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Inter-microscope comparability of dental microwear texture data obtained from different optical profilometers: Part I
Daniela E Winkler1,2, Mugino O Kubo1
1Department of Natural Environmental Studies, The University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan.
Anatomical Record (Hoboken, N.J. : 2007)
|May 10, 2025
Summary
Dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA) is a reliable method for diet reconstruction. Despite variations between microscopes, DMTA consistently differentiates diets, supporting its use in research.
Area of Science:
- Paleontology
- Zoology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA) is crucial for inferring diets of mammals and tetrapods.
- Growing data necessitates meta-analyses, but inter-instrument variation in 3D surface scans poses challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of different optical profilometers on DMTA data.
- To identify stable DMTA parameters for inter-microscope comparability.
- To propose solutions for enhancing data exchange and collaboration in DMTA research.
Main Methods:
- A controlled feeding experiment with 36 guinea pigs on varied diets.
- DMTA data acquisition using five different confocal and confocal laser-scanning microscopes.
- Analysis of 40 DMTA parameters, including height, volume, density, and complexity.
Main Results:
- Significant inter-microscope differences were found in most DMTA parameters.
- Height and volume parameters showed higher consistency across instruments.
- Density and complexity parameters exhibited substantial variations between microscopes.
Conclusions:
- DMTA remains suitable for reproducible and objective dietary inferences despite inter-microscope variations.
- Specific DMTA parameters demonstrate cross-instrument stability.
- A roadmap including device-specific correction equations is proposed to improve data comparability.
