaeological remains, the reconstructed picture of the individual and its society and environment will inevitably always be incomplete. In order to extract as much information from bones and teeth as possible, existing methods must be adapted to specific situations and the diagnostic approaches have to be developed beyond current limitations. The 17 international publications presented in this thesis are addressing the abovementioned goals. They cover a wide range of topics, mainly from the field of bioarchaeology, augmented by some studies on recent and fossil animal remains. The studies are organized in those dealing with metrical data, including sex determination methods and analysis of measurement error, the analysis of normal and abnormal conditions of bone, including paleopathological diagnostics, the impact of diagenetic agents on bone, and the presentation of cases where bioarchaeological analysis contributed to the understanding of the respective find situations. The methods applied in the studies cover a broad spectrum of approaches to study morphological properties of bones and teeth, including metrics, radiographic, and microscopic techniques.

Mammalian dental hard tissues exhibit incremental markings that reflect the periodic variation of appositional growth rates. In order to use these markings to characterize dental growth processes and to infer life-history traits, an unequivocal identification of their periodicities is required. We performed a fluorochrome labelling study on forming enamel and dentine in molar teeth of wild boar and domestic pigs to establish the periodicity and temporal correspondence of incremental markings in enamel and dentine. The dominant incremental markings in enamel (laminations) and dentine (von Ebner lines) recorded in the pig teeth are of a daily nature. In addition, long-period incremental markings with a periodicity of 2 days were recorded in enamel (striae of Retzius) and dentine (Andresen lines). The 2-day growth rhythm was also expressed at the lateral crown surface, as evidenced by the pattern of perikymata. In enamel, also markings with a sub-daily periodicity, representing an ultradian growth rhythm, were observed. Our study provides experimental evidence for the periodicity of incremental markings in porcine enamel and dentine. The findings correct previous misconceptions on incremental markings in dental hard tissues of pigs and other ungulates that had led to erroneous conclusions regarding crown formation parameters.

One of the manifestations of chronic fluoride toxicosis in mammals is skeletal fluorosis, which can include lesions of degenerative joint disease (DJD). Although DJD lesions have been less commonly studied than bone or dental lesions in relation to the pathology and epidemiology of fluoride toxicosis, there have been multiple independent studies in various species that have concluded that there appears to be an effect. The mechanisms by which fluoride affects the joints are not clear, but our data provide evidence that chronic excess dietary fluoride intake contributes to DJD. Our study is the first to specifically address the association between fluoride exposure and DJD in multiple species of free-ranging mammals. We describe levels of DJD in six marsupial species (Macropus giganteus, Notamacropus rufogriseus, Wallabia bicolor, Phascolarctos cinereus, Trichosurus vulpecula and Pseudocheirus peregrinus) inhabiting high and low fluoride environments. Lesions occurred to varying extents in all species, and lesion distribution varied with biomechanical differences in gait. In addition, we show an association (independent of age) between increasing bone fluoride concentration (as a measure of fluoride exposure) and increasing prevalence of moderate and severe DJD in five species of marsupial, which we propose does not persist at the highest levels of fluoride exposure due to selective survival bias.

Bet-hedging via between-year seed dormancy is a costly strategy for plants in unpredictable environments. Theoretically, fitness costs can be reduced through a parental environmental effect when the environment is partly predictable. We tested whether populations from environments that differ in predictability diverged in parental effects on seed dormancy. Common garden-produced seeds of the two annual plant species Biscutella didyma and Bromus fasciculatus collected along an aridity gradient were grown under 12 irrigation treatments. Offspring germination was evaluated and related to environmental correlations between generations and their fitness consequences at the four study sites. One species exhibited strong seed dormancy that increased with unpredictability in seasonal precipitation. The parental effect on seed dormancy also increased proportionally with the environmental correlation between precipitation in the parental season and seedling density in the following season; this correlation increased from mesic to arid environments. Because fitness was negatively related to density, this parental effect may be adaptive. However, the lack of dormancy in the second species indicates that bet-hedging is not the only strategy for annual plants in arid environments. Our results provide the first evidence for clinal variation in the relative strength of parental effects along environmental gradients.

The dissertation takes an interdisciplinary mixed-methods approach to investigate the potential of EE in contributing to conservation in Madagascar. The applied case study therefore focuses on primary schools and communities of Lake Alaotra, and entails a comprehensive survey regarding knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of natural resource users towards nature and conservation in the region, furthermore the drivers and barriers to implement environmental education in public primary schools, as well as significant life experiences of active Malagasy conservationists. The author finally discusses possible measures how environmental education in Madagascar can contribute to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in the long run.