An Assessment Of Trace Elements Distribution In Teeth Utilizing A Sample Group From Postclassic Lamanai: The Application Of La-Icp-Ms In Bioarchaeology And Forensics, 2017 University of Central Florida
An Assessment Of Trace Elements Distribution In Teeth Utilizing A Sample Group From Postclassic Lamanai: The Application Of La-Icp-Ms In Bioarchaeology And Forensics, Michelle Hawkins
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Trace element analysis of skeletal remains and teeth is a common research technique in biological and forensic anthropology. In particular, LA-ICP-MS has become a widely-accepted tool for analyzing and mapping the distribution of trace elements in teeth. Investigation into the relative spectral intensities and spatial distribution of thirteen trace isotopes (13C, 24Mg, 27Al, 31P, 44Ca, 47Ti, 52Cr, 55Mn, 56Fe, 66Zn, 88Sr, 138Ba, 208Pb) within teeth was undertaken using LA-ICP-MS. The total archaeological sample of teeth (N=26) was comprised of four tooth types (UCI, ULI, UPM1, and UPM2) and 18 individuals from a Postclassic Lamanai site. In preparation for analysis, teeth …
Use Of Vertical Enclosure Space And Species-Typical Locomotion By A Rehabilitating Spider Monkey (Ateles Fusciceps), 2017 Central Washington University
Use Of Vertical Enclosure Space And Species-Typical Locomotion By A Rehabilitating Spider Monkey (Ateles Fusciceps), Jake Funkhouser
Undergraduate Honors Theses
With wild spider monkey populations in decline, investigations contributing to captive welfare, and successful rehabilitation and reintroduction knowledge is increasingly pressing. Quantifying and analyzing the appropriateness of naturalistic enclosure designs to foster species-typical behaviors is an effective way to address both of these needs. This study investigates enclosure space use, vertical space preference, substrate use, positional/postural modes, and interactions with human caregivers of a wild-caught, pet-trade rehabilitant Columbian black spider monkey (Ateles fusciceps rufiventris, N = 1). Video data collected daily from August to October 2015 via focal animal sampling (from 08:00 to 10:00) at Alouatta Sanctuary, Panama …
A Stylistic Analysis Using Multivariate Statistics Of Oneota Pottery From The Upper Mississippi, Blue Earth, And St. Croix River Valleys, 2017 Minnesota State University, Mankato
A Stylistic Analysis Using Multivariate Statistics Of Oneota Pottery From The Upper Mississippi, Blue Earth, And St. Croix River Valleys, Michelle Neumann
All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects
Pottery is one of the most abundant artifact types recovered from late pre-contact habitations sites in the upper Midwest. As a material with inherent plasticity, pottery reflects changes in people's preferences and traditions in aspects of its form and design quickly through time and space. Analyzing different facets of pottery has the ability to provide extensive information about people in the past: their resource utilization, technology, traditions, economic exchange, regional interaction, ideology, and or group identity. Yet, a significant challenge in pottery analysis is deriving comprehensive and testable conclusions in terms of types and styles that reflect patterned cultural behavior …
Healthy Aging In The North: Sociocultural Influences On Diet And Physical Activity Among Older Adults In Anchorage, Alaska, 2017 University of Kentucky
Healthy Aging In The North: Sociocultural Influences On Diet And Physical Activity Among Older Adults In Anchorage, Alaska, Britteny M. Howell
Theses and Dissertations--Anthropology
