Pub Date : 2020-08-28DOI: 10.2192/URSUS-D-18-00006.1
C. Cáceres-Martínez, Luis R. Sánchez Montano, Aldemar A. Acevedo, José F. González-Maya
Abstract: Diet is among the most important and basic ecological aspects of a species. Information on diet composition, seasonality, and spatial variation is necessary for adequate ecological understanding and therefore conservation. Andean bears (Tremarctos ornatus) have been poorly studied across their distribution, and especially in Colombia; therefore, most ecological aspects remain unknown. The objective of this work was to assess Andean bears' diet and seasonality in order to contribute to the knowledge, management, and conservation of the species in northeastern Colombia. Between June 2012 and May 2015, 83 linear transects were surveyed at least once in 35 localities in Tamá National Natural Park in search of fresh bear scats. Transects covered all land-cover types in the park proportionately. We collected 148 scats for diet analyses, and compared all items found with reference material. We assessed diet contents in terms of frequency of occurrence and compared across seasons, elevation, and land-cover types. Overall, plant items showed the greatest frequency of occurrence in the scats (96.8%), followed by mammals (6.7%) and insects (6.7%); we found this pattern for all land-cover types and all elevation ranges. We found seasonal variation and differences in use of some food items. We found the largest niche breadth for the dry season (B = 7.10) compared with the wet season (B = 4.14). Plant items were more frequently consumed during both dry and rainy seasons (0.78 ± 0.16 and 0.82 ± 0.11, respectively) and bromeliads were the most important food item during both seasons (0.32 and 0.46). This variation probably is related to the structure, phenology, and composition of vegetation in the area. More data are needed for estimating foraging preferences and their relationship with food availability and other aspects related to behavior and individual resource use.
{"title":"Diet of Andean bears in Tamá National Natural Park, Colombia","authors":"C. Cáceres-Martínez, Luis R. Sánchez Montano, Aldemar A. Acevedo, José F. González-Maya","doi":"10.2192/URSUS-D-18-00006.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2192/URSUS-D-18-00006.1","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract: Diet is among the most important and basic ecological aspects of a species. Information on diet composition, seasonality, and spatial variation is necessary for adequate ecological understanding and therefore conservation. Andean bears (Tremarctos ornatus) have been poorly studied across their distribution, and especially in Colombia; therefore, most ecological aspects remain unknown. The objective of this work was to assess Andean bears' diet and seasonality in order to contribute to the knowledge, management, and conservation of the species in northeastern Colombia. Between June 2012 and May 2015, 83 linear transects were surveyed at least once in 35 localities in Tamá National Natural Park in search of fresh bear scats. Transects covered all land-cover types in the park proportionately. We collected 148 scats for diet analyses, and compared all items found with reference material. We assessed diet contents in terms of frequency of occurrence and compared across seasons, elevation, and land-cover types. Overall, plant items showed the greatest frequency of occurrence in the scats (96.8%), followed by mammals (6.7%) and insects (6.7%); we found this pattern for all land-cover types and all elevation ranges. We found seasonal variation and differences in use of some food items. We found the largest niche breadth for the dry season (B = 7.10) compared with the wet season (B = 4.14). Plant items were more frequently consumed during both dry and rainy seasons (0.78 ± 0.16 and 0.82 ± 0.11, respectively) and bromeliads were the most important food item during both seasons (0.32 and 0.46). This variation probably is related to the structure, phenology, and composition of vegetation in the area. More data are needed for estimating foraging preferences and their relationship with food availability and other aspects related to behavior and individual resource use.","PeriodicalId":49393,"journal":{"name":"Ursus","volume":"44 1","pages":"1 - 11"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2020-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84632524","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-08-18DOI: 10.2192/URSUS-D-18-00020.2
Steven M. Gurney, Jennifer B Smith, Dwayne R. Etter, David M. Williams
Abstract: Despite the widespread use of noninvasive hair-sampling for American black bear (Ursus americanus) population monitoring, there is no explicit analysis of black bear behavior at hair snare sites. During 2016, we deployed hair snares and camera traps at 40 sites across the northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan, USA, and collected 560 video recordings of black bear activity. Our objectives were to develop an ethogram of bear behaviors at snare sites and quantify their occurrence. We found that bears allocated their time consistently when they were physically inside or outside of the snare, but they divided their time among multiple behaviors when crossing the wire. The inconsistencies in wire crossing revealed unexpected behaviors with important implications for study design. Our findings explicitly describe how black bears interact with hair snares, provide recommendations for addressing the influence of behavior on sampling efficiency, and establish a foundation for further study of animal behavior at hair snares.
