Affiliation:
1. Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences
2. Institute of Monitoring of Climatic and Ecological Systems Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences
Abstract
The first data on the content of isotopes 13C and 15N in the collagen of 16 bones of the Ural cave bear (Ursus (Spelaearctos) kanivetz Verestchagin, 1973) were obtained from the Tayn (Secrets) cave (55°25' N, 57°46' E). The bones date from the middle of MIS 3. The bones of males and females aged about 2 years, about 3 years and older than 4 years were studied. There are no noticeable differences in isotope signatures between individuals of different ages and different sexes. Since the second year of life, cave bears have been eating plant food on their own. The values of δ13C and δ15N of the Ural cave bear are close to the values for U. (S.) spelaeus ingressus.
Publisher
The Russian Academy of Sciences