Tooth size in South American sea lions reflects historical shifts in population abundance
Sunday, March 9, 2025 - 16:58
in Paleontology & Archaeology
A new study published in PeerJ reveals that the teeth of South American sea lions (Otaria byronia) hold valuable clues about past population dynamics. Researchers from the Instituto de Biología de Organismos Marinos, the Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos, and the Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco analyzed changes in tooth size and growth layer groups (GLGs) over the past century. Their findings suggest that tooth size can serve as a reliable indicator of density-dependent effects on somatic growth.