{"title":"American black bears and hair snares: a behavioral analysis","authors":"Steven M. Gurney, Jennifer B Smith, Dwayne R. Etter, David M. Williams","doi":"10.2192/URSUS-D-18-00020.2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2192/URSUS-D-18-00020.2","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract: Despite the widespread use of noninvasive hair-sampling for American black bear (Ursus americanus) population monitoring, there is no explicit analysis of black bear behavior at hair snare sites. During 2016, we deployed hair snares and camera traps at 40 sites across the northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan, USA, and collected 560 video recordings of black bear activity. Our objectives were to develop an ethogram of bear behaviors at snare sites and quantify their occurrence. We found that bears allocated their time consistently when they were physically inside or outside of the snare, but they divided their time among multiple behaviors when crossing the wire. The inconsistencies in wire crossing revealed unexpected behaviors with important implications for study design. Our findings explicitly describe how black bears interact with hair snares, provide recommendations for addressing the influence of behavior on sampling efficiency, and establish a foundation for further study of animal behavior at hair snares.","PeriodicalId":49393,"journal":{"name":"Ursus","volume":"47 1","pages":"1 - 9"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2020-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90960147","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-08-03DOI: 10.2192/URSUS-D-18-00027.3
T. Sharp, S. Swaminathan, A. Arun, Tom S. Smith, K. Satyanarayan, G. Seshamani
Abstract: The sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) is endemic to India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka, and is among the least studied of all bear species. Sloth bears behave aggressively toward humans when they feel threatened and are considered among the most dangerous wild animals in India. Our research objective was to interview those that had close encounters with sloth bears and attack survivors so that we could learn from these unfortunate events and prepare persons to be safe in sloth bear country. Consequently, we interviewed 342 people—162 that had close encounters that did not result in attacks and 180 that were involved in attacks—in the southern Indian state of Karnataka between the years 1985 and 2016. Our surveys revealed that all attacks were defensive in nature, that people that had been making noise while moving through sloth bear country were less likely to be attacked, and that persons in groups of ≥2 were very rarely attacked. Nine percent of people that fought back during an attack were killed and 11% of people that attempted to run from the bear were killed. There were no deaths among people that fell to the ground and did not fight back. Drawing from this work and that of others, we provide suggestions for safe conduct in sloth bear country.
{"title":"Sloth bear attacks on the Deccan Plateau of Karnataka, India","authors":"T. Sharp, S. Swaminathan, A. Arun, Tom S. Smith, K. Satyanarayan, G. Seshamani","doi":"10.2192/URSUS-D-18-00027.3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2192/URSUS-D-18-00027.3","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract: The sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) is endemic to India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka, and is among the least studied of all bear species. Sloth bears behave aggressively toward humans when they feel threatened and are considered among the most dangerous wild animals in India. Our research objective was to interview those that had close encounters with sloth bears and attack survivors so that we could learn from these unfortunate events and prepare persons to be safe in sloth bear country. Consequently, we interviewed 342 people—162 that had close encounters that did not result in attacks and 180 that were involved in attacks—in the southern Indian state of Karnataka between the years 1985 and 2016. Our surveys revealed that all attacks were defensive in nature, that people that had been making noise while moving through sloth bear country were less likely to be attacked, and that persons in groups of ≥2 were very rarely attacked. Nine percent of people that fought back during an attack were killed and 11% of people that attempted to run from the bear were killed. There were no deaths among people that fell to the ground and did not fight back. Drawing from this work and that of others, we provide suggestions for safe conduct in sloth bear country.","PeriodicalId":49393,"journal":{"name":"Ursus","volume":"28 1","pages":"1 - 11"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2020-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76945813","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-07-22DOI: 10.2192/URSUS-D-19-0003.1
Lucero M Hernani-Lineros, E. García, L. F. Pacheco
