Paleodiet inferred from Ursus spelaeus ROSENMÜLLER et HEINROTH tooth from Tmavá skala cave (Slovak Republic) using carbon isotope analyses

Acta Mus. Moraviae, Sci. Geol. 92 (2007), issue 1–2, pages 151-156

Article

Authors:

Abstract:

Paleodiet inferred from Ursus spelaeus ROSENMÜLLER et HEINROTH tooth from Tmavá skala cave (Slovak Republic) using carbon isotope analyses

Isotopes of carbon were employed in the study of Ursus spelaeus second upper molar M² from Late Würm bear cave Tmavá skala (Little Carpathians, Slovak Republic). Samples of enamel and dentine were used for the analyses. Variations in the carbon isotope ratio (¹³C/12C) were used to examine the paleodiet. The δ¹³C of investigated tooth is -11,8 ‰ for dentine and -16 ‰ for enamel. This indicates that the diet of Ursus spelaeus was dominated by C3 biomass. These values suggest a forested habitat.

Contact:

Martina Ábelová, Institute of Geological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská Street 2, Brno 611 37, Czech Republic. abelova.m@mail.muni.cz

Citation:

Ábelová, M., 2007: Paleodiet inferred from Ursus spelaeus ROSENMÜLLER et HEINROTH tooth from Tmavá skala cave (Slovak Republic) using carbon isotope analyses. – Acta Mus. Moraviae, Sci. geol., 92, 1-2, 151–156 (with English summary)

Keywords:

Carbon Isotopes, Paleodiet, teeth, Upper Pleistocene, Ursus spelaeus

ISSN: 1211–8796