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Ali U, Ahmad B, Minhas RA, Awan MS, Khan LA, Khan MB, Zaman SU, Abbasi AA, Nisar R, Farooq S, Shoukat R, Khushal S, Mushtaq A, Uddin MN, Ahmed D. Human-black bear conflict: crop raiding by Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. BRAZ J BIOL 2024; 84:e261446. [DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.261446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract Asiatic black bear has long been in conflict with human beings crop raiding is a major cause of this conflict frequently noted in South Asia. Crops raided by black bears affected by temporal, spatial and anthropogenic attributes. Insight in this conflict and its mitigation is vital for the conservation of this threatened species. Present study aimed to evaluate crop raiding by black bears in the mountainous region of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Field surveys were carried out to observe spatial and temporal crop raiding features between 2015-2020 and data gathered using designed questionnaires randomly tailored in villages nearby the forests. Results revealed that maize was the sole crop raided by black bears. A total of 28-acre area was raided by black bear in the fall season (Aug-November) resulting in a damage of 51 metric tons, whole raiding was carried out at night. Each respondent received crop damage on 0.09 acre with a loss of 0.17 metric ton yield. Crop quantity and area were significantly correlated to each other. District Neelum shared 49% of the total crop loss, while 47% of the maize was raided at the altitudinal range of 2100-2500 m. crop raiding was highly significantly ( χ 2 = 1174.64 ; d f = 308 ; p < 0.01) dependent upon distance to the forest. Linear regression revealed that maize quantity was determined by area, time and the total field area. Farmers faced 3.8 million PKRs loss due to crop damage by black bears. Despite the huge loss, the majority (23%) of the respondents did not respond to the query on mitigation measures indicating a poor adaptation of preventive measures. Preferred strategy to avoid crop damage was making noise (27.8%) when bears attacked their crops. A start of compensation scheme to the farmers is recommended that will have turned their negative attitude into a positive one toward the wildlife and black bear particularly. Study provides a new insight in human-bear conflict, particularly in spatial and temporal context of crop raiding in AJ&K.
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Affiliation(s)
- U. Ali
- The University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan; Mirpur University of Science & Technology, Pakistan
| | - B. Ahmad
- The University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan
| | - R. A. Minhas
- The University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan
| | - M. S. Awan
- The University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan
| | - L. A. Khan
- The University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan
| | - M. B. Khan
- The University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan
| | | | - A. A. Abbasi
- Mirpur University of Science & Technology, Pakistan
| | - R. Nisar
- Mirpur University of Science & Technology, Pakistan
| | - S. Farooq
- Mirpur University of Science & Technology, Pakistan
| | - R. Shoukat
- Mirpur University of Science & Technology, Pakistan
| | - S. Khushal
- Mirpur University of Science & Technology, Pakistan
| | - A. Mushtaq
- Mirpur University of Science & Technology, Pakistan
| | | | - D. Ahmed
- The University of Haripur, Pakistan
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Malla R, Panthi S, Adhikari H, Pariyar S, Baral R, Subedi R, Adhikari BP, Poudel M, Sedhai N, Poudel M. Habitat suitability of four threatened Himalayan species: Asiatic black bear, common leopard, musk deer, and snow leopard. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16085. [PMID: 37780372 PMCID: PMC10538300 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Biodiversity conservation is becoming challenging day by day. For this, it is essential to understand the distribution, habitat, and impact of anthropogenic activities on animals at risk. We assessed the suitable habitats and anthropogenic impacts on Asiatic black bears, common leopards, musk deer, and snow leopards in and outside the protected areas of Gandaki Province, Nepal. Methods We collected the presence locations of Asiatic black bears, common leopards, musk deer, and snow leopards based on scats and other signs. We employed the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) tool to identify suitable habitats of our studied species and their anthropogenic impacts on them. Results The total suitable habitat of the common leopard was found to be 6,052 km2, followed by the Asiatic black bear (5,819 km2), snow leopard (4,447 km2), and musk deer (1,690 km2) in Gandaki Province. Most of the areas of suitable habitat for common leopards and Asiatic black bears were outside the protected areas, and for musk deer and snow leopards were inside the protected areas. Elevation was the most important variable determining habitat suitability of Asiatic black bear, common leopard, and musk deer, whereas the distance to water was the most important variable determining habitat suitability of snow leopard. Asiatic black bears, common leopards, and musk deer face significant anthropogenic impacts, but snow leopards face some anthropogenic impacts. Conclusion Managing these animals' habitats inside and outside protected areas is essential. Hence, biodiversity conservation and livelihood opportunities should be balanced in the Himalayas on a win-win basis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh Malla