Abstract: Despite the existence of several regional studies on the diet of the Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus), there is a lack of information about the effects of human disturbances on this species' foraging ecology. Our main goal was to compare Andean bear diet composition between a disturbed area (DA) close to a paved road versus an undisturbed area (UA) far away from it, within the Parque Nacional y Área Natural de Manejo Integrado Cotapata, Bolivia. We collected 120 feces samples between October and November 2014—60 samples from each area. We identified 13 species from the feces collected at UA, whereas we identified only 7 species from the feces at DA. Mean number of identified food items per fecal sample at UA was 2.90 (SD = 0.86) and significantly greater (t = –4.32, = 118 df, P < 0.001) than DA mean 1.95 (SD = 1.43). Levin's index points to a specialist diet for Andean bears at both areas, but niche breadth at the UA (0.083) was almost twice the value at DA (0.043). Almost half of the items were found at both the UA and the DA (Jaccard's index = 0.538). Simpson's Diversity index ([UA] = 0.310, [DA] = 0.167) shows that Andean bear diet at the UA was also more equitable, as well as less dominated by a single item (Inverse Simpson index N [DA] = 3.229, N [UA] = 5.997). These results suggest that the presence of a road may affect Andean bear foraging ecology.
{"title":"Andean bear diet near to and far from a road","authors":"Lucero M Hernani-Lineros, E. García, L. F. Pacheco","doi":"10.2192/URSUS-D-19-0003.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2192/URSUS-D-19-0003.1","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract: Despite the existence of several regional studies on the diet of the Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus), there is a lack of information about the effects of human disturbances on this species' foraging ecology. Our main goal was to compare Andean bear diet composition between a disturbed area (DA) close to a paved road versus an undisturbed area (UA) far away from it, within the Parque Nacional y Área Natural de Manejo Integrado Cotapata, Bolivia. We collected 120 feces samples between October and November 2014—60 samples from each area. We identified 13 species from the feces collected at UA, whereas we identified only 7 species from the feces at DA. Mean number of identified food items per fecal sample at UA was 2.90 (SD = 0.86) and significantly greater (t = –4.32, = 118 df, P < 0.001) than DA mean 1.95 (SD = 1.43). Levin's index points to a specialist diet for Andean bears at both areas, but niche breadth at the UA (0.083) was almost twice the value at DA (0.043). Almost half of the items were found at both the UA and the DA (Jaccard's index = 0.538). Simpson's Diversity index ([UA] = 0.310, [DA] = 0.167) shows that Andean bear diet at the UA was also more equitable, as well as less dominated by a single item (Inverse Simpson index N [DA] = 3.229, N [UA] = 5.997). These results suggest that the presence of a road may affect Andean bear foraging ecology.","PeriodicalId":49393,"journal":{"name":"Ursus","volume":"24 1","pages":"1 - 7"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2020-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91183504","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-06-11DOI: 10.2192/URSUS-D-18-0005.1
K. Gunther, M. Haroldson
Abstract: In 2011, 2 hikers were killed by grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) in separate incidents on backcountry trails in Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National Park, USA (YNP). Hayden Valley provides prime habitat for grizzly bears and is known to have high densities of bears. During 1970–2017, 23% (10 of 44) of all backcountry grizzly bear–inflicted human injuries and fatalities in YNP occurred in the valley even though it comprises only 1% of the park. In addition, 3 of the last 5 fatal bear attacks in the park occurred in the valley. We evaluated retrospectively whether restrictions and closures on visitor recreational activity would have prevented many of these injuries. We considered prohibitions on recreational activity during seasons when bears forage for specific high-quality foods; potential closures that coincided with the times of day and year bears were most active in the valley; and visitor use restrictions that would have prevented the most common human behaviors associated with grizzly bear–caused human injuries. The food-based closure that may have prevented the most human injuries occurred during middle to late summer when bears scavenge bison (Bison bison) carcasses that result from annual rutting behavior of bison in the valley. However, safety precautions such as hiking in groups of ≥3, remaining on maintained trails, and carrying bear spray would likely reduce the frequency of bear-inflicted human injuries more than most food-based seasonal closures. Our analyses provide broadly applicable findings regarding use of visitor behavior restrictions and seasonal closures to reduce the risk of bear-inflicted human injuries.
