MicroWeaR: A new R package for dental microwear analysis.

Area of Science:

• Paleontology
• Bioarchaeology
• Zoology

Background:

• Microscopic marks on tooth enamel reveal dietary habits of past and present species.
• Dental microwear analysis examines mark morphology, abundance, direction, and distribution.

Purpose of the Study:

• Introduce MicroWeaR, a novel, free software for dental microwear analysis.
• Improve the speed, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness of quantifying and classifying microscopic tooth marks.

Main Methods:

• Developed MicroWeaR software with functions for sampling, classifying (pits, scratches, subtypes), summarizing data, and visualizing marks.
• User-settable parameters and graphical output enhance flexibility.
• Provided a tutorial and case studies with fossil and modern specimens.

Main Results:

• MicroWeaR enables rapid, observer-independent quantification and classification of dental microwear features, including scar subtypes.
• The software generates summary tables and visual surface maps of microwear marks.
• Case studies demonstrate MicroWeaR's application on Miocene great ape and Pleistocene cervid enamel.

Conclusions:

• MicroWeaR provides an advanced, accessible tool for detailed dental microwear analysis.
• The software facilitates more efficient and precise reconstruction of past diets.
• Enhances the study of feeding ecology across diverse taxa and geological timescales.