Dust in the Wind: How Climate Variables and Volcanic Dust Affect Rates of Tooth Wear in Central American Howling Monkeys

摘要

Objectives: Two factors have been considered important contributors to tooth wear: dietary abrasives in plant foods themselves and mineral particles adhering to ingested food. Each factor limits the functional life of teeth. Cross-population studies of wear rates in a single species living in different habitats may point to the relative contributions of each factor.