Late Pleistocene fossil birds from Buso Doppio del Broion Cave (North-Eastern Italy): implications for palaeoecology, palaeoenvironment and palaeoclimate

We present the taxonomic and taphonomic analysis of the bird fossil remains from Buso Doppio del Broion Cave (VI), located in the Berici Hills in North-Eastern Italy. The deposits investigated are referred to the end of MIS 3 and the beginning of MIS 2, in a phase of climate harshening. The study identified at least 43 different species, that indicate the presence of a wide variety of environments in the surrounding of the cave, such as conifer or mixed forests, open areas with rocky cliffs or crags, grasslands, steppes and slow flowing water bodies. Of particular interest are two boreal taxa, Bubo scandiacus and Surnia ulula, which are considered markers of a colder climate than the present one. The S. ulula remain represents the second Pleistocene fossil record of this species in Italy, attesting the presence of this species during and immediately before the Last Glacial Maximum at least in the southern fringes of the Alps. Furthermore, the deposit provided the first Italian Pleistocene fossil remain of Troglodytes troglodytes. This contribution provides noteworthy new data about the palaeobiogeography and palaeoecology of boreal bird species and gives new insights about palaeoenvironment and palaeoclimate of North-Eastern Italy at the onset of MIS2.