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All Outputs (29)

A 3D geometric morphometric analysis of the bovid distal humerus, with special reference to Rusingoryx atopocranion (Pleistocene, Eastern Africa) (2024)
Journal Article
Anderson, S. C., Kovarovic, K., & Barr, W. A. (2024). A 3D geometric morphometric analysis of the bovid distal humerus, with special reference to Rusingoryx atopocranion (Pleistocene, Eastern Africa). Journal of Anatomy, 245(3), 451-466. https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.14062

The family Bovidae [Mammalia: Artiodactyla] is speciose and has extant representatives on every continent, forming key components of mammal communities. For these reasons, bovids are ideal candidates for studies of ecomorphology. In particular, the m... Read More about A 3D geometric morphometric analysis of the bovid distal humerus, with special reference to Rusingoryx atopocranion (Pleistocene, Eastern Africa).

Diversity, population structure and palaeoecology of the Pleistocene large cervids from the Padang Highlands, Sumatra (2024)
Book Chapter
Gruwier, B., de Vos, J., Wirkner, M., Hertler, C., & Kovarovic, K. (2024). Diversity, population structure and palaeoecology of the Pleistocene large cervids from the Padang Highlands, Sumatra. In J. Louys, P. C. Albers, & A. A. van der Geer (Eds.), Quaternary Palaeontology and Archaeology of Sumatra (121-143). ANU Press. https://doi.org/10.22459/ta56.2024.06

This chapter deals with the dentognathic remains of the Late Pleistocene large cervids from the Padang Highlands caves in Sumatra. We used linear and geometric morphometric techniques to
investigate variation, taxonomic position and body size trend... Read More about Diversity, population structure and palaeoecology of the Pleistocene large cervids from the Padang Highlands, Sumatra.

Continent-Wide Patterns in Mammal Community Structure: Diet, Locomotion, and Body Mass (2023)
Book Chapter
Lintulaakso, K., & Kovarovic, K. (2023). Continent-Wide Patterns in Mammal Community Structure: Diet, Locomotion, and Body Mass. In I. Casanovas-Vilar, L. W. van den Hoek Ostende, C. M. Janis, & J. Saarinen (Eds.), Evolution of Cenozoic Land Mammal Faunas and Ecosystems: 25 Years of the NOW Database of Fossil Mammals (95-110). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17491-9_7

Tropical vegetation categories in Africa, America and Asia can be differentiated by their mammal communities. We studied 163 localities assigned to Olson’s (1983) vegetation categories in five ecosystems. Non-volant species over 500 g were classified... Read More about Continent-Wide Patterns in Mammal Community Structure: Diet, Locomotion, and Body Mass.

Ecomorphology of the cervid intermediate phalanx and its implications for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction (2022)
Journal Article
Gruwier, B. J., & Kovarovic, K. (2023). Ecomorphology of the cervid intermediate phalanx and its implications for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. Journal of Morphology, 284(1), Article e21528. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21528

This paper reports on newly developed ecomorphological models for the cervid intermediate phalanx. Using a geometric morphometric approach, we quantitatively assess the overall gracility of the bone, the depth and concavity of the proximal articulati... Read More about Ecomorphology of the cervid intermediate phalanx and its implications for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction.

Ecomorphology of the cervid calcaneus as a proxy for paleoenvironmental reconstruction (2021)
Journal Article
Gruwier, B. J., & Kovarovic, K. (2022). Ecomorphology of the cervid calcaneus as a proxy for paleoenvironmental reconstruction. Anatomical Record: Advances in Integrative Anatomy and Evolutionary Biology, 305(9), 2207-2226. https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.24845

This study presents new ecomorphological models for the cervid calcaneus that can be used to make predictions about the nature of ancient environments. Using geometric morphometrics to quantitatively assess the length of the articular surface support... Read More about Ecomorphology of the cervid calcaneus as a proxy for paleoenvironmental reconstruction.

Developmental instability in wild Nigerian olive baboons (Papio anubis) (2021)
Journal Article
Hoover, K. C., Gelipter, E., Sommer, V., & Kovarovic, K. (2021). Developmental instability in wild Nigerian olive baboons (Papio anubis). PeerJ – the Journal of Life & Environmental Sciences, 9, Article e11832. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11832

Background Developmental instability in archaeological samples can be detected through analysis of skeletal and dental remains. During life, disruptions to biological internal homeostasis that occur during growth and development redirect bodily resou... Read More about Developmental instability in wild Nigerian olive baboons (Papio anubis).

On the misidentification of species: sampling error in primates and other mammals using geometric morphometrics in more than 4,000 individuals (2021)
Journal Article
Cardini, A., Elton, S., Kovarovic, K., Strand Vidarsdottir, U., & Polly, D. (2021). On the misidentification of species: sampling error in primates and other mammals using geometric morphometrics in more than 4,000 individuals. Evolutionary Biology, 48(2), 190-220. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11692-021-09531-3

An accurate classification is the basis for research in biology. Morphometrics and morphospecies play an important role in modern taxonomy, with geometric morphometrics increasingly applied as a favourite analytical tool. Yet, really large samples ar... Read More about On the misidentification of species: sampling error in primates and other mammals using geometric morphometrics in more than 4,000 individuals.

