Fate and preservation of the late pleistocene cave bears from Niedźwiedzia Cave in Poland, through taphonomy, pathology, and geochemistry

Adrian Marciszak; Paweł Mackiewicz; Ryszard K. Borówka; Chiara Capalbo; Piotr Chibowski; Michał Gąsiorowski; Helena Hercman; Bernard Cedro; Aleksandra Kropczyk; Wiktoria Gornig; Piotr Moska; Dariusz Nowakowski; Urszula Ratajczak-Skrzatek; Artur Sobczyk; Maciej T. Sykut; Katarzyna Zarzecka-Szubińska; Oleksandr Kovalchuk; Zoltán Barkaszi; Krzysztof Stefaniak; Paul P.A. Mazza

doi:10.1038/s41598-024-60222-3

Fate and preservation of the late pleistocene cave bears from Niedźwiedzia Cave in Poland, through taphonomy, pathology, and geochemistry

Adrian Marciszak, Paweł Mackiewicz, Ryszard K. Borówka, Chiara Capalbo, Piotr Chibowski, Michał Gąsiorowski, Helena Hercman, Bernard Cedro, Aleksandra Kropczyk, Wiktoria Gornig, Piotr Moska, Dariusz Nowakowski, Urszula Ratajczak-Skrzatek, Artur Sobczyk, Maciej T. Sykut, Katarzyna Zarzecka-Szubińska, Oleksandr Kovalchuk, Zoltán Barkaszi, Krzysztof Stefaniak, Paul P.A. Mazza^*

^*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift/Konferencebidrag i tidsskrift /Bidrag til avis › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › peer review

1 Citationer (Scopus)

Abstract

This comprehensive study examines fossil remains from Niedźwiedzia Cave in the Eastern Sudetes, offering detailed insights into the palaeobiology and adversities encountered by the Pleistocene cave bear Ursus spelaeus ingressus. Emphasising habitual cave use for hibernation and a primarily herbivorous diet, the findings attribute mortality to resource scarcity during hibernation and habitat fragmentation amid climate shifts. Taphonomic analysis indicates that the cave was extensively used by successive generations of bears, virtually unexposed to the impact of predators. The study also reveals that alkaline conditions developed in the cave during the post-depositional taphonomic processes. Mortality patterns, notably among juveniles, imply dwindling resources, indicative of environmental instability. Skeletal examination reveals a high incidence of forelimb fractures, indicating risks during activities like digging or confrontations. Palaeopathological evidence unveils vulnerabilities to tuberculosis, abscesses, rickets, and injuries, elucidating mobility challenges. The cave’s silts exhibit a high zinc concentration, potentially derived from successive bear generations consuming zinc-rich plants. This study illuminates the lives of late cave bears, elucidating unique environmental hurdles faced near their species’ end.

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Artikelnummer	9775
Tidsskrift	Scientific Reports
Vol/bind	14
Nummer	1
ISSN	2045-2322
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-60222-3
Status	Udgivet - dec. 2024

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10.1038/s41598-024-60222-3Licens: CC BY

Citationsformater

Marciszak, A., Mackiewicz, P., Borówka, R. K., Capalbo, C., Chibowski, P., Gąsiorowski, M., Hercman, H., Cedro, B., Kropczyk, A., Gornig, W., Moska, P., Nowakowski, D., Ratajczak-Skrzatek, U., Sobczyk, A., Sykut, M. T., Zarzecka-Szubińska, K., Kovalchuk, O., Barkaszi, Z., Stefaniak, K., & Mazza, P. P. A. (2024). Fate and preservation of the late pleistocene cave bears from Niedźwiedzia Cave in Poland, through taphonomy, pathology, and geochemistry. Scientific Reports, 14(1), Artikel 9775. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-60222-3

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title = "Fate and preservation of the late pleistocene cave bears from Nied{\'z}wiedzia Cave in Poland, through taphonomy, pathology, and geochemistry",

abstract = "This comprehensive study examines fossil remains from Nied{\'z}wiedzia Cave in the Eastern Sudetes, offering detailed insights into the palaeobiology and adversities encountered by the Pleistocene cave bear Ursus spelaeus ingressus. Emphasising habitual cave use for hibernation and a primarily herbivorous diet, the findings attribute mortality to resource scarcity during hibernation and habitat fragmentation amid climate shifts. Taphonomic analysis indicates that the cave was extensively used by successive generations of bears, virtually unexposed to the impact of predators. The study also reveals that alkaline conditions developed in the cave during the post-depositional taphonomic processes. Mortality patterns, notably among juveniles, imply dwindling resources, indicative of environmental instability. Skeletal examination reveals a high incidence of forelimb fractures, indicating risks during activities like digging or confrontations. Palaeopathological evidence unveils vulnerabilities to tuberculosis, abscesses, rickets, and injuries, elucidating mobility challenges. The cave{\textquoteright}s silts exhibit a high zinc concentration, potentially derived from successive bear generations consuming zinc-rich plants. This study illuminates the lives of late cave bears, elucidating unique environmental hurdles faced near their species{\textquoteright} end.",

