Eagle owls’ predation within a highly diversified Late Glacial landscape: remains of pikas and hares (Lagomorpha) from the Loutra Almopias Cave (Central Macedonia, Greece)

Abstract

During cave bear excavations in the Loutra Almopias Cave, Pella District, in Central Macedonia, Greece, an ecologically highly diverse Late Glacial faunal assemblage, mainly micromammals and birds, was sampled from an elevated small niche labelled LAC Ia. The lagomorphs are represented by steppe pika (Ochotona pusilla), brown (or European) hare (Lepus europaeus) and mountain hare (Lepus timidus). The site evidences the first record of this last species in Greece and its southernmost evidence so far. The taphonomic patterns of the fossils refer to eagle owls (Bubo bubo) as an accumulating agent. This is congruent with the total LAC Ia species spectrum and the bone element abundance and destruction patterns. Radiocarbon dates of 12,350±40 14C yrs BP (VERA-5631) from a Lepus sp. bone and 16,427±96 14C yrs BP (VERA-7402) from a L. timidus premolar indicate the emplacement of the assemblage in the (very probably early phase of the) Late Glacial. The taphocoenosis reflects a high variety of habitats and biodiversity from periglacial alpine grassland to deciduous forests and Mediterranean open fore-land areas with scattered brush and thick scrub. The position of the eagle owl site is approximately 50 m inside the cave. Along the distance from the Late Pleistocene entrance, the nocturnal raptors had to manage two direction changes within their flight path. That opening was closed later by talus sediments, and thus the fossil owl nest or feeding place has been sealed. The LAC Ia assemblage is so far a unique terrestrial record of Late Glacial biota in the Southern Balkans.