Ecomorphology and ecology of the grassland specialist, Rusingoryx atopocranion (Artiodactyla: Bovidae), from the late Pleistocene of western Kenya (2021)
Journal Article
Kovarovic, K., Faith, J., Jenkins, K., Tryon, C., & Peppe, D. (2021). Ecomorphology and ecology of the grassland specialist, Rusingoryx atopocranion (Artiodactyla: Bovidae), from the late Pleistocene of western Kenya. Quaternary Research, 101, 187-204. https://doi.org/10.1017/qua.2020.102

Rusingoryx atopocranion is an extinct alcelaphin bovid from the late Pleistocene of Kenya, known for its distinctive hollow nasal crest. A bonebed of R. atopocranion from the Lake Victoria Basin provides a unique opportunity to examine the nearly com... Read More about Ecomorphology and ecology of the grassland specialist, Rusingoryx atopocranion (Artiodactyla: Bovidae), from the late Pleistocene of western Kenya.

Ontogenetic and morphological variation in primate long bones reflect signals of size and behavior (2020)
Journal Article
Nadell, J., Elton, S., & Kovarovic, K. (2021). Ontogenetic and morphological variation in primate long bones reflect signals of size and behavior. American journal of physical anthropology, 174(2), 327-351. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.24198

Objectives Many primates change their locomotor behavior as they mature from infancy to adulthood. Here we investigate how long bone cross‐sectional geometry in Pan, Gorilla, Pongo, Hylobatidae, and Macaca varies in shape and form over ontogeny, incl... Read More about Ontogenetic and morphological variation in primate long bones reflect signals of size and behavior.

The Realities of Fieldwork: Embedding professional practice - a case study from palaeoanthropology (2019)
Journal Article
Kovarovic, K. (2019). The Realities of Fieldwork: Embedding professional practice - a case study from palaeoanthropology. Journal of archaeology and education, 3(8), Article 1

Programs in palaeoanthropology (the study of human evolution) do not often provide professional fieldwork training. Palaeoanthropology students are thus at risk of being unaware of the professional practices and responsibilities that come with a care... Read More about The Realities of Fieldwork: Embedding professional practice - a case study from palaeoanthropology.

Experimental Butchery Study Investigating the Influence of Timing of Access and Butcher Expertise on Cut Mark Variables (2018)
Journal Article
Pobiner, B., Higson, C., Kovarovic, K., Kaplan, R., Rogers, J., & Schindler, W. (2018). Experimental Butchery Study Investigating the Influence of Timing of Access and Butcher Expertise on Cut Mark Variables. International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, 28(4), 377-387. https://doi.org/10.1002/oa.2661

Cut marks on fossils from Plio‐Pleistocene faunal assemblages can elucidate the timing and nature of hominin procurement of animal tissues. While butchery experiments have great potential to enhance our ability to understand hominin butchery behavior... Read More about Experimental Butchery Study Investigating the Influence of Timing of Access and Butcher Expertise on Cut Mark Variables.

Diet and locomotion, but not body size, differentiate mammal communities in worldwide tropical ecosystems (2016)
Journal Article
Lintulaakso, K., & Kovarovic, K. (2016). Diet and locomotion, but not body size, differentiate mammal communities in worldwide tropical ecosystems. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 454, 20-29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2016.04.012

Aim To test whether tropical habitat groups across the world can be differentiated by using taxon-free mammalian community structures and to discuss the implications of this analysis for palaeoecological community studies. Materials and methods We us... Read More about Diet and locomotion, but not body size, differentiate mammal communities in worldwide tropical ecosystems.

Exploration of the taxonomy of some Pleistocene Cervini (Mammalia, Artiodactyla, Cervidae) from Java and Sumatra (Indonesia): a geometric- and linear morphometric approach (2015)
Journal Article
Gruwier, B., de Vos, J., & Kovarovic, K. (2015). Exploration of the taxonomy of some Pleistocene Cervini (Mammalia, Artiodactyla, Cervidae) from Java and Sumatra (Indonesia): a geometric- and linear morphometric approach. Quaternary Science Reviews, 119, 35-53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2015.04.012

Third molars of extant- and fossil Southeast Asian deer were metrically compared using a linear- and geometric morphometric approach and discussed in relation to known taxonomic information from the literature. Our analysis suggests the presence of m... Read More about Exploration of the taxonomy of some Pleistocene Cervini (Mammalia, Artiodactyla, Cervidae) from Java and Sumatra (Indonesia): a geometric- and linear morphometric approach.

Fire in the Plio-Pleistocene: The functions of hominin fire use, and the mechanistic, developmental and evolutionary consequences (2015)
Journal Article
Attwell, L., Kovarovic, K., & Kendal, J. (2015). Fire in the Plio-Pleistocene: The functions of hominin fire use, and the mechanistic, developmental and evolutionary consequences. Journal of Anthropological Sciences, 93, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.4436/jass.93006

Fire is a powerful natural force that can change landscapes extremely quickly. Hominins have harnessed this resource for their own purposes, with mechanistic and developmental physiological consequences. In addition, the use of fire has niche constru... Read More about Fire in the Plio-Pleistocene: The functions of hominin fire use, and the mechanistic, developmental and evolutionary consequences.

The evolution and skeletal anatomy of wild cattle (Bovini) (2014)
Book Chapter
Kovarovic, K., & Scott, R. (2014). The evolution and skeletal anatomy of wild cattle (Bovini). In M. Melletti, & J. Burton (Eds.), Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour of Wild Cattle (39-50). Cambridge University Press