VARIABILITY OF LOWER MOLARS IN MARTINO\u27S SNOW VOLES, DINAROMYS BOGDANOVI (V. in E. Martino, 1922), (Rodentia, Mammalia)

V svoji diplomski nalogi sem analizirala starostno variabilnost, sekundarni spolni dimorfizem in geografsko variabilnost spodnjih meljakov dinarske voluharice, Dinaromys bogdanovi. V okviru raziskave sem uporabila uni- in multivariatne analize ter analizo relativnega izkrivljenja. Pri tem sem testirala 35 spremenljivk. V analizo starostne variabilnosti sem zajela 208 osebkov iz 31 lokalitet, ki sem jih nadalje združila v tri geografske regije (S — južno, C — centralno in W — zahodno). Rezultati analize so pokazali, da obstajajo razlike med juvenilnimi in adultnimi osebki tako v velikosti kot v obliki spodnjih meljakov. Analiza sekundarnega spolnega dimorfizma, ki sem jo opravila le na odraslih živalih, je pokazala, da razlik med samci in samicami v velikosti in obliki spodnjih meljakov ni. S pomočjo enosmerne analize variance (F-testa), diskriminantne analize (DFA) in analize relativnega izkrivljenja sem dokazala, da je geografska variabilnost izražena na spodnjih meljakih. Tako obstajajo signifikantne razlike med tremi definiranimi skupinami osebkov dinarske voluharice. Centralna skupina ima glede na zahodno skupino povečano žvekalno površino vseh treh spodnjih meljakov. Omeniti je potrebno, da se je bistveno spremenila prednja zanka, ki se je očitno podaljšala. Primerjava spodnjih meljakov dinarske voluharice centralne in južne regije je pokazala, da je tudi tukaj prvi meljak pri osebkih južne regije postal daljši in širši. Drugi meljak je prav tako nekoliko širši, vendar za spoznanje krajši. Tretji meljak je nekoliko daljši in ožji.The diploma thesis presents the analysis of age variability, secondary gender dimorphism and geographical variability in the form and size of lower molars in Martino\u27s Snow Voles (Dinaromys bogdanovi). Within the sphere of the research the system of uni-variant and multi-variant analysis and analysis of relative curving has been used. The analysis has been performed on 35 molar variables. The analysis of age variability, which has included 208 animals from 31 locations, has been further divided into three geographical regions (S – south, C – central, W – west). The results of the analysis have shown significant differences between young and adult animals in both, size and form. Therefore I eliminated young from the further analysis. The analysis of secondary gender dimorphism, has shown that there is no difference in the size and form of lower molars between male and female specimens. By means of one way analysis of variance (ANOVA), discriminant analysis (DFA) and analysis of relative curving, it has been proved that geographical variability is seen in lower molars in Martino\u27s Snow Voles. Thus exist significant differences between three defined groups specimens Martino\u27s Snow Voles. In conclusion, the central group has an enlarged chewing area of all three lower molars in comparison to the western group. The comparison of lower molars in Martino\u27s Snow Voles from the central and southern regions has shown differences in both the length and width of the teeth. The first molar is wider and longer, the second is some wider and a little shorter, whereas the third one is narrower and longer