author = "Adrian Marciszak and Pawe{\l} Mackiewicz and Bor{\'o}wka, {Ryszard K.} and Chiara Capalbo and Piotr Chibowski and Micha{\l} G{\c a}siorowski and Helena Hercman and Bernard Cedro and Aleksandra Kropczyk and Wiktoria Gornig and Piotr Moska and Dariusz Nowakowski and Urszula Ratajczak-Skrzatek and Artur Sobczyk and Sykut, {Maciej T.} and Katarzyna Zarzecka-Szubi{\'n}ska and Oleksandr Kovalchuk and Zolt{\'a}n Barkaszi and Krzysztof Stefaniak and Mazza, {Paul P.A.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2024.",

year = "2024",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1038/s41598-024-60222-3",

language = "English",

volume = "14",

journal = "Scientific Reports",

issn = "2045-2322",

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Marciszak, A, Mackiewicz, P, Borówka, RK, Capalbo, C, Chibowski, P, Gąsiorowski, M, Hercman, H, Cedro, B, Kropczyk, A, Gornig, W, Moska, P, Nowakowski, D, Ratajczak-Skrzatek, U, Sobczyk, A, Sykut, MT, Zarzecka-Szubińska, K, Kovalchuk, O, Barkaszi, Z, Stefaniak, K & Mazza, PPA 2024, 'Fate and preservation of the late pleistocene cave bears from Niedźwiedzia Cave in Poland, through taphonomy, pathology, and geochemistry', Scientific Reports, bind 14, nr. 1, 9775. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-60222-3

Fate and preservation of the late pleistocene cave bears from Niedźwiedzia Cave in Poland, through taphonomy, pathology, and geochemistry. / Marciszak, Adrian; Mackiewicz, Paweł; Borówka, Ryszard K. et al.
I: Scientific Reports, Bind 14, Nr. 1, 9775, 12.2024.

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift/Konferencebidrag i tidsskrift /Bidrag til avis › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › peer review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Fate and preservation of the late pleistocene cave bears from Niedźwiedzia Cave in Poland, through taphonomy, pathology, and geochemistry

AU - Marciszak, Adrian

AU - Mackiewicz, Paweł

AU - Borówka, Ryszard K.

AU - Capalbo, Chiara

AU - Chibowski, Piotr

AU - Gąsiorowski, Michał

AU - Hercman, Helena

AU - Cedro, Bernard

AU - Kropczyk, Aleksandra

AU - Gornig, Wiktoria

AU - Moska, Piotr

AU - Nowakowski, Dariusz

AU - Ratajczak-Skrzatek, Urszula

AU - Sobczyk, Artur

AU - Sykut, Maciej T.

AU - Zarzecka-Szubińska, Katarzyna

AU - Kovalchuk, Oleksandr

AU - Barkaszi, Zoltán

AU - Stefaniak, Krzysztof

AU - Mazza, Paul P.A.

PY - 2024/12

Y1 - 2024/12

N2 - This comprehensive study examines fossil remains from Niedźwiedzia Cave in the Eastern Sudetes, offering detailed insights into the palaeobiology and adversities encountered by the Pleistocene cave bear Ursus spelaeus ingressus. Emphasising habitual cave use for hibernation and a primarily herbivorous diet, the findings attribute mortality to resource scarcity during hibernation and habitat fragmentation amid climate shifts. Taphonomic analysis indicates that the cave was extensively used by successive generations of bears, virtually unexposed to the impact of predators. The study also reveals that alkaline conditions developed in the cave during the post-depositional taphonomic processes. Mortality patterns, notably among juveniles, imply dwindling resources, indicative of environmental instability. Skeletal examination reveals a high incidence of forelimb fractures, indicating risks during activities like digging or confrontations. Palaeopathological evidence unveils vulnerabilities to tuberculosis, abscesses, rickets, and injuries, elucidating mobility challenges. The cave’s silts exhibit a high zinc concentration, potentially derived from successive bear generations consuming zinc-rich plants. This study illuminates the lives of late cave bears, elucidating unique environmental hurdles faced near their species’ end.

AB - This comprehensive study examines fossil remains from Niedźwiedzia Cave in the Eastern Sudetes, offering detailed insights into the palaeobiology and adversities encountered by the Pleistocene cave bear Ursus spelaeus ingressus. Emphasising habitual cave use for hibernation and a primarily herbivorous diet, the findings attribute mortality to resource scarcity during hibernation and habitat fragmentation amid climate shifts. Taphonomic analysis indicates that the cave was extensively used by successive generations of bears, virtually unexposed to the impact of predators. The study also reveals that alkaline conditions developed in the cave during the post-depositional taphonomic processes. Mortality patterns, notably among juveniles, imply dwindling resources, indicative of environmental instability. Skeletal examination reveals a high incidence of forelimb fractures, indicating risks during activities like digging or confrontations. Palaeopathological evidence unveils vulnerabilities to tuberculosis, abscesses, rickets, and injuries, elucidating mobility challenges. The cave’s silts exhibit a high zinc concentration, potentially derived from successive bear generations consuming zinc-rich plants. This study illuminates the lives of late cave bears, elucidating unique environmental hurdles faced near their species’ end.

U2 - 10.1038/s41598-024-60222-3

DO - 10.1038/s41598-024-60222-3

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 38684693

AN - SCOPUS:85191878943

SN - 2045-2322

VL - 14

JO - Scientific Reports

JF - Scientific Reports

IS - 1

M1 - 9775

ER -

Fate and preservation of the late pleistocene cave bears from Niedźwiedzia Cave in Poland, through taphonomy, pathology, and geochemistry

Abstract

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