First insights into the diet of the Atlas brown bear: evidence from Ifri Oussaïd Cave (Middle Atlas, Morocco)

This study presents the first isotopic evidence of the palaeodiet of the extinct Atlas bear, based on remains recovered from Ifri Oussaïd cave in the Middle Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Comparative isotopic analysis with Holocene brown bears from Europe suggests an omnivorous diet with a notable intake of animal protein, in contrast to more herbivorous populations such as Holocene Cantabrian bears, although these conclusions should be taken with caution, as there is no local baseline with which to compare. This bear likely inhabited a closed, humid forest environment, with C3 plants at the base of the trophic chain. The calibrated radiocarbon dating places this individual shortly after the 8.2 kyr BP cooling event, during a period characterised by slightly warmer temperatures and greater arboreal vegetation compared to present-day conditions in the area.