- Forest Research and Training Center, Pokhara, Nepal
| | - Saroj Panthi
- Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forests and Environment, Gandaki Province, Pokhara, Nepal
| | - Hari Adhikari
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Shiva Pariyar
- Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forests and Environment, Gandaki Province, Pokhara, Nepal
| | - Rishi Baral
- National Trust for Nature Conservation, Annapurna Conservation Area, Pokhara, Nepal
| | | | | | | | | | - Megharaj Poudel
- Division Forest Office, Nawalpur, Nawalparsi (Bardaghat Susta East), Kawasoti, Nepal
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Ullah Z, Said A, Khan AM, Ullah A, Noreen S, Mahmood S. Altitudinal distribution and seasonal migration of asiatic black bear ( Ursus thibetanus) in kaghan and Siran Valleys, Pakistan. Heliyon 2023; 9:e18052. [PMID: 37483771 PMCID: PMC10362140 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) is considered one of the largest carnivores inhabiting different territories including coniferous and broad-leaved forests, extending from sea level to the elevation of 4300 m. The Kaghan and Siran Valleys in Pakistan's District Mansehra were the location of the current study. To evaluate the altitudinal distribution and seasonal movement of Asiatic black bears in the region, we used three approaches (sign distribution survey, questionnaire-based survey, and scat collecting). A total of 1858 bear signs were observed during the field survey, the highest number of signs was dig marks (1213) followed by plant uprooting. Dig marks (MER: 7.574) were observed repeatedly in each potential site of both valleys followed by plant uprooting (MER: 1.594). Similarly, the altitudinal distribution of black bears was determined through the frequency of signs concerning elevation (m). Elevation of the study area ranged from 1300 to 3500 m and the most abundant population was recorded at the elevation of 2501-3000 m followed by 2001-2500 m. About 52% of local communities encountered black bears during the summer season in the field followed by Spring (23%.8) and winter (15.3%). Manshi Reserver forest (24.5%) from Kaghan and Panjul Reserve forest (31.6) from Siran Valley are the potential summer migratory spots. Eleven scat samples were collected with a 0.103 encounter rate (ER). Most of the scats (about 70%) were observed within the maize crop field in the summer season at low elevation, while just 30% of the scat was observed in the winter season in the forest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaib Ullah
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faulty of SEBE, Deakin University Waurn Ponds Campus, Victoria 3216, Australia
- Department of Zoology, Hazara University Sub-Campus Battagram, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Amir Said
- Institute of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
| | - Abdul Majid Khan
- Institute of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
| | - Asad Ullah
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faulty of SEBE, Deakin University Waurn Ponds Campus, Victoria 3216, Australia
| | - Shumaila Noreen
- Department of Zoology, Hazara University Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Sajid Mahmood
- Department of Zoology, University of Chakwal, Punjab, Pakistan
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4
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Ali A, Uz Zaman I, Omer T, Ahmad S, López‐Bao JV. Negative interactions between humans and Asiatic black bears (
Ursus thibetanus
) in northern Pakistan. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Abid Ali
- Zoology Department Government Degree College, Akbarpura Nowshera Pakistan
- Peshawar Zoo, Wildlife Department Peshawar Pakistan
| | | | - Talha Omer
- Department of Statistics and Computer Science University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore Pakistan
| | - Shakeel Ahmad
- Carnivores Conservation Lab, Department of Zoology Quaid I Azam University Islamabad Pakistan
| | - José Vicente López‐Bao
- Biodiversity Research Institute (CSIC – Oviedo University – Principality of Asturias) Oviedo University Mieres Spain
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5
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Ahmad F, Nawaz MA, Salim M, Rehan M, Farhadinia M, Bosso L, Kabir M. Patterns of distribution, diel activity and human interaction of Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) in the Hindu Kush Mountain, Pakistan. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
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Naganuma T, Nakashita R, Tochigi K, Zedrosser A, Kozakai C, Yamazaki K, Koike S. Functional dietary response of Asian black bears to changes in sika deer density. J Wildl Manage 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tomoko Naganuma
- Institute of Global Innovation Research Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology 3‐5‐8 Saiwai‐cho Fuchu Tokyo 183‐8509 Japan
| | - Rumiko Nakashita
- Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute 1 Matsunosato Tsukuba Ibaraki 305‐8687 Japan
| | - Kahoko Tochigi
- United Graduate School of Agricultural Science Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology 3‐5‐8 Saiwai‐cho Fuchu Tokyo 183‐8509 Japan
| | - Andreas Zedrosser
- Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health University of South‐Eastern Norway Gullbringvegen 36 3800 Bø Telemark Norway
| | - Chinatsu Kozakai
- National Agriculture and Food Research Organization 2‐1‐18 Kannondai Tsukuba Ibaraki 305‐8666 Japan
| | - Koji Yamazaki
- Department of Forest Science Faculty of Regional Environmental Science Tokyo University of Agriculture 1‐1‐1 Sakuragaoka Setagaya Tokyo 156‐8502 Japan
| | - Shinsuke Koike
- Institute of Global Innovation Research Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology 3‐5‐8 Saiwai‐cho Fuchu Tokyo 183‐8509 Japan
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7
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Awan MN, Awan MS, Nawaz MA, Hameed S, Kabir M, Lee DC. Landscape associations of Asiatic black bears in Kashmir Himalaya, Pakistan. URSUS 2021. [DOI: 10.2192/ursus-d-20-00017.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Naeem Awan
- Department of Zoology, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, Pakistan
| | | | - Muhammad Ali Nawaz
- Department of Animal Sciences, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Shoab Hameed
- Department of Animal Sciences, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Kabir
- Department of Wildlife and Forestry, University of Haripur, Haripur, Pakistan
| | - David C. Lee
- School of Applied Sciences, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
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8
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Zahoor B, Liu X, Ahmad B, Kumar L, Songer M. Impact of climate change on Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) and its autumn diet in the northern highlands of Pakistan. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:4294-4306. [PMID: 34101949 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Approximately 20%-30% of plant and animal species are at risk of extinction by the end of the 21st century owing to climate change. Range shifts and range contractions in plant species will dramatically affect the distribution of animals relying on them for food and shelter. The negative impacts of climate change on forested landscapes of the northern highlands of Pakistan (NHP) could change the species composition and distribution. The Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus), a forest-dwelling species, primarily depends on plants for foraging, and is assumed to be affected by climate change in NHP. Scat analyses and indigenous knowledge from Machiara National Park revealed the maximum consumption of Quercus species (natural food) and Zea mays (human grown food) by the Asiatic black bear in autumn season. We collected the occurrence data of the Asiatic black bear and its commonly used food (three Quercus spp.) in the NHP. We used the MaxEnt model to simulate current and future (in 2050 and 2070) distribution of the species under RCP4.5 (medium carbon emission scenario) and RCP8.5 (extreme carbon emission scenario). The results predict range reduction and extreme fragmentation in the habitats of all the Quercus spp. Besides, a dramatic decrease in the suitable (SH) and very highly suitable (HSH) habitats was predicted in the future. Range shift and range reduction of Quercus spp. may interrupt the denning chronology of Asiatic black bears, escalate the human-black bear conflicts and local extirpation of the species. Given the extent and magnitude of climate change, it will likely not be enough to focus solely on the conservation of the Asiatic black bear. We need more dynamic planning aiming at mitigating the effect of climate change in forested landscapes including the Quercus forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Babar Zahoor
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, and School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuehua Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, and School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Basharat Ahmad
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, The University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, Pakistan
| | - Lalit Kumar
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | - Melissa Songer
- Conservation Ecology Center, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, USA
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9
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Goursi UH, Anwar M, Bosso L, Nawaz MA, Kabir M. Spatial distribution of the threatened Asiatic black bear in northern Pakistan. URSUS 2021. [DOI: 10.2192/ursus-d-19-00031.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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10
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Su H, Bista M, Li M. Mapping habitat suitability for Asiatic black bear and red panda in Makalu Barun National Park of Nepal from Maxent and GARP models. