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Open AccessArticle
Morpho-Geometric Description of the Skulls and Mandibles of Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) from the Dancing Bear Belitsa Park
by
Iliana Stefanova Ruzhanova-Gospodinova
Iliana Stefanova Ruzhanova-Gospodinova 1,
Silvi Vladova
Silvi Vladova 2,
Tomasz Szara
Tomasz Szara 3,*
,
Faruk Tandir
Faruk Tandir 4,
Ewa Szara
Ewa Szara 5
,
Ebru Eravci Yalin
Ebru Eravci Yalin 6 and
Ozan Gündemir
Ozan Gündemir 7
1
Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Animal Sciences, University of Forestry, 1797 Sofia, Bulgaria
2
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Forestry, 1797 Sofia, Bulgaria
3
Department of Morphological Sciences, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
4
Department of Basic Sciences of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
5
Division of Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Agriculture, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
6
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, 34320 Istanbul, Türkiye
7
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, 34320 Istanbul, Türkiye
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Animals 2024, 14(17), 2541; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14172541 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 18 July 2024
/
Revised: 30 August 2024
/
Accepted: 31 August 2024
/
Published: 31 August 2024
Simple Summary
This study explored the differences in skull and mandible shapes between male and female brown bears using advanced 3D imaging techniques. The main goal was to understand how and why these shapes vary, focusing on whether these differences are due to size or sex. The research found that male brown bears have longer and thinner skulls, with notable changes in specific areas like the back of the head and jaw muscles. These differences are likely linked to the larger body size of male bears, which may require stronger muscles and a different skull structure to support their greater weight and chewing needs. The study highlights the importance of these shape variations for the bears’ adaptation to their environment. Understanding these differences can help conserve and manage brown bear populations by providing insights into their physical development and needs. This knowledge is valuable for wildlife biologists, conservationists, and anyone interested in the natural world, offering a clearer picture of how animals adapt over time.
Abstract
The present study aimed to describe the skull and mandibles of the brown bear (U. arctos) from the Dancing Bear Belitsa Park using advanced 3D morpho-geometric techniques. The objective was to explore how sexual dimorphism and size influence cranial structures using advanced 3D geometric morphometric methods. Three-dimensional models of the skulls and mandibles of 12 brown bears were used. Differences in skull morphology between male and female brown bears were observed in this study. The male brown bear skull, larger than the female, exhibited a more pronounced extension of the upper part of the nuchal region towards the posterior. Additionally, the posterior part of the frontal region appeared notably thinner in male brown bears compared to females. Analysis of the mandible revealed that the masseteric fossa was more developed in males than females. These shape differences between males and females were found to be influenced by body size. Statistical analyses indicated a significant allometric effect of body size on skull PC1 values, suggesting that giant bears tend to have more elongated skulls. This implies a relationship in which larger individuals exhibit greater cranial elongation. In contrast, mandible PC1 values showed no size-related variation, indicating that mandibular shape is less influenced by overall body size. However, PC2 values in the mandible increased significantly with larger specimens, indicating a larger masseteric fossa in larger bears. This morphological adaptation potentially enhances feeding efficiency and bite strength in larger individuals, reflecting functional adaptations in brown-bear mandibular morphology. These findings contribute to our understanding of sexual dimorphism and size-related morphological adaptations in brown bears, providing insights into their adaptation biology and ecological roles within their habitats.
Share and Cite
MDPI and ACS Style
Ruzhanova-Gospodinova, I.S.; Vladova, S.; Szara, T.; Tandir, F.; Szara, E.; Yalin, E.E.; Gündemir, O.
Morpho-Geometric Description of the Skulls and Mandibles of Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) from the Dancing Bear Belitsa Park. Animals 2024, 14, 2541.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14172541
AMA Style
Ruzhanova-Gospodinova IS, Vladova S, Szara T, Tandir F, Szara E, Yalin EE, Gündemir O.
Morpho-Geometric Description of the Skulls and Mandibles of Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) from the Dancing Bear Belitsa Park. Animals. 2024; 14(17):2541.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14172541
Chicago/Turabian Style
Ruzhanova-Gospodinova, Iliana Stefanova, Silvi Vladova, Tomasz Szara, Faruk Tandir, Ewa Szara, Ebru Eravci Yalin, and Ozan Gündemir.
2024. "Morpho-Geometric Description of the Skulls and Mandibles of Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) from the Dancing Bear Belitsa Park" Animals 14, no. 17: 2541.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14172541
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