Morphological patterns of the European bison (Bison bonasus) skull
Abstract This study aimed to investigate the effects of environmental factors, sexual selection, and genetic variation on skull morphology by examining the skull structure of the European bison, a species at risk of extinction, and comparing it to other bovid species. The skull of the European bison...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85654-3 |
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| author | Ozan Gündemir Tomasz Szara |
| author_facet | Ozan Gündemir Tomasz Szara |
| author_sort | Ozan Gündemir |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This study aimed to investigate the effects of environmental factors, sexual selection, and genetic variation on skull morphology by examining the skull structure of the European bison, a species at risk of extinction, and comparing it to other bovid species. The skull of the European bison was significantly bigger than that of other species of the tribe Bovini, and the results revealed considerable morphological differences in skull shape compared to other Bovini samples. The bison skull exhibited a broader shape in the frontal region and a more laterally oriented cornual process. The frontal bone also significantly influenced skull shape variation within the European bison subspecies. Also, the findings indicated that cornual processes size significantly affected skull shape. Male Bison had larger skulls and more developed cornual ridges, and these morphological changes in the frontal region are thought to have also influenced the nuchal region, maxillary region, and facial bones. Furthermore, the differences in skull size observed between the Lowland-Pszczyna and Lowland-Białowieża lines, which share a closer origin than the Lowland-Carpathian lines, may reflect environmental and genetic adaptations over time. This research provides a reference point for future studies on the ecological and evolutionary factors influencing bison skull variations, with significant implications for the conservation of this species. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e658d44c8d3e4dc695f7f40231c1c9ff |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-e658d44c8d3e4dc695f7f40231c1c9ff2025-01-12T12:18:59ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-85654-3Morphological patterns of the European bison (Bison bonasus) skullOzan Gündemir0Tomasz Szara1Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul University-CerrahpasaDepartment of Morphological Sciences, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGWAbstract This study aimed to investigate the effects of environmental factors, sexual selection, and genetic variation on skull morphology by examining the skull structure of the European bison, a species at risk of extinction, and comparing it to other bovid species. The skull of the European bison was significantly bigger than that of other species of the tribe Bovini, and the results revealed considerable morphological differences in skull shape compared to other Bovini samples. The bison skull exhibited a broader shape in the frontal region and a more laterally oriented cornual process. The frontal bone also significantly influenced skull shape variation within the European bison subspecies. Also, the findings indicated that cornual processes size significantly affected skull shape. Male Bison had larger skulls and more developed cornual ridges, and these morphological changes in the frontal region are thought to have also influenced the nuchal region, maxillary region, and facial bones. Furthermore, the differences in skull size observed between the Lowland-Pszczyna and Lowland-Białowieża lines, which share a closer origin than the Lowland-Carpathian lines, may reflect environmental and genetic adaptations over time. This research provides a reference point for future studies on the ecological and evolutionary factors influencing bison skull variations, with significant implications for the conservation of this species.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85654-3BovidaeBoviniCornual processFrontal boneGeometric morphometricsSkull morphology |
| spellingShingle | Ozan Gündemir Tomasz Szara Morphological patterns of the European bison (Bison bonasus) skull Scientific Reports Bovidae Bovini Cornual process Frontal bone Geometric morphometrics Skull morphology |
| title | Morphological patterns of the European bison (Bison bonasus) skull |
| title_full | Morphological patterns of the European bison (Bison bonasus) skull |
| title_fullStr | Morphological patterns of the European bison (Bison bonasus) skull |
| title_full_unstemmed | Morphological patterns of the European bison (Bison bonasus) skull |
| title_short | Morphological patterns of the European bison (Bison bonasus) skull |
| title_sort | morphological patterns of the european bison bison bonasus skull |
| topic | Bovidae Bovini Cornual process Frontal bone Geometric morphometrics Skull morphology |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85654-3 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ozangundemir morphologicalpatternsoftheeuropeanbisonbisonbonasusskull AT tomaszszara morphologicalpatternsoftheeuropeanbisonbisonbonasusskull |