Increasing rates of overweight, obesity, and related cardiovascular diseases among older adults in the United States present unique public health challenges. Cross-cultural research has shown marked variation in health across the world’s elder populations because aging is a biological process rooted in sociocultural context. The sociocultural environment contributes to complex negotiations of food and physical activity patterns for older adults. It is well established in the literature that urban residents report low levels of physical activity and have easy access to fast food outlets, which tend to be concentrated in lower-income neighborhoods. I utilize a biocultural framework, integrating nutritional anthropology …
Nine Gal Tavern Faunal Analysis, 2017 Parkland College
Nine Gal Tavern Faunal Analysis, Zachary T. Boyer
A with Honors Projects
Over 400 pieces of bone and eggshell were collected during excavation at the Nine Gal Tavern site (11CH541) located in western Champaign County, Illinois in 1987 and 1991 by a team led by archaeologist Lenville Stelle (Stelle 2006). The majority of the remains analyzed were recovered within feature context in the immediate vicinity of the established Nine Gal Tavern structure. The purpose of this paper is to describe the identification of these faunal remains which are housed at the Anthropology Program at Parkland College. The identification of these remains was carried out as part of an Honors Project under the …
The Index Of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature From The Lone Star State, 2017 Center for Regional Heritage Research, Stephen F. Austin State University
The Index Of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature From The Lone Star State, Robert Z. Selden Jr., C. Britt Bousman
CRHR: Archaeology
Cultural resources management (CRM) reports represent a rapidly growing proportion of our knowledge associated with archaeological undertakings in the United States. Historically, these reports were printed in limited numbers and distributed to a few libraries and individuals, and few were distributed beyond the political boundaries of any given state. Libraries on the distribution list are reticent to allow patrons to check out these reports due to the fact that they have—and will only ever have—a single copy. Late in 2009, the Texas Historical Commission (THC) permitting guidelines for CRM reports were updated, requiring CRM contractors to submit a digital copy …
Occam's Razor Vol. 7 - Full (2017), 2017 Western Washington University
Anthropometric Measures Of Hadza Forager Children And Juveniles: Implications For Anthropology And Human Biology, 2017 University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Anthropometric Measures Of Hadza Forager Children And Juveniles: Implications For Anthropology And Human Biology, Elle Ford, Alyssa N. Crittenden
McNair Poster Presentations
Understanding growth trajectories during child development is important for the fields of human biology, public health, medicine, and evolutionary medicine. To date, the majority of current references for childhood development and health are primarily derived from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To ensure a child is developing properly, is equipped with proper nutrition, and will sustain a healthy life through adolescence and adulthood, these measurements and standards are necessary. The current study aims to test whether or not these standards are applicable in non-industrial small-scale societies where differences from western populations …
A Comprehensive Case Report Of The University Of Montana Case 37, 2017 University of Montana, Missoula
A Comprehensive Case Report Of The University Of Montana Case 37, Cody M. Lawson
Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers
In this professional paper I examine the human skeletal remains of one individual. The remains were analyzed to gain insight into the age, sex, ancestry, stature, weight, pathology, and trauma of the individual. Forensic anthropological methods were applied to UMFC 37. The remains of UMFC 37 represent a male, between the age of 40 and 60. He is likely a Caucasian. UMFC 37 is between 5 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs between 148 and 167 pounds.
