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

Charters, D, Vonhof, HB, Brown, RP ORCID: 0000-0003-2401-6077, Bonjean, D, De Groote, I ORCID: 0000-0002-9860-0180, Pellio, C, Abrams, G and Meloro, C ORCID: 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

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Abstract

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.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	3709 Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience; 37 Earth Sciences; 43 History, Heritage and Archaeology; 4301 Archaeology; 3702 Climate Change Science; Nutrition; 0403 Geology; 0406 Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience; 2101 Archaeology; Paleontology; 3705 Geology; 3709 Physical geography and environmental geoscience; 4301 Archaeology
Subjects:	C Auxiliary Sciences of History > CC Archaeology G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GN Anthropology
Divisions:	Biological and Environmental Sciences (from Sep 19)
Publisher:	Elsevier
Date of acceptance:	9 July 2025
Date Deposited:	21 Oct 2025 14:30
Last Modified:	21 Oct 2025 14:45
DOI or ID number:	10.1016/j.quaint.2025.109914
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/27393

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