Utilization and skeletal disturbances of North American prey carcasses. Arctic

• Main Author: Gary Haynes
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1982
• Subjects: Arctic; Moose
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.509.7090; http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/Arctic35-2-266.pdf

ABSTRACT. More than 125 carcasses and skeletal remains of wild bison, moose, and whitetail deer were examined in the field. Most were from closely documented episodes of predation, mass drownings, or other natural causes of death. Predictable and unusual kinds of bone and carcass utilization by timber wolves and bears are described. The variables emphasized include sectioningof carcasses by feeding predators, distribution and dispersal of bones at kill sites, gnaw damage to bones in homesites, kill sites and scavenge sites, potential or observed survival of bones at sites of prey carcasses, and the patterns of scatter or accumulation of skeletal remains in moose and bison ranges due to predation or other natural causes of death. Variations in gnaw damage to bones and utilization of carcasses by carnivores reflect significant aspects of predator-prey interactions, and can be deciphered by ecologists interpreting either fossil or modern assemblages of bones. Key words: carnivores, prey carcasses, taphonomy, North America, paleoecology, archeological interpretation RÉSUMÉ. Plus de 125 carcasses et ossements de bisons, d’orignaux et de cerfs de Virginie ont t t t examints sur le terrain. La plupart reprtsentaient des cas bien documentts d’attaques de prtdateurs, de noyades en masse, ou d’autres causes de mort naturelles. Des utilisations curieuses et prtvisibles d’ossements et de carcasses de la part de loups et d’ours sont dtcrites. Les variables souligntes comprennent le sectionnement de carcasses par des prtdateurs en quête de nourriture, la distribution etia dispersion d’ossements aux lieux d’abattage, les traces de rongement d’os dans les repaires, aux lieux d’abattage et aux sites d’activitb nkcrophage, les vestiges potentiels ou observes d’ossements aux sites de carcasses de proies, et la distribution ou l’accumulation de restes squelettiques dans les habitats de