{"title":"Potential for recreational restrictions to reduce grizzly bear–caused human injuries","authors":"K. Gunther, M. Haroldson","doi":"10.2192/URSUS-D-18-0005.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2192/URSUS-D-18-0005.1","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract: In 2011, 2 hikers were killed by grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) in separate incidents on backcountry trails in Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National Park, USA (YNP). Hayden Valley provides prime habitat for grizzly bears and is known to have high densities of bears. During 1970–2017, 23% (10 of 44) of all backcountry grizzly bear–inflicted human injuries and fatalities in YNP occurred in the valley even though it comprises only 1% of the park. In addition, 3 of the last 5 fatal bear attacks in the park occurred in the valley. We evaluated retrospectively whether restrictions and closures on visitor recreational activity would have prevented many of these injuries. We considered prohibitions on recreational activity during seasons when bears forage for specific high-quality foods; potential closures that coincided with the times of day and year bears were most active in the valley; and visitor use restrictions that would have prevented the most common human behaviors associated with grizzly bear–caused human injuries. The food-based closure that may have prevented the most human injuries occurred during middle to late summer when bears scavenge bison (Bison bison) carcasses that result from annual rutting behavior of bison in the valley. However, safety precautions such as hiking in groups of ≥3, remaining on maintained trails, and carrying bear spray would likely reduce the frequency of bear-inflicted human injuries more than most food-based seasonal closures. Our analyses provide broadly applicable findings regarding use of visitor behavior restrictions and seasonal closures to reduce the risk of bear-inflicted human injuries.","PeriodicalId":49393,"journal":{"name":"Ursus","volume":"58 1","pages":"1 - 17"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2020-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76160804","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-04-16DOI: 10.2192/URSUS-D-18-00010.1
R. Iosif, M. Pop, S. Chiriac, R. Sandu, Lajos Berde, S. Szabó, L. Rozylowicz, V. Popescu
Abstract: The Romanian Carpathian Mountains provide one of the largest areas suitable for brown bear (Ursus arctos) in Europe, but the long history of logging has reduced old-growth forest to fragments. Continuous timber extraction, along with new recreation opportunities from motorized vehicles, may affect brown bear denning habitat through disturbance. As such, understanding den site selection at the landscape and local levels is important for the conservation and sustainable management of the Romanian brown bear population. We used data on 86 den sites collected between 2010 and 2013 in Southeastern Carpathians and developed Resource Selection Functions for second-order (landscape-level) and third-order (local level) den habitat selection, using habitat structure and topographic attributes of den locations. The altitude of dens ranged between 440 and 1,320 m, with a mean slope of 19.7 ± 0.8%. Aspect was evenly distributed between southwest (22.9% of the dens), east (20.5%), south (18.1%), and southeast (15.7%). Dens stabilized by boulders were dominant (68%), and had maximum mean length = 149.2 ± 5.6 cm, width = 109.1 ± 4.8 cm, and height = 113.8 ± 10.5 cm. At both local and the landscape scales, bears selected for steeper slope and higher percent coverage of mixed (beech–fir–spruce [Fagus sylvatica–Abies alba–Picea abies]) forest. At the landscape scale, bears also selected dens at higher altitude, and with greater coverage of old forest, and away from urban areas and recent clear-cuts. Our spatial predictions have the potential to inform forest management by identifying areas where disturbance of brown bear denning habitat should be avoided or limited, thus contributing to brown bear management and conservation planning in the Romanian Carpathians.