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14135. [PMID: 34238986 PMCID: PMC8266906 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93540-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Habitat evaluation is essential for managing wildlife populations and formulating conservation policies. With the rise of innovative powerful statistical techniques in partnership with Remote Sensing, GIS and GPS techniques, spatially explicit species distribution modeling (SDM) has rapidly grown in conservation biology. These models can help us to study habitat suitability at the scale of the species range, and are particularly useful for examining the overlapping habitat between sympatric species. Species presence points collected through field GPS observations, in conjunction with 13 different topographic, vegetation related, anthropogenic, and bioclimatic variables, as well as a land cover map with seven classification categories created by support vector machine (SVM) were used to implement Maxent and GARP ecological niche models. With the resulting ecological niche models, the suitable habitat for asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) and red panda (Ailurus fulgens) in Nepal Makalu Barun National Park (MBNP) was predicted. All of the predictor variables were extracted from freely available remote sensing and publicly shared government data resources. The modeled results were validated by using an independent dataset. Analysis of the regularized training gain showed that the three most important environmental variables for habitat suitability were distance to settlement, elevation, and mean annual temperature. The habitat suitability modeling accuracy, characterized by the mean area under curve, was moderate for both species when GARP was used (0.791 for black bear and 0.786 for red panda), but was moderate for black bear (0.857), and high for red panda (0.920) when Maxent was used. The suitable habitat estimated by Maxent for black bear and red panda was 716 km2 and 343 km2 respectively, while the suitable area determined by GARP was 1074 km2 and 714 km2 respectively. Maxent predicted that the overlapping area was 83% of the red panda habitat and 40% of the black bear habitat, while GARP estimated 88% of the red panda habitat and 58% of the black bear habitat overlapped. The results of land cover exhibited that barren land covered the highest percentage of area in MBNP (36.0%) followed by forest (32.6%). Of the suitable habitat, both models indicated forest as the most preferred land cover for both species (63.7% for black bear and 61.6% for red panda from Maxent; 59.9% black bear and 58.8% for red panda from GARP). Maxent outperformed GARP in terms of habitat suitability modeling. The black bear showed higher habitat selectivity than red panda. We suggest that proper management should be given to the overlapping habitats in the buffer zone. For remote and inaccessible regions, the proposed methods are promising tools for wildlife management and conservation, deserving further popularization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiyi Su
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
| | - Manjit Bista
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
- Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Ministry of Forests and Environment, Babarmahal, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Mingshi Li
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China.
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China.
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11
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Zahoor B, Liu X, Kumar L, Dai Y, Tripathy BR, Songer M. Projected shifts in the distribution range of Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) in the Hindu Kush Himalaya due to climate change. ECOL INFORM 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoinf.2021.101312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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12
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Zahoor B, Liu X, Wu P, Sun W, Jia X, Lv Z, Zhao X, He X, He B, Cai Q, Songer M. Activity pattern study of Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) in the Qinling Mountains, China, by using infrared camera traps. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:25179-25186. [PMID: 33447985 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-12325-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The study of activity patterns is important for understanding the capacity of animals for adapting their behavior based on their habitat conditions. Among bears, daily activity patterns are considered to be strongly influenced by regional climate conditions. We monitored the activity patterns (active vs. inactive) of the Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) using infrared camera traps (from May 2013 to November 2016) in the Qinling Mountains, China. We used 125 photos, with 19,132 camera days from 55 camera locations. Based on relative independent capture (RIC), bears were found to be intensively active during June (5.86 ± 1.05 SE), July (8.45 ± 2.74), September (14.83 ± 6.13), and October (8.70 ± 3.43), with activity levels gradually decreasing beyond October. After this decline, activities eventually come to a halt when the bears enter in hibernation. We found that their hibernation period was shorter in the Qinling bears, with only 3 months of denning from January to March. Based on their daily patterns, bears were predominantly active during the daytime both in spring (70.83 ± 35.41%) and summer (52.09 ± 28.89%), but more active at twilight during autumn (51.12 ± 42.88%). We assumed that food preferences and food availability (due to warmer regional climatic conditions) might be responsible for such deviations in daily and monthly activity patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Babar Zahoor
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, and School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuehua Liu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, and School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, People's Republic of China.
