Fossil Population Structure and Mortality of the Cave Bear From the Mokrica Cave (North Slovenia)
The fossil population structure of the cave bear from the Mokrica cave was evaluated to provide new data concerning the behaviour and mortality of this extinct species. Age at death was estimated for 128 different individuals by analysing cementum increments, root formation and crown wear of left M1...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts
2007-12-01
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| Series: | Acta Carsologica |
| Online Access: | https://ojs.zrc-sazu.si/carsologica/article/view/181 |
| _version_ | 1811169809495228416 |
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| author | Irena Debeljak |
| author_facet | Irena Debeljak |
| author_sort | Irena Debeljak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The fossil population structure of the cave bear from the Mokrica cave was evaluated to provide new data concerning the behaviour and mortality of this extinct species. Age at death was estimated for 128 different individuals by analysing cementum increments, root formation and crown wear of left M1 teeth. After the frequency distribution of specimens through one-year intervals, the mortality trends can be estimated for various lifetime periods, and interpreted in accordance with data for present-day bears. The original death assemblage was presumably juvenile-dominated. Extremely fragile molars of less than 6 month old cubs did not get preserved. Yearlings are the most numerous age class in the fossil population from the Mokrica cave. Mortality drastically dropped after cave bears survived their first hibernation in the second winter. The lowest mortality rate was observed in the 9-15 years age group, when cave bears would be expected to be in their prime. The oldest age recorded by cementum analysis is approximately 30 years, which indicates that the maximum life span was similar to present-day bears. Study of dental tissues shows that the mortality in the cave was seasonally restricted – the majority of deaths in the cave occured during winter and in early spring. Sex structure of the fossil population has been studied on the sample of 750 canines. The significantly higher proportion of males in the group of older juveniles and subadults could be explained by the fact that the weaning period is more critical for males also in present-day bears. In young adults and prime adults the mortality was presumably higher in females. The sex structure of adult bears, especially in the sample of older individuals, indicates that the Mokrica cave was used as winter den mostly by solitary males. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T16:48:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9b3697c5f712494fa35cc4b82bc89137 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0583-6050 1580-2612 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T16:48:54Z |
| publishDate | 2007-12-01 |
| publisher | Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Carsologica |
| spelling | doaj.art-9b3697c5f712494fa35cc4b82bc891372023-02-07T17:49:17ZengSlovenian Academy of Sciences and ArtsActa Carsologica0583-60501580-26122007-12-0136310.3986/ac.v36i3.181167Fossil Population Structure and Mortality of the Cave Bear From the Mokrica Cave (North Slovenia)Irena Debeljak0Ivan Rakovec Institute of Palaeontology, ZRC SAZU, Novi trg 2, LjubljanaThe fossil population structure of the cave bear from the Mokrica cave was evaluated to provide new data concerning the behaviour and mortality of this extinct species. Age at death was estimated for 128 different individuals by analysing cementum increments, root formation and crown wear of left M1 teeth. After the frequency distribution of specimens through one-year intervals, the mortality trends can be estimated for various lifetime periods, and interpreted in accordance with data for present-day bears. The original death assemblage was presumably juvenile-dominated. Extremely fragile molars of less than 6 month old cubs did not get preserved. Yearlings are the most numerous age class in the fossil population from the Mokrica cave. Mortality drastically dropped after cave bears survived their first hibernation in the second winter. The lowest mortality rate was observed in the 9-15 years age group, when cave bears would be expected to be in their prime. The oldest age recorded by cementum analysis is approximately 30 years, which indicates that the maximum life span was similar to present-day bears. Study of dental tissues shows that the mortality in the cave was seasonally restricted – the majority of deaths in the cave occured during winter and in early spring. Sex structure of the fossil population has been studied on the sample of 750 canines. The significantly higher proportion of males in the group of older juveniles and subadults could be explained by the fact that the weaning period is more critical for males also in present-day bears. In young adults and prime adults the mortality was presumably higher in females. The sex structure of adult bears, especially in the sample of older individuals, indicates that the Mokrica cave was used as winter den mostly by solitary males.https://ojs.zrc-sazu.si/carsologica/article/view/181 |
| spellingShingle | Irena Debeljak Fossil Population Structure and Mortality of the Cave Bear From the Mokrica Cave (North Slovenia) Acta Carsologica |
| title | Fossil Population Structure and Mortality of the Cave Bear From the Mokrica Cave (North Slovenia) |
| title_full | Fossil Population Structure and Mortality of the Cave Bear From the Mokrica Cave (North Slovenia) |
| title_fullStr | Fossil Population Structure and Mortality of the Cave Bear From the Mokrica Cave (North Slovenia) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fossil Population Structure and Mortality of the Cave Bear From the Mokrica Cave (North Slovenia) |
| title_short | Fossil Population Structure and Mortality of the Cave Bear From the Mokrica Cave (North Slovenia) |
| title_sort | fossil population structure and mortality of the cave bear from the mokrica cave north slovenia |
| url | https://ojs.zrc-sazu.si/carsologica/article/view/181 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT irenadebeljak fossilpopulationstructureandmortalityofthecavebearfromthemokricacavenorthslovenia |