title: Differences among species in compact bone tissue microstructure of mammalian skeleton: use of a discriminant function analysis for species identification.
abstract: In order to develop an identification key for distinguishing between several mammalian species, bone structure of their compact bone tissue was analyzed using qualitative and quantitative characteristics. Ninety femora of adult male humans, pigs, cows, sheep, rabbits, and rats were studied. The average area, perimeter, minimum, and maximum diameter of 1863 Haversian canals and 1863 secondary osteons were measured using a digital image device. The observed data were first used to evaluate inter- and intraspecies diversity. After that, we applied a discriminant function analysis for differentiation of the species by these variables. Classification functions for investigated species give cross-validated correct classification rates for 76.17% of cases. This percentage value can be increased by integrating conclusions from the qualitative analysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology and Anthropology, Constantine Philosopher University, Nábrezie mládeze 91, 949 74 Nitra, Slovak Republic. mmartiniakova@pobox.sk
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martiniaková
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Grosskopf
authors.forename: Radoslav
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Omelka
authors.forename: Mária
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vondráková
authors.forename: Mária
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bauerová
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002102:Cadaver; D002417:Cattle; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005269:Femur / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D018732:Forensic Anthropology; D006253:Haversian System / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D012756:Sheep; D013045:Species Specificity; D013552:Swine