{"title":"Den structure and selection of denning habitat by brown bears in the Romanian Carpathians","authors":"R. Iosif, M. Pop, S. Chiriac, R. Sandu, Lajos Berde, S. Szabó, L. Rozylowicz, V. Popescu","doi":"10.2192/URSUS-D-18-00010.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2192/URSUS-D-18-00010.1","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract: The Romanian Carpathian Mountains provide one of the largest areas suitable for brown bear (Ursus arctos) in Europe, but the long history of logging has reduced old-growth forest to fragments. Continuous timber extraction, along with new recreation opportunities from motorized vehicles, may affect brown bear denning habitat through disturbance. As such, understanding den site selection at the landscape and local levels is important for the conservation and sustainable management of the Romanian brown bear population. We used data on 86 den sites collected between 2010 and 2013 in Southeastern Carpathians and developed Resource Selection Functions for second-order (landscape-level) and third-order (local level) den habitat selection, using habitat structure and topographic attributes of den locations. The altitude of dens ranged between 440 and 1,320 m, with a mean slope of 19.7 ± 0.8%. Aspect was evenly distributed between southwest (22.9% of the dens), east (20.5%), south (18.1%), and southeast (15.7%). Dens stabilized by boulders were dominant (68%), and had maximum mean length = 149.2 ± 5.6 cm, width = 109.1 ± 4.8 cm, and height = 113.8 ± 10.5 cm. At both local and the landscape scales, bears selected for steeper slope and higher percent coverage of mixed (beech–fir–spruce [Fagus sylvatica–Abies alba–Picea abies]) forest. At the landscape scale, bears also selected dens at higher altitude, and with greater coverage of old forest, and away from urban areas and recent clear-cuts. Our spatial predictions have the potential to inform forest management by identifying areas where disturbance of brown bear denning habitat should be avoided or limited, thus contributing to brown bear management and conservation planning in the Romanian Carpathians.","PeriodicalId":49393,"journal":{"name":"Ursus","volume":"40 1","pages":"1 - 13"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2020-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85534371","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-04-09DOI: 10.2192/URSUS-D-17-00023.5
F. Cabana, Omar Yusof, J. Kawi, Desheng Li, Y. Huang, Pengyan Wang, Trisha T N Tay
Abstract: Giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) are specialized bamboo (Bambusoideae) eaters with a simple, carnivorous digestive system. They are known to employ diet switching (i.e., selecting different parts and species of bamboo depending on season and reproductive status). Our objective was to explore whether seasonality or changes in reproductive hormone concentrations had a significant effect on diet switching in captive giant pandas. We determined the mass and nutrient intake of each plant part ingested by one male and one female panda held at River Safari (Singapore). We classified the plant parts as young and old selections of leaves and shoots. Each panda was offered a combination of 3 species of locally raised bamboo. We analyzed the reproductive metabolites of our female panda to determine whether an interaction of estrus and season may affect seasonal diet switching. Ingestion of young leaves, mature leaves, and stems were significantly affected by season. Stalks, however, were ingested year-round in similar proportions. When grouped together, leaves and stems were also ingested according to season. We did not detect any effect of hormones on the nutrient intake of the one female panda. Selection was entirely based on plant parts, and not nutrient content. Therefore, diet switching may not be a good behavioral tool to use in assessing onset of the mating season. However, the large amount of concentrated feeds in our panda's diet may have prevented any significant nutrient changes throughout the year.
