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      New Zealand Mustelids and the Ecomorphometrics of Mandibles

      Hill, Carly Michelle
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      thesis.pdf
      5.856Mb
      Appendix 1- Interspecific morphological differences of New Zealand mustelid mandibles.docx
      227.2Kb
      Appendix 2- Mandible plasticity and adaptations of New Zealand Mustela erminea mandibles across locations.docx
      870.0Kb
      Female ferrets database.doc
      53.5Kb
      Male ferrets database.doc
      64.5Kb
      Mandible landmarks- With descriptions.xlsx
      9.263Kb
      NPSS database.xls
      1.005Mb
      PandK database.xls
      196.5Kb
      To read before using the databases.doc
      98.5Kb
      Citation
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      Hill, C. M. (2017). New Zealand Mustelids and the Ecomorphometrics of Mandibles (Thesis, Master of Science (Research) (MSc(Research))). University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10289/12022
      Permanent Research Commons link: https://hdl.handle.net/10289/12022
      Abstract
      Three species of Mustelidae are found in New Zealand: ferrets (Mustela furo), stoats (Mustela erminea), and weasels (Mustela nivalis vulgaris). The introduction and spread of mustelids into a wide range of habitats different from those of their native lands has provided an opportunity to study the impacts that habitat differences might had on mustelid mandible morphology, especially stoats which are more widespread in New Zealand. Geometric morphometrics were used to make comparisons of the morphological variation of mandibles within and between the three New Zealand species. Each mandible had 24 landmarks. There was size sexual dimorphism within each species but no shape sexual dimorphism. However, there was between species allometry and mandible shape differences, which can be related to diet composition and the bite force required to kill prey. The second comparison examined the morphological plasticity of stoat mandibles collected across ten New Zealand habitats and one English location. There was no shape sexual dimorphism and the degree of size sexual dimorphism was different at each location. Male stoats had a high variation in mandible size likely from size plasticity in a response to differential prey availability during growth. Some locations had significantly different mandible shapes from others, these matched differences in biomechanical advantage and likely represents adaptation to the environment. Mandible shape of stoats was correlated with rainfall which has been correlated to mice density. My results also called the into question the correlation between mandible size and skull size, which now requires further study.
      Date
      2017
      Type
      Thesis
      Degree Name
      Master of Science (Research) (MSc(Research))
      Supervisors
      King, Carolyn M.
      Publisher
      University of Waikato
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      All items in Research Commons are provided for private study and research purposes and are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated.
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      • Masters Degree Theses [2385]
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