Spatially explicit causes of extinction of the European bison from 21,000 years before present to 1500 CE

We performed spatially explicit, process-explicit simulations of the range collapse of the European bison (<em>Bison bonasus</em>) from 21,000 years ago to 1500 CE, validating our models against observed patterns of fossil occurrence and population persistence. We examined the top 25 models to find the cause of extinction in each grid cell where the European bison became extinct in our simulations. These raster data provide a map of these causes of extinction at a 86 by 75 km resolution. The spatial projection of the raster is Albers equal area, with a central meridian at 25E, and standard parallels at 42.5 and 72.5N. The values in the raster are dummy variables, which correspond to the following categories: <br> 0 - Range of the European bison in 1500 CE. These cells do not become extinct in the simulation. 1 - Local extinction due to climate change. These cells became climatically unsuitable for the European bison between 21,000 years BP and 1500 CE. 2 - Local extinction due to human drivers. European bison became extinct in these grid cells due to human hunting or land use change. 3 - No occupancy. European bison never occupied these grid cells at any point in the simulation.