{"id":85913,"date":"2025-08-21T09:49:06","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T09:49:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/85913\/"},"modified":"2025-08-21T09:49:06","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T09:49:06","slug":"lessons-from-cave-bear-extinction-could-save-endangered-bears","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/85913\/","title":{"rendered":"Lessons from cave bear extinction could save endangered bears"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Lessons<\/p>\n

Credit: University of Central Lancashire<\/p>\n

Lessons from extinction could help protect the bears of today. New research reveals that the now-extinct cave bear was much more adaptable than once thought yet was still made extinct when faced with the combined pressures of climate change and human competition. This offers a stark warning for modern bear conservation strategies.<\/p>\n

Dr. Jennifer Jones from the University of Central Lancashire, along with collaborators from Spain, Serbia and researchers from University College London (UCL), analyzed bone collagen from 40,000-year-old cave<\/a> bear remains found in the \u0160alitrena Pe\u0107ina cave in Serbia and used them to reconstruct the bears’ diet. The paper is published<\/a> in the journal Environmental Archaeology.<\/p>\n

Following a program of research, they concluded that although the cave bears were mostly herbivorous, they drew on a wide range of vegetation from different environments. This is evidence of ecological flexibility that challenges the previous theory that they were rigid in their diets.<\/p>\n

Despite their ability to adjust their diets and adapt to different habitats, cave bears could not survive the rapid environmental shifts and loss of resources brought by the last ice age 20,000 years ago. The researchers behind the study warn that parallels can be drawn between the threats facing our currently endangered bear species.<\/p>\n

Today, six of the world’s eight bear species, including many populations of the European brown bear<\/a>, remain vulnerable or endangered.<\/p>\n

\"Lessons<\/p>\n

Location of \u0160alitrena Pe\u0107ina cave within the Republic of Serbia (A), the exterior of the cave (B) and some of the postcranial cave bear remains found in Level 3 from the interior of the cave (C). Credit: Environmental Archaeology (2025). DOI: 10.1080\/14614103.2025.2521944<\/p>\n

In Europe, only an estimated 17,000\u201320,000 brown bears are left, scattered across over 20 countries. Many are now isolated in fragmented habitats and face multiple threats including shrinking wild spaces, human-wildlife conflict, poaching, and the growing impacts of climate change.<\/p>\n

The study supports the theory that species extinction often results from the intersection of multiple pressures rather than a single cause. It therefore highlights the urgent need to reduce these pressures now if we want to ensure that species like the brown bear have the space, resources, and genetic diversity<\/a> to survive in the future.<\/p>\n

Dr. Jones, Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Central Lancashire, said, “Our study found that cave bears were flexible and could adapt to local conditions, much more so than previously thought. But when large-scale climate change was combined with human expansion, even a resilient species couldn’t cope. This should serve as a warning for us as we explore ways of protecting endangered bears today.<\/p>\n

“We need to recognize that adaptability isn’t enough for bear species<\/a> to survive, if the threats against them continue to mount.<\/p>\n

“The more pressure that we pile on today’s wildlife like aggressive habitat loss, climate<\/a> change and ongoing human conflicts, the smaller their chance of survival is.”<\/p>\n

More information:
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJennifer R. Jones et al, New Insights into Serbian Cave Bear (Ursus spelaeus) Diet and Ecology Using Bone Collagen \u03b4 13 C and \u03b4 15 N Analysis in the Context of European Cave Bear Extinction, Environmental Archaeology (2025). DOI: 10.1080\/14614103.2025.2521944<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProvided by
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUniversity of Central Lancashire<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCitation:
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLessons from cave bear extinction could save endangered bears (2025, August 20)
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tretrieved 21 August 2025
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfrom https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2025-08-lessons-cave-extinction-endangered.html\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no
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