Paleoecology of an extinct Cervidae (Haploidoceros mediterraneus) of the Middle-late Pleistocene in Southern Europe
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Haploidoceros mediterraneus is one of the recently described cervid taxa endemic to the Iberian Peninsula (three sites) and southern France (two sites). Compared to the other endemic cervids from Iberia that have emerged, as well, during the mid-Middle Pleistocene, its chronological and geographical range are more expanded, indicative of a relative adaptative success. However, very little is known about H. mediterraneus ecology. From site contexts and faunal associations, its habitat during the Middle and Late Pleistocene corresponded to open forest under a mildly-humid temperate Mediterranean or semi-continental climate. First, its diet was reconstructed using dental meso- and microwear and second, its relationships with other cervids over time was analysed using Multiple Component Analysis (MCA). Diet reconstruction indicates that it was mostly a browse-dominated mixed-feeder during the Middle Pleistocene. Such a relatively flexible diet has allowed it to coexist, often with some cervid taxa ( Cervus and Capreolus ) and exceptionally with others ( Praedama / Megaloceros and Dama sp.) by resource partitioning. During the Late Pleistocene, H. mediterraneus shifted toward a more browse-specialized diet. At this period, co-occurrence analyses show that the presence of H. mediterraneus seems to exclude that of C. capreolus and D. dama . The evolution of H. mediterraneus dietary habits from the Middle to the Late Pleistocene may have led to direct competition with other browsing-specialist cervids, which may be one of the causes of its extinction. • The H. mediterraneus diet ranged from browse-dominated mixed-feeding during Middle Pleistocene to more browsing during Late Pleistocene. • H. mediterraneus dietary specialization through time may have led to direct competition with browsing-specialist species: C. capreolus and Dama sp. • Competition with other browse-dominated diet cervids may have led to H. mediterraneus extinction during early Late Pleistocene.
Institutions: Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social, Archéologies et Sciences de l’Antiquité, Maison des Sciences de l'Homme Mondes, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Aix-Marseille Université, Laboratoire Méditerranéen de Préhistoire Europe Afrique, University of Lisbon, Autonomous University of Lisbon, Centro de Arqueologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Universitat Rovira i Virgili
Language: English
Subfield: Paleontology
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,110
Funders: Comunidad de Madrid, European Commission, Generalitat de Catalunya, Federación Española de Enfermedades Raras, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca, Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Institut écologie et environnement, NextGenerationEU
Awards: G121809054, G1249186732, G1292218736, ARQUEOLOGIA E EVOLUÇÃO DOS PRIMEIROS HUMANOS NA FACHADA ATLÂNTICA DA PENÍNSULA IBÉRICA, G1855990336, G2262748287, G2359068852, G2472518689, G2660406951, G2992438146, G3005324705, G3155265194, G3303936258, G3436481988, G3469442988, G3480869486, G3681454997, G4042783231, G425668148, G5385376234, G5421974903, G5454278309, G5805502524, G5845768719, G5852091828, G605062730, Centro de Arqueologia da Universidade de Lisboa (UNIARQ), G6590127386, Centro de Arqueologia da Universidade de Lisboa (UNIARQ), G7084143925, G8347645112, G8812841895, G8920660035, G951911041
OpenAlex ID: W4403566294