First Data on Nutrition of the Ural Cave Bear Ursus (Spelaearctos) kanivetz Verestchagin, 1973 (Mammalia, Carnivora, Ursidae) as Based on C and N Isotope Analyses.

First data on the contents of the C and N isotopes in collagen were obtained for 16 bones of the Ural cave bear Ursus (Spelaearctos) kanivetz Verestchagin, 1973 from the Tayn (Secrets) cave (55°25' N, 57°46' E). The bones are dated to the middle MIS 3 and belonged to males and females of about 2 years, about 3 years, and older than 4 years of age. No considerable difference in isotope signatures was observed between individuals of different ages and different genders. Cave bears were assumed to forage independently on plant food from the second year of life. The δC and δN values established for the Ural cave bear are close to the values reported for U. (S.) spelaeus ingressus.