| | - Pengfen Wu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, and School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, People's Republic of China
| | - Wanlong Sun
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, and School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaodong Jia
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, and School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, People's Republic of China
| | - Zixin Lv
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, and School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangyu Zhao
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, and School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangbo He
- Shaanxi Foping Nature Reserve, Foping County, 723400, Shaanxi, China
| | - Baishuo He
- Shaanxi Changqing Nature Reserve, Yangxian County, 723400, Shaanxi, China
| | - Qiong Cai
- Shaanxi Guanyinshan Nature Reserve, Foping County, 723400, Shaanxi, China
| | - Melissa Songer
- Conservation Ecology Center, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, 22630, USA
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Bashir F, Nawab M, Ganai BA, Bashir T. Patterns of resource use by Asiatic black bear Ursus thibetanus during pre-hibernation in Kashmir Himalaya, India. J NAT HIST 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2020.1850902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Farah Bashir
- Centre of Research for Development, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, India
| | - Monalisa Nawab
- Centre of Research for Development, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, India
| | - Bashir Ahmad Ganai
- Centre of Research for Development, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, India
| | - Tawqir Bashir
- Centre of Research for Development, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, India
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Lundgren EJ, Schowanek SD, Rowan J, Middleton O, Pedersen RØ, Wallach AD, Ramp D, Davis M, Sandom CJ, Svenning JC. Functional traits of the world's late Quaternary large-bodied avian and mammalian herbivores. Sci Data 2021; 8:17. [PMID: 33473149 PMCID: PMC7817692 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-020-00788-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Prehistoric and recent extinctions of large-bodied terrestrial herbivores had significant and lasting impacts on Earth's ecosystems due to the loss of their distinct trait combinations. The world's surviving large-bodied avian and mammalian herbivores remain among the most threatened taxa. As such, a greater understanding of the ecological impacts of large herbivore losses is increasingly important. However, comprehensive and ecologically-relevant trait datasets for extinct and extant herbivores are lacking. Here, we present HerbiTraits, a comprehensive functional trait dataset for all late Quaternary terrestrial avian and mammalian herbivores ≥10 kg (545 species). HerbiTraits includes key traits that influence how herbivores interact with ecosystems, namely body mass, diet, fermentation type, habitat use, and limb morphology. Trait data were compiled from 557 sources and comprise the best available knowledge on late Quaternary large-bodied herbivores. HerbiTraits provides a tool for the analysis of herbivore functional diversity both past and present and its effects on Earth's ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick J Lundgren
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia.
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Simon D Schowanek
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - John Rowan
- Department of Anthropology, University at Albany, Albany, NY, 12222, USA
| | - Owen Middleton
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Sussex, UK
| | - Rasmus Ø Pedersen
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Arian D Wallach
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, Australia
| | - Matt Davis
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, CA, 90007, USA
| | | | - Jens-Christian Svenning
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Basnett R, Kumar A, Vishwakarma A, Boro BK. Seasonal diets of Asiatic black bear ( Ursus thibetanus) in the Khangchendzonga National Park, Eastern Himalaya India. J NAT HIST 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.1899324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rakesh Basnett
- Wildlife Resources & Conservation Laboratory Department of Forestry, North Eastern Regional Institute of Science & Technology (Deemed to Be University), Itanagar, India
| | - Awadhesh Kumar
- Wildlife Resources & Conservation Laboratory Department of Forestry, North Eastern Regional Institute of Science & Technology (Deemed to Be University), Itanagar, India
| | - Anurag Vishwakarma
- Wildlife Resources & Conservation Laboratory Department of Forestry, North Eastern Regional Institute of Science & Technology (Deemed to Be University), Itanagar, India
| | - Barin Kumar Boro
- Wildlife Resources & Conservation Laboratory Department of Forestry, North Eastern Regional Institute of Science & Technology (Deemed to Be University), Itanagar, India
