Diet and jaw loading.
Oral processing begins when food parts contact masticatory morphology. We investigate this physical relationship by quantifying variables that contribute to jaw loading and ultimately to structural adaptation of the masticatory apparatus. To estimate the effort required to process foods, we quantify biting location and count bites and chews for each food item. We then model how food intake and effort relate to food properties (toughness and geometry). As foods become tougher, bites/chews increase and overall intake decreases. These effects are more pronounced in the gracile ring-tailed lemur, which modifies its behavior to accommodate tougher, larger foods. 

Diet and jaw loading. Oral processing begins when food parts contact masticatory morphology. We investigate this physical relationship by quantifying variables that contribute to jaw loading and ultimately to structural adaptation of the masticatory apparatus. To estimate the effort required to process foods, we quantify biting location and count bites and chews for each food item. We then model how food intake and effort relate to food properties (toughness and geometry). As foods become tougher, bites/chews increase and overall intake decreases. These effects are more pronounced in the gracile ring-tailed lemur, which modifies its behavior to accommodate tougher, larger foods.