Cranial Morphology and Feeding Ecology in Bears

• Main Author: Crockham, Kaliyah N.
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Exhibit 2024
• Subjects: polar bear
• Online Access: https://www.exhibit.xavier.edu/curca/2024/schedule/2; https://www.exhibit.xavier.edu/context/curca/article/1092/type/native/viewcontent/Poster_for_Comm.pptx

The bear family, Ursidae, is known for its stout frame and powerful bite as well as a diverse diet ranging from plants to small mammals and human food, with most species being omnivores. The Polar Bear stands out as primarily carnivorous, preying on medium-sized marine animals like seals. This study aims to compare skull and mandibular features among six species of bears to determine if evolutionary changes in jaw musculature and mechanical advantage of these muscles at various tooth positions reflects feeding ecology within the family. An analysis of variance was performed on indices computed from ten cranial and jaw measurements taken on the six species that comprise the family. It was hypothesized that the Polar Bear, which is an active hunter, will exhibit enhanced jaw musculature with greater biting force than the rest of the species which are mostly omnivorous.