Academic Journal

Diachronic reconstruction of palaeoclimates and diet through stable isotopes (δ13C and δ18O) and 2D geometric morphometrics from cave bear (Ursus spelaeus) dentition

Λεπτομέρειες βιβλιογραφικής εγγραφής
Τίτλος: Diachronic reconstruction of palaeoclimates and diet through stable isotopes (δ13C and δ18O) and 2D geometric morphometrics from cave bear (Ursus spelaeus) dentition
Συγγραφείς: Charters, D, Vonhof, HB, Brown, RP, Bonjean, D, De Groote, I, Pellio, C, Abrams, G, Meloro, C
Στοιχεία εκδότη: Elsevier
Έτος έκδοσης: 2025
Συλλογή: Liverpool John Moores University: LJMU Research Online
Θεματικοί όροι: CC Archaeology, GE Environmental Sciences, GN Anthropology
Περιγραφή: Europe experienced periods of significant climatic fluctuation during the late Pleistocene, which is likely to have led to environmental stress on many species, including the extinct cave bear Ursus spelaeus. We investigated temporal variation in carbon and oxygen isotopic values extracted from dental enamel of U. spelaeus specimens from multiple stratigraphic units within Scladina Cave, Belgium, in conjunction with dental morphology, which we quantified using 2D geometric morphometrics to test the hypothesis that Pleistocene climatic changes impact phenotypic variation and feeding ecology of extinct megafauna. Size and shape of the second lower molar differ in cave bears across several stratigraphic units, even for short temporal gaps between sediment depositions (∼3ky). Ursus spelaeus from Scladina exhibited low δ13C values comparable to that of contemporary herbivores from the same sequence, suggesting an herbivorous diet for the species throughout the temporal sequence. Climatic change had an impact on size and diet, with larger dentition relating to previously suggested colder environmental periods. The existence of these periods was further supported by our δ13C and δ18O measurements. Warmer periods were indicated by higher δ18O values and correlated with lower δ13C values indicative of a diet enriched in plant sources from more forested environments. The environmental variation through the studied sedimentary units of Scladina Cave is discussed and interpreted alongside previously produced palynological results for units herein. Our results support previous suggestions that cave bears from Scladina Cave had a herbivorous diet, while further strengthening the current stratigraphic interpretation of the cave.
Τύπος εγγράφου: article in journal/newspaper
Περιγραφή αρχείου: text
Γλώσσα: English
ISSN: 1040-6182
Relation: https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/27393/1/Charters_etal_QuatInt_Ms%20Final.pdf; Charters, D, Vonhof, HB, Brown, RP ORCID logoorcid:0000-0003-2401-6077 , Bonjean, D, De Groote, I ORCID logoorcid:0000-0002-9860-0180 , Pellio, C, Abrams, G and Meloro, C ORCID logoorcid:0000-0003-0175-1706 (2025) Diachronic reconstruction of palaeoclimates and diet through stable isotopes (δ13C and δ18O) and 2D geometric morphometrics from cave bear (Ursus spelaeus) dentition. Quaternary International, 743. p. 109914. ISSN 1040-6182
DOI: 10.1016/j.quaint.2025.109914
Διαθεσιμότητα: https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/27393/
https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/27393/1/Charters_etal_QuatInt_Ms%20Final.pdf
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2025.109914
Rights: cc_by_nc_nd
Αριθμός Καταχώρησης: edsbas.D315BF6C
Βάση Δεδομένων: BASE