{"title":"Seasonal diet switching in captive giant pandas","authors":"F. Cabana, Omar Yusof, J. Kawi, Desheng Li, Y. Huang, Pengyan Wang, Trisha T N Tay","doi":"10.2192/URSUS-D-17-00023.5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2192/URSUS-D-17-00023.5","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract: Giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) are specialized bamboo (Bambusoideae) eaters with a simple, carnivorous digestive system. They are known to employ diet switching (i.e., selecting different parts and species of bamboo depending on season and reproductive status). Our objective was to explore whether seasonality or changes in reproductive hormone concentrations had a significant effect on diet switching in captive giant pandas. We determined the mass and nutrient intake of each plant part ingested by one male and one female panda held at River Safari (Singapore). We classified the plant parts as young and old selections of leaves and shoots. Each panda was offered a combination of 3 species of locally raised bamboo. We analyzed the reproductive metabolites of our female panda to determine whether an interaction of estrus and season may affect seasonal diet switching. Ingestion of young leaves, mature leaves, and stems were significantly affected by season. Stalks, however, were ingested year-round in similar proportions. When grouped together, leaves and stems were also ingested according to season. We did not detect any effect of hormones on the nutrient intake of the one female panda. Selection was entirely based on plant parts, and not nutrient content. Therefore, diet switching may not be a good behavioral tool to use in assessing onset of the mating season. However, the large amount of concentrated feeds in our panda's diet may have prevented any significant nutrient changes throughout the year.","PeriodicalId":49393,"journal":{"name":"Ursus","volume":"2020 1","pages":"1 - 8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2020-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89344747","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-04-04DOI: 10.2192/URSUS-S-20-00004.1
Thye Lim Tee, Wai-Ling Lai, Terence Kok Ju Wei, Ooi Zhuan Shern, Frank T. van Manen, S. P. Sharp, S. T. Wong, Jactty Chew, S. Ratnayeke
Abstract: Traditional mark–recapture studies to estimate abundance and trends of Malayan sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) populations are impeded by logistics of live-trapping wild individuals. The development of noninvasive sampling techniques for monitoring sun bear populations is therefore crucial for targeted conservation action. Sun bears have short fur, and conventional hair-snagging devices are ineffective. Moreover, scats are rapidly decomposed by the warm, humid environment, as well as by invertebrates. In combination with camera-sampling, we tested 2 designs of hair traps (n = 45) in situ at Tabin Wildlife Reserve in Sabah, Malaysia, during April–October 2017, to obtain hair samples from wild sun bears. We also deployed 4 types of hair traps in rainforest enclosures with captive sun bears to evaluate hair-capture success and the effects of weathering, lure, and adhesive on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification success. Wild adult male sun bears displayed back-rubbing behavior at hair traps and 6 individuals were identified based on unique chest marks. We collected 30 hair samples from wild sun bears, including 15 chest mark images of 6 individuals over 1,260 trap-nights. We detected adult males at hair traps more frequently than females and subadults. We obtained 39 hair samples in the captive trials. Extracted DNA from hair roots successfully amplified with mitochondrial (wild bears: 95%; captive bears: 97%) and microsatellite primers (wild bears: 100%; captive bears 87%). Adhesive and lure type did not affect PCR amplification, but weathering reduced amplification of microsatellite loci. This study is the first successful attempt to obtain genetic samples from wild sun bears using inexpensive, readily available materials such as duct tape, polybutyl glue, and locally sourced lures. The quality of genetic material from these genetic samples should be suitable for studies of population size and gene flow.
{"title":"An evaluation of noninvasive sampling techniques for Malayan sun bears","authors":"Thye Lim Tee, Wai-Ling Lai, Terence Kok Ju Wei, Ooi Zhuan Shern, Frank T. van Manen, S. P. Sharp, S. T. Wong, Jactty Chew, S. Ratnayeke","doi":"10.2192/URSUS-S-20-00004.