Dust accumulation in the canopy: A potential cause of dental microwear in primates
Dental microwear researchers consider exogenous grit or dust to be an important cause of microscopic wear on primate teeth. No study to date has examined the accumulation of such abrasives on foods eaten by primates in the forest. This investigation introduces a method to collect dust at various heights in the canopy. Results from dust collection studies conducted at the primate research stations at Ketambe in Indonesia, and Hacienda La Pacifica in Costa Rica indicate that 1) grit collects throughout the canopy in both open country and tropical rain forest environments; and 2) the sizes and concentrations of dust particles accumulated over a fixed period of time differ depending on site location and season of investigation. These results may hold important implications for the interpretation of microwear on primate teeth.
Harvey J. Finison (Equipment Laboratory, Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio): One of the greatest problems in brush wear testing has been the selection of test conditions representative of service conditions. Selection of test conditions considerably more severe than actual operating conditions may result in elimination of brushes capable of giving excellent service performance, in fact, superior to those which may be selected on the basis of more severe tests.