Affiliation:
1. Sektion Mammalogie, Zoologische Staatssammlung München Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns D‐81247 München Germany
2. GeoBio‐Center Ludwig‐Maximilians‐Universität München D‐80539 München Germany
3. Department Biologie II Ludwig‐Maximilians‐Universität München D‐82152 Planegg‐Martinsried Germany
4. OD Earth and History of Life Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences B‐1000 Brussels Belgium
Abstract
The Namur area in Belgium is useful to study brown (Ursus arctos) and cave bears (Ursus spelaeus) as the assemblage contains little temporal and no geographical variation. Here, we aim to assess ontogenetic allometry within cave bears, as well as ecomorphological differences between adult brown bears (n = 9), adult cave bears (n = 5) and juvenile cave bears (n = 3). Landmarks for 3D digitization of the mandible were chosen based on the taphonomical damage of the specimens. Extant brown bears and extinct Pleistocene brown and cave bears were digitized with a Microscribe G2. Generalized Procrustes superimposition was performed on the coordinates. Allometry was studied using regression analysis. Principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted to assess ecomorphological differences between the groups. 61% of the shape variance within juvenile and adult cave bears was predicted by size (n = 8, p < 0.01). The juvenile cave bears have relatively deep horizontal rami. In adult cave bears, the horizontal ramus is much narrower dorsoventrally. Juvenile cave bears have a small masseteric fossa and a short coronoid process, whereas both are larger, relative to mandible size, in adult cave bears. This made juvenile cave bears likely less effective masticators than fully grown cave bears. In the PCA, principal component (PC) 1 accounts for 45.0% of the total variance and PC2 accounts for 27.6%. Fossil U. arctos from Namur fall within the 95% confidence interval of modern North American U. arctos on both PCs, but are more similar to cave bears than the average extant brown bear. From the similarity of fossil and modern brown bears, it can be deduced that the diet of fossil brown bears was probably also within the range of their modern North American conspecifics, although they might have been more efficient at masticating plant matter.
Funder
Seventh Framework Programme
University of Roehampton
Subject
Geology,Archeology,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Reference73 articles.
1. Migration pattern inferred from Ursus spelaeus Rosenmüller tooth from tmava skala cave (Slovak republic) using strontium isotope analyses;Abelova M.;Επιστημονική Επετηρίδα του Τμήματος Γεωλογίας (ΑΠΘ),2006
2. Microwear on Canines and Killing Behavior in Large Carnivores: Saber Function in Smilodon fatalis
3. Partial genomic survival of cave bears in living brown bears
4. Pleistocene small cave bear (Ursus rossicus) from the South Siberia, Russia;Baryshnikov G.;Cadernos do Laboratorio Xeolóxico de Laxe,2001
5. Morphometry of upper cheek teeth of cave bears (Carnivora, Ursidae)
Cited by
1 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献