The Effect Of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (Pcos) On The Human Skeleton, 2017 Eastern Michigan University
The Effect Of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (Pcos) On The Human Skeleton, Sarah Bruckler
Senior Honors Theses and Projects
The purpose of this pilot study is to determine the systemic effects of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) on bone mineral density (BMD). Excessive male sex honnones, excessive insulin levels, and weight gain characterize PCOS, and are correlated to increased BMD. PCOS is also associated with symptoms and comorbid conditions, like chronic vitamin D deficiency, menstrual dysfunction, and hypothyroidism, which are all correlated with decreased BMD. Existing research on this topic reports conflicting results; some studies show a significant correlation between PCOS and increased BMD, while others suggest that no significant correlation exists. These previous studies focused on load-bearing areas of …
Collective Decision Making In Tibetan Macaques: How Followers Affect The Rules And Efficiency Of Group Movement, 2017 Central Washington University
Collective Decision Making In Tibetan Macaques: How Followers Affect The Rules And Efficiency Of Group Movement, Amanda Rowe
All Master's Theses
Primate societies must undergo successful collective decision making during group movement to stay cohesive and provide the ecological and evolutionary benefits of sociality. This study investigates how a fan structure facilitates successful group movement in the YA1 group of Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Mt. Huangshan National Reserve in Anhui, China. We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to determine the relative influences of sex, age, maternal kinship, dominance, and social network centrality on the number of fans (consistent followers) an individual had, and the number of group members an individual was a fan of (fandom). SEM revealed that …
Chimpanzee (Pan Troglodytes) Space Use In A Sanctuary Setting, 2017 Central Washington University
Chimpanzee (Pan Troglodytes) Space Use In A Sanctuary Setting, Holly Soubiea
All Master's Theses
Studies of chimpanzee space use can provide information about chimpanzees’ preferences and welfare. This study examined the space use of 12 chimpanzees at Fauna Foundation, a chimpanzee sanctuary located in Carignan, Québec, Canada. Observers recorded the chimpanzees’ location, elevation, perimeter, and substrate using a scan sampling procedure. In total, there were 93 hours of data and 3,190 scans. The author used Geographical Information System (GIS) to plot the chimpanzees’ location for each scan. The chimpanzees used the largest rooms most often, were inside 61% (n = 1,942) of the time, an arm’s reach away from the perimeter 90% (n = …
Ancient Dna Extraction From Stone Tools, 2017 University of Montana
Ancient Dna Extraction From Stone Tools, Clare Super
Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts
Proteins and DNA can be trapped in the microcracks on the surface of stone tools, which can then be extracted and analyzed to aid in inferring the use of the tool (Shanks et al. 2001; 2005). This nondestructive method involves the use of sonication to release DNA from the microcracks, then amplification of regions of mitochondrial DNA that are species specific. This technique was applied to stone tools from the Bridge River site in British Columbia by researchers at UMT’s Ancient and Modern Molecular Anthropology labs. Bridge River archaeologists have designated the tools as used in “food processing or tool …
Traditional Medicine Use In Chamorro Cué, Gral. E. Aquino, San Pedro, Paraguay, 2017 Michigan Technological University
Traditional Medicine Use In Chamorro Cué, Gral. E. Aquino, San Pedro, Paraguay, Noah Goyke
Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports
Rural Paraguay presents great opportunities for investigation into the subtle differences in the use of medicinal plants across seasons and the urban versus rural dichotomy in a rapidly globalizing society. One of the most interesting opportunities is comparing a rural population to the population of an urban center that has be the destination of local migration from the rural communities surveyed. This study investigates the seasonal differences and difference between urban and rural residents in the type of medication used to treat thirteen different common ailments and the source of medicinal plants used to treat those ailments. Interviews performed in …
The Social Behavior Of Rehabilitated Spider Monkeys (Ateles Geoffroyi), 2017 Central Washington University
The Social Behavior Of Rehabilitated Spider Monkeys (Ateles Geoffroyi), Anthony Denice
All Master's Theses
The welfare of captive primates in laboratories, sanctuaries, and zoos is affected by various aspects of their environments. Although space restrictions increase aggression and stress-related behaviors in most captive animals, primates show diverse mechanisms for displacing stress and mitigating conflict. Many primates, including wild spider monkeys (genus Ateles), use these mechanisms flexibly to cope with social and environmental stressors. I investigated whether or not captive black-handed spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) use behavioral strategies to cope with potential stressors in captivity. In particular, I tested whether an affiliative or avoidant strategy was used in response to changes in …
