THE LATE PLEISTOCENE HISTORY OF THE BROWN BEAR URSUS ARCTOS LINNAEUS, 1758 IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

During the Late Pleistocene (MIS 5e-2), the brown bear Ursus arctos was widespread in the Czech Republic. From this time interval, the species was recorded in 51 Czech localities, including 10 open-air and 41 cave sites. A total of 18 radiocarbon dates obtained from the material showed the presence of the species in this territory 46-12.6 kyr ago during the Late Pleistocene, but most of the dates are concentrated between 45.7 and 29.3 kyr. Later, its occurrence continued into the Holocene. Three dates confirmed the presence of U. arctos just before and during the LGM. However, during the coolest part of the GS-2.1b interval (about 20.9-19.0 kyr), the species was not recorded in the territory of the Czech Republic. A large, broad-toothed, highly carnivorous priscus ecomorph adapted to live in open grasslands occurred during the Late Pleistocene, while the arctos ecomorph was rarely recorded from that period. The post-LGM time (17.5-14.7 kyr) was characterised by increasing numbers of brown bear dates on the territory of the Czech Republic. It was also a period of progressive afforestation and the disappearance of the priscus ecomorph. The latest occurrence of the priscus ecomorph in the territory of the Czech Republic was represented by a robust mandible from the BATIN SMALL LETTER Y WITH ACUTEci skala Cave, dated at 15.4-14.9 kyr.

Automated summary

The brown bear Ursus arctos was widespread in the Czech Republic during the Late Pleistocene, with earliest evidence dating back to 46,000 years ago. However, the species was not present in the territory of the Czech Republic during the coldest period. During the Late Pleistocene, the arctos ecomorph of the brown bear was rarely recorded, while a highly carnivorous priscus ecomorph adapted to live in open grasslands was more common. As time progressed, the number of brown bear dates increased during the Holocene, coinciding with progressive afforestation and the disappearance of the priscus ecomorph.