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2192/URSUS-S-20-00004.1","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract: Traditional mark–recapture studies to estimate abundance and trends of Malayan sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) populations are impeded by logistics of live-trapping wild individuals. The development of noninvasive sampling techniques for monitoring sun bear populations is therefore crucial for targeted conservation action. Sun bears have short fur, and conventional hair-snagging devices are ineffective. Moreover, scats are rapidly decomposed by the warm, humid environment, as well as by invertebrates. In combination with camera-sampling, we tested 2 designs of hair traps (n = 45) in situ at Tabin Wildlife Reserve in Sabah, Malaysia, during April–October 2017, to obtain hair samples from wild sun bears. We also deployed 4 types of hair traps in rainforest enclosures with captive sun bears to evaluate hair-capture success and the effects of weathering, lure, and adhesive on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification success. Wild adult male sun bears displayed back-rubbing behavior at hair traps and 6 individuals were identified based on unique chest marks. We collected 30 hair samples from wild sun bears, including 15 chest mark images of 6 individuals over 1,260 trap-nights. We detected adult males at hair traps more frequently than females and subadults. We obtained 39 hair samples in the captive trials. Extracted DNA from hair roots successfully amplified with mitochondrial (wild bears: 95%; captive bears: 97%) and microsatellite primers (wild bears: 100%; captive bears 87%). Adhesive and lure type did not affect PCR amplification, but weathering reduced amplification of microsatellite loci. This study is the first successful attempt to obtain genetic samples from wild sun bears using inexpensive, readily available materials such as duct tape, polybutyl glue, and locally sourced lures. The quality of genetic material from these genetic samples should be suitable for studies of population size and gene flow.","PeriodicalId":49393,"journal":{"name":"Ursus","volume":"395 1","pages":"1 - 12"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2020-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79593516","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-03-26DOI: 10.2192/URSUS-D-18-00013.2
Sakawrat Vaeokhaw, D. Ngoprasert, A. Swatdipong, G. Gale, Worata Klinsawat, T. Vichitsoonthonkul
Abstract: Bears are globally threatened by habitat fragmentation, particularly due to roads, which can act as dispersal barriers. We used noninvasive hair sampling to study the genetic diversity of Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) in the Dong Phayayen–Khao Yai forest complex, Thailand, during 2012–2015. We used 9 microsatellite loci to investigate black bears inhabiting 2 sides of the complex that have been separated by a highway for 60 years. We genetically identified 49 individuals (31 males and 18 females) in Khao Yai and 45 individuals (25 males and 20 females) in Dong Phayayen. The genetic diversity level of Dong Phayayen was similar to Khao Yai; low differentiation (F ST = 0.035) and no strong evidence of inbreeding was indicated for both populations (FIS = 0.13 and 0.07, respectively). However, the pairwise FST between Khao Yai and Dong Phayayen was notably higher (FST = 0.035 and 0.038, respectively) than within Dong Phayayen (0.004), suggesting an observable effect of the highway on the populations, with a current migration rate of 1% between the 2 forests. Thus, the road apparently acts as a significant dispersal barrier for the black bear. This population is of conservation concern because the estimated effective population size (Ne = 178 bears) was below the recommended size for black bears. The relatively long generation time of Asiatic black bears could be the main factor contributing to the time lag between placement of the highway and changes in genetic diversity between the populations. Our simulations indicated a strong negative impact of the highway on the genetics of this population within the next 10 generations and an increased risk of extinction if there is continued isolation. Our data also suggest that an assisted migration program via habitat corridors could reduce the impact of this highway and promote the persistence of bears.
{"title":"Effects of a highway on the genetic diversity of Asiatic black bears","authors":"Sakawrat Vaeokhaw, D. Ngoprasert, A. Swatdipong, G. Gale, Worata Klinsawat, T. Vichitsoonthonkul","doi":"10.2192/URSUS-D-18-00013.2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2192/URSUS-D-18-00013.2","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract: Bears are globally threatened by habitat fragmentation, particularly due to roads, which can act as dispersal barriers. We used noninvasive hair sampling to study the genetic diversity of Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) in the Dong Phayayen–Khao Yai forest complex, Thailand, during 2012–2015. We used 9 microsatellite loci to investigate black bears inhabiting 2 sides of the complex that have been separated by a highway for 60 years. We genetically identified 49 individuals (31 males and 18 females) in Khao Yai and 45 individuals (25 males and 20 females) in Dong Phayayen. The genetic diversity level of Dong Phayayen was similar to Khao Yai; low differentiation (F ST = 0.035) and no strong evidence of inbreeding was indicated for both populations (FIS = 0.13 and 0.07, respectively). However, the pairwise FST between Khao Yai and Dong Phayayen was notably higher (FST = 0.035 and 0.038, respectively) than within Dong Phayayen (0.004), suggesting an observable effect of the highway on the populations, with a current migration rate of 1% between the 2 forests. Thus, the road apparently acts as a significant dispersal barrier for the black bear. This population is of conservation concern because the estimated effective population size (Ne = 178 bears) was below the recommended size for black bears. The relatively long generation time