April 22-23, 2026 – Palevoprim

Formation Palevoprim

3D textural analyses applied to the ecology of modern and fossil faunas (DMTA: Dental Microwear Texture Analysis): data acquisition, processing, and interpretation.

Training team

Gildas Merceron, Directeur de recherche CNRS
Emilie Berlioz, Chargée de recherche CNRS
Jérôme Surault, Assistant ingénieur UP

This training course, offered by the PALEVOPRIM laboratory (UMR 7262, University of Poitiers & CNRS Ecology & Environment), aims to provide participants with theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the use of the laboratory’s Leica DCM-8 surface profilometer, as well as in the processing tools and statistical analysis of the acquired surface textures.

The training is primarily focused on the application of 3D dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA) to mammal teeth in order to address questions in ecology and paleoecology (diet reconstruction, comparison of trophic niches, intra- and inter-population variability, etc.). This is a non-invasive approach that leaves no marks on the specimens.

Final objective: to be able to independently carry out a 3D dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA) study.