INQUA 2202 sy: Teeth as tools to investigate Quaternary palaeoenvironments

Animal teeth are a valuable tool for investigating Quaternary ecosystems. They are durable and diagnostic elements of mammalian species, commonly represented in Quaternary fossil sites.

Abstract

Animal teeth are one of the most resilient and diagnostic tools for studying Quaternary ecosystems. Commonly preserved at fossil sites, they provide a window into past environments and the evolution of species. Subtle changes in tooth size and shape can reflect climate shifts and ecological pressures.

While measuring teeth may seem straightforward, inconsistencies in tools and techniques have long hindered the comparability of data across studies. To address this, our project introduces a new standard using digital photography and 3D modelling, enabling precise and replicable analyses.

Digital imaging and 3D models are already widely used in Quaternary research. By focusing on standardising methods and centralising data, this initiative will unlock new opportunities to analyse and compare tooth morphology across species, regions, and time periods.

This project supports INQUA’s mission by fostering collaboration, improving research reproducibility, and expanding access to high-quality palaeontological data. The outcome will include a validated database and an open-access research article to support future studies on Quaternary mammals.

Objectives:

• We aim to establish a unified approach for studying tooth variation in mammals, starting with cave bears (Ursus spelaeus).
• By building a collaborative network, we seek to share best practices and develop a shared repository of digital data for researchers worldwide.

Project leaders:

• Carlo Meloro, Liverpool John Moores University, UK
• Marco Peresani, Università di Ferrara, Italy
• Nicola Nannini, MUSE – Museo delle Scienze, Italy
• Isabelle De Groote, Ghent University, Belgium