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Morovati M, Karami P, Bahadori Amjas F. Accessing habitat suitability and connectivity for the westernmost population of Asian black bear (Ursus thibetanus gedrosianus, Blanford, 1877) based on climate changes scenarios in Iran. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0242432. [PMID: 33206701 PMCID: PMC7673494 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change, as an emerging phenomenon, has led to changes in the distribution, movement, and even risk of extinction of various wildlife species and this has raised concerns among conservation biologists. Different species have two options in the face of climate change, either to adopt or follow their climatic niche to new places through the connectivity of habitats. The modeling of interpatch landscape communications can serve as an effective decision support tool for wildlife managers. This study was conducted to assess the effects of climate change on the distribution and habitat connectivity of the endangered subspecies of Asian black bear (Ursus thibetanus gedrosianus) in the southern and southeastern Iran. The presence points of the species were collected in Provinces of Kerman, Hormozgan, and Sistan-Baluchestan. Habitat modeling was done by the Generalized Linear Model, and 3 machine learning models including Maximum Entropy, Back Propagation based artificial Neural Network, and Support Vector Machine. In order to achieve the ensemble model, the results of the mentioned models were merged based on the method of "accuracy rate as weight" derived from their validation. To construct pseudo-absence points for the use in the mentioned models, the Ensemble model of presence-only models was used. The modeling was performed using 15 habitat variables related to climatic, vegetation, topographic, and anthropogenic parameters. The three general circulation models of BCC-CSM1, CCSM4, and MRI-CGCM3 were selected under the two scenarios of RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 by 2070. To investigate the effect of climate change on the habitat connections, the protected areas of 3 provinces were considered as focal nodes and the connections between them were established based on electrical circuit theory and Pairwise method. The true skill statistic was employed to convert the continuous suitability layers to binary suitable/unsuitable range maps to assess the effectiveness of the protected areas in the coverage of suitable habitats for the species. Due to the high power of the stochastic forest model in determining the importance of variables, this method was used. The results showed that presence/absence models were successful in the implementation and well distinguished the points of presence and pseudo-absence from each other. Based on the random forests model, the variables of Precipitation of Driest Quarter, Precipitation of Coldest Quarter, and Temperature Annual Range have the greatest impact on the habitat suitability. Comparing the modeling findings to the realities of the species distribution range indicated that the suitable habitats are located in areas with high humidity and rainfall, which are mostly in the northern areas of Bandar Abbas, south of Kerman, and west and south of Sistan-Baluchestan. The area of suitable habitats, in the MRI-CGCM3 (189731 Km2) and CCSM4 (179007 Km2) models under the RCP2.6 scenario, is larger than the current distribution (174001 Km2). However, in terms of the performance of protected areas, the optimal coverage of the species by the boundary of the protected areas, under each of the RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 scenarios, is less than the present time. According to the electric circuit theory, connecting the populations in the protected areas of Sistan-Baluchestan province to those in the northern Hormozgan and the southern Kerman would be based on the crossing through the heights of Sistan-Baluchestan and Hormozgan provinces and the plains between these heights would be the movement pinch points under the current and future scenarios. Populations in the protected areas of Kerman have higher quality patch connections than that of the other two provinces. The areas such as Sang-e_Mes, Kouh_Shir, Zaryab, and Bahr_Aseman in Kerman Province and Kouhbaz and Geno in Hormozgan Province can provide suitable habitats for the species in the distribution models. The findings revealed that the conservation of the heights along with the caves inside them could be a protective priority to counteract the effects of climate change on the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Morovati
- Department of Environmental Sciences & Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Ardakan University, Ardakan, Iran
- Medicinal and Industrial Plants Research Institute, Ardakan University, Ardakan, Iran
| | - Peyman Karami
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment Sciences, Malayer University, Malayer, Iran
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Bista M, Panthi S, Weiskopf SR. Habitat overlap between Asiatic black bear Ursus thibetanus and red panda Ailurus fulgens in Himalaya. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0203697. [PMID: 30188937 PMCID: PMC6126844 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 08/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Studying habitat overlap between sympatric species is one of the best ways to identify interspecies relationships and to direct conservation efforts so that multiple species can benefit. However, studies exploring interspecies relationships are very limited in Nepal, making it difficult for the government of Nepal and conservation partners to manage wildlife in their habitats, especially in Himalayan protected areas. In this study, we identified habitat overlap between Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) and red panda (Ailurus fulgens) as well as important habitat types for both species in the Makalu Barun National Park, Nepal using Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) modeling. GPS points of species occurrence were collected from the field, and environmental variables were extracted from freely available sources. We found that the study area contained 647 km2 of Asiatic black bear habitat and 443 km2 of the red panda