Epigenetic dental asymmetry of Israeli hares: Developmental stability along an environmental gradient

Bilateral fluctuating asymmetry of minor epigenetic dental characters was s tudied in 134 hares (Lepus sp.) from Israel to estimate levels of developme ntal homeostasis along a steep ecological gradient over short geographic di stance. Overall fluctuating asymmetry and asymmetry of particular teeth or tooth groups were generally low in magnitude, and were not significantly co rrelated with rainfall or temperature data when tested separately in northe rn and southern Israeli hares. Also, fluctuating asymmetry did not vary sig nificantly among three specified regions (N-Israel, Be'er Sheva region, S-I srael). However, in northern Israeli hares, fluctuating asymmetry of the fi rst lower premolar (P-3), a tooth of quite complex structure, tended to inc rease with hotter and drier climate. A tendency towards increased overall f luctuating asymmetry was also found in the Be'er Sheva region, central Isra el, which was considered earlier by some authors as a possible contact/over lap zone of two distinct gene pools of northern and southern Israeli hares.