Taxonomic and paleobiological insights into small mammals from the Pliocene of Western Turkey: a comprehensive study of the locality of Afşar

The thesis explores micromammal fossils from the Afşar section in Anatolia, a crucial locality for understanding the Pliocene epoch and the transition to the Villafranchian Age. The research begins by examining Arvicolinae and Cricetinae; the former are used as valuable stratigraphic markers due to their evolving hypsodonty (high-crowned teeth), which is quantified using the HH-index, while the latter serve as paleoenvironmental indicators for open, steppe habitats. The study then focuses on the large Spalacinae assemblage, introducing a novel CT-scanning method to simulate tooth wear and overcome taxonomic challenges posed by their high-crowned molars. The remaining rodents (including Murinae, Gliridae, Zapodidae, and Dipodidae) and Lagomorphs are also taxonomically identified. The final chapter synthesizes all faunal and evolutionary data to establish the site's biochronology and reconstruct the significant paleoenvironmental changes that occurred between the Early and Late Pliocene, confirming the Afşar section's importance in the Anatolian Pliocene record.