of Asiatic black bears could be the main factor contributing to the time lag between placement of the highway and changes in genetic diversity between the populations. Our simulations indicated a strong negative impact of the highway on the genetics of this population within the next 10 generations and an increased risk of extinction if there is continued isolation. Our data also suggest that an assisted migration program via habitat corridors could reduce the impact of this highway and promote the persistence of bears.","PeriodicalId":49393,"journal":{"name":"Ursus","volume":"51 4 1","pages":"1 - 15"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2020-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91013577","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-02-13DOI: 10.2192/URSUS-D-18-00019R4
V. Penteriani, A. Zarzo‐Arias, María del Mar Delgado, Fredrick Dalerum, E. Gurarie, Paloma Peón Torre, Teresa Sánchez Corominas, V. M. Vázquez, Pablo Vázquez García, A. Ordiz
Abstract: Areas used by female brown bears (Ursus arctos) with cubs-of-the-year (hereafter, FCOY) during the first months after den exit are crucial for offspring survival, primarily because of the risk of infanticide by male bears. Therefore, FCOY may avoid areas frequented by adult males during the mating season. The main aim of this study was to identify landscape features (i.e., structure, composition, and human footprint) that may differentiate the habitat use of FCOY in the small bear population of the Cantabrian Mountains (northwestern Spain; 2001–2016) from (a) areas frequented by females with yearlings, because older cubs are at less risk of infanticide than cubs-of-the-year, and (b) bear mating areas (i.e., the riskiest areas for FCOY because of the presence of adult males). During the first months after den emergence (Apr–Jun), FCOY settled in the roughest areas of the Cantabrian Mountains at most spatial scales. This settlement pattern might represent a behavioral adaptation of FCOY to reduce the risk of encounters with males during the mating season. However, FCOY also settled in similar landscapes to those used by adult bears during the mating season, which may increase the likelihood of risky encounters. Indeed, we observed a spatial overlap between observed locations of FCOY and mating areas, which may help explain the high frequency of infanticide observed in the Cantabrian Mountains. We hypothesize that the need for both shelter and food in early spring may ‘trap’ FCOY in otherwise favorable areas that overlap with mating areas. This may occur predominately in small and confined bear populations, such as the one in the Cantabrian Mountains, where a restricted range and limited habitat availability might prevent FCOY from avoiding risky areas successfully.
{"title":"Female brown bears use areas with infanticide risk in a spatially confined population","authors":"V. Penteriani, A. Zarzo‐Arias, María del Mar Delgado, Fredrick Dalerum, E. Gurarie, Paloma Peón Torre, Teresa Sánchez Corominas, V. M. Vázquez, Pablo Vázquez García, A. Ordiz","doi":"10.2192/URSUS-D-18-00019R4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2192/URSUS-D-18-00019R4","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract: Areas used by female brown bears (Ursus arctos) with cubs-of-the-year (hereafter, FCOY) during the first months after den exit are crucial for offspring survival, primarily because of the risk of infanticide by male bears. Therefore, FCOY may avoid areas frequented by adult males during the mating season. The main aim of this study was to identify landscape features (i.e., structure, composition, and human footprint) that may differentiate the habitat use of FCOY in the small bear population of the Cantabrian Mountains (northwestern Spain; 2001–2016) from (a) areas frequented by females with yearlings, because older cubs are at less risk of infanticide than cubs-of-the-year, and (b) bear mating areas (i.e., the riskiest areas for FCOY because of the presence of adult males). During the first months after den emergence (Apr–Jun), FCOY settled in the roughest areas of the Cantabrian Mountains at most spatial scales. This settlement pattern might represent a behavioral adaptation of FCOY to reduce the risk of encounters with males during the mating season. However, FCOY also settled in similar landscapes to those used by adult bears during the mating season, which may increase the likelihood of risky encounters. Indeed, we observed a spatial overlap between observed locations of FCOY and mating areas, which may help explain the high frequency of infanticide observed in the Cantabrian Mountains. We hypothesize that the need for both shelter and food in early spring may ‘trap’ FCOY in otherwise favorable areas that overlap with mating areas. This may occur predominately in small and confined bear populations, such as the one in the Cantabrian Mountains, where a restricted range and limited habitat availability might prevent FCOY from avoiding risky areas successfully.","PeriodicalId":49393,"journal":{"name":"Ursus","volume":"34 1","pages":"1 - 9"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2020-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73510944","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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