Family Dynamics In Eastern Hoolock (Hoolock Leuconedys), Javan (Hylobates Moloch), Pileated (H. Pileatus) And Northern White-Cheeked Gibbons (Nomascus Leucogenys) At The Gibbon Conservation Center, 2017 Central Washington University
Family Dynamics In Eastern Hoolock (Hoolock Leuconedys), Javan (Hylobates Moloch), Pileated (H. Pileatus) And Northern White-Cheeked Gibbons (Nomascus Leucogenys) At The Gibbon Conservation Center, Alexandra Sheldon
All Master's Theses
Few studies have explored the continuing relationship and behaviors within primate groups as the offspring mature and continue to depend on parental care. Between June 7 and July 7, 2016, I studied the family dynamics of 5 gibbon groups from 4 species: hoolock (Hoolock leuconedys), Javan (Hylobates moloch), pileated (H. pileatus) and northern white-cheeked (Nomascus leucogenys) gibbons housed at the Gibbon Conservation Center (GCC) in Santa Clarita, CA. I recorded all occurrences of approach, retreat, groom and play behaviors as well as the proximity individuals maintain between each other. I predicted: 1. …
Prevalence Of Dental Pathology In A Juvenile Population From The Ancient Maya Site Of Altun Ha, 2017 University of Central Florida
Prevalence Of Dental Pathology In A Juvenile Population From The Ancient Maya Site Of Altun Ha, Lindsey D. Lefebvre
Honors Undergraduate Theses
The present research seeks to assesses the presence and prevalence of two distinct dental pathologies: linear enamel hypoplasia and caries in an ancient Maya juvenile subsample from Altun Ha, Belize spanning the Preclassic (ca. 600 B.C.) through the Terminal Classic (ca. 900 A.D.) periods. Teeth offer a remarkable wealth of information about the human experience in the past. Developmental and post-eruption pathology can provide insight into cultural and evolutionary processes by illuminating social and biological factors such as diet, weaning, illness, and overall health that manifest in observable changes to the composition of teeth. In addition, growth and developmental stages …
Mitochondrial-Dna Phylogenetic Information And The Reconstruction Of Human Population History: The South American Case, 2017 Departamento de Ciencias Naturales y Antropológicas, Universidad Maimonides, CEBBAD, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Mitochondrial-Dna Phylogenetic Information And The Reconstruction Of Human Population History: The South American Case, María Bárbara Postillone, S. Ivan Perez
Human Biology Open Access Pre-Prints
Objectives: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences are becoming increasingly important in the study of human population history. Here, we explore the differences in the amount of information of different mtDNA regions and their utility for the reconstruction of South American population history.
Material and methods: We analyzed six datasets comprising 259 mtDNA sequences from South America: Complete mtDNA, Coding, Control, hypervariable region I (HVRI), cytochrome b (cytb) plus Control, and cytb plus 12S plus 16S. The amount of information in each dataset was estimated employing several site-by-site and haplotype based statistics, distances among sequences, Neighbor-joining trees, distances among the estimated trees, …
Fertility And Reproduction's Niche: Human Sexual Diversity, 2017 University of Montana, Missoula
Fertility And Reproduction's Niche: Human Sexual Diversity, Samuel W. Austin
Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers
Abstract: Biologically exploring the origins and forms of human sexuality is of paramount importance. Scientific research has indicated that homosexuality was linked to reproduction, fertility, and adaptive child caring strategies, traits that seem to display cross-cultural similarities. This suggests that sexual diversity may be one of human’s earliest adaptations. While most of the previous research has been on individuals of European descent, little research on Native American populations has been completed to test whether these patterns continue in their population.
The research presented here tests the Sexually Antagonistic Hypothesis for Male Homosexuality, Fraternal Birth Order Effect, and childhood atypical gender …
Juvenile Remains: Predicting Body Mass And Stature In Modern American Populations, 2017 Humboldt State University
Juvenile Remains: Predicting Body Mass And Stature In Modern American Populations, Erin F E Pinkston
Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects
There are increasing numbers of unidentified persons in the U.S. and abroad. To generate positive identifications, forensic anthropologists and others working in the medicolegal field employ a variety of methods to produce biological profiles to match to case files and missing persons databases. Body mass, and stature are two important components of a biological profile, and both can be estimated using regression formulae derived from skeletal metrics. In cases of unidentified juvenile remains, these are particularly important metrics, as it is difficult or impossible to determine sex in prepubescent remains, and the quality of ancestry estimation is currently under debate …