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The Exceptional Presence of Megaloceros giganteus in North-Eastern Iberia and Its Palaeoecological Implications: The Case of Teixoneres Cave (Moià, Barcelona, Spain)

  • Identification data

    Identifier: imarina:9293314
    Authors:
    Uzunidis, ARivals, FRufà, ABlasco, RRosell, J
    Abstract:
    In this article we announce the discovery of the first remains of Megaloceros giganteus found in Catalonia (north-eastern Iberia) from the Late Pleistocene: a fragment of maxillary. Dated between 35,000 and 37,000 cal BP, it is also among the youngest occurrence of this taxon in the Iberian Peninsula, while its last known occurrence is dated to the Neolithic period. Through a comparison with the giant deer of the northern Pyrenees, we analyzed the herbivore guilds in which this taxon was associated to understand the context in which it was able to enter the Iberian Peninsula. By comparing its diet with those of specimens from Northern Europe, we detail the ecological adaptations of this taxon in this new environment. We suggest that Megaloceros accompanied the migrations of cold-adapted species by taking advantage of the opening of corridors on both sides of the Pyrenees during the coldest periods of the Late Pleistocene. The diet of the Iberian individuals, which is oriented towards abrasive plants, suggests an adaptation to a different ecological niche than that found in Northern European individuals. The northern Iberian Peninsula may have been an extreme in the geographical expansion of M. giganteus. More specimens will be needed in the future to establish the variability of the southern Megaloceros populations.
  • Others:

    Author, as appears in the article.: Uzunidis, A; Rivals, F; Rufà, A; Blasco, R; Rosell, J
    Department: Història i Història de l'Art
    URV's Author/s: Blasco López, Ruth / Rivals, Florent Joseph Louis / Rosell Ardévol, Jordi
    Keywords: Linear morphometry Late pleistocene Giant deer Dental microwear Cervids Biogeography neanderthals linear morphometry late pleistocene extinction evolution dispersal dental microwear cold chronology cervidae blumenbach biogeography
    Abstract: In this article we announce the discovery of the first remains of Megaloceros giganteus found in Catalonia (north-eastern Iberia) from the Late Pleistocene: a fragment of maxillary. Dated between 35,000 and 37,000 cal BP, it is also among the youngest occurrence of this taxon in the Iberian Peninsula, while its last known occurrence is dated to the Neolithic period. Through a comparison with the giant deer of the northern Pyrenees, we analyzed the herbivore guilds in which this taxon was associated to understand the context in which it was able to enter the Iberian Peninsula. By comparing its diet with those of specimens from Northern Europe, we detail the ecological adaptations of this taxon in this new environment. We suggest that Megaloceros accompanied the migrations of cold-adapted species by taking advantage of the opening of corridors on both sides of the Pyrenees during the coldest periods of the Late Pleistocene. The diet of the Iberian individuals, which is oriented towards abrasive plants, suggests an adaptation to a different ecological niche than that found in Northern European individuals. The northern Iberian Peninsula may have been an extreme in the geographical expansion of M. giganteus. More specimens will be needed in the future to establish the variability of the southern Megaloceros populations.
    Thematic Areas: Nature and landscape conservation Ecology Ecological modeling Ciências biológicas ii Ciências biológicas i Ciências ambientais Ciências agrárias i Biotecnología Biodiversity conservation Biodiversidade Antropologia / arqueologia Agricultural and biological sciences (miscellaneous)
    licence for use: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/
    Author's mail: florent.rivals@urv.cat jordi.rosell@urv.cat ruth.blasco@urv.cat
    Author identifier: 0000-0001-8074-9254 0000-0002-6758-6291
    Record's date: 2024-08-03
    Papper version: info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
    Licence document URL: https://repositori.urv.cat/ca/proteccio-de-dades/
    Papper original source: Diversity. 15 (2):
    APA: Uzunidis, A; Rivals, F; Rufà, A; Blasco, R; Rosell, J (2023). The Exceptional Presence of Megaloceros giganteus in North-Eastern Iberia and Its Palaeoecological Implications: The Case of Teixoneres Cave (Moià, Barcelona, Spain). Diversity, 15(2), -. DOI: 10.3390/d15020299
    Entity: Universitat Rovira i Virgili
    Journal publication year: 2023
    Publication Type: Journal Publications
  • Keywords:

    Agricultural and Biological Sciences (Miscellaneous),Biodiversity Conservation,Ecological Modeling,Ecology,Nature and Landscape Conservation
    Linear morphometry
    Late pleistocene
    Giant deer
    Dental microwear
    Cervids
    Biogeography
    neanderthals
    linear morphometry
    late pleistocene
    extinction
    evolution
    dispersal
    dental microwear
    cold
    chronology
    cervidae
    blumenbach
    biogeography
    Nature and landscape conservation
    Ecology
    Ecological modeling
    Ciências biológicas ii
    Ciências biológicas i
    Ciências ambientais
    Ciências agrárias i
    Biotecnología
    Biodiversity conservation
    Biodiversidade
    Antropologia / arqueologia
    Agricultural and biological sciences (miscellaneous)
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