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RESEARCH PRODUCT

A taphonomic investigation of small vertebrate accumulations produced by the snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus) and its implications for fossil studies

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17 pages; International audience; The action of predators, such as diurnal raptors, owls, mammals or humans, influence the nature of smallvertebrate fossil assemblages but currently their taphonomic features are still poorly understood. In this study,we investigate the taphonomic signature of the snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus) based on an analysis of pelletscollected at breeding sites located in Greenland and the Canadian Arctic. This taxon is widely distributedthrough the North Hemisphere and was an important predator in Pleistocene times. Taphonomic parameterssuggest that, contrary to previous assumptions, B. scandiacus produces, on average, moderate digestion of incisors,molars and post-cranial elements, and should be classed as a Category 3 or Category 3/4 predator accordingto the terminology established by Andrews. Significant inter-site variability was observed for some of thedamage considered (in particular, digestion on incisors), and a key finding is that variability and the associatedstatistical confidence intervals are crucial notions that should be taken into account when assessing taphonomicalfeatures, in order to reliably identify the potential predator(s) responsible for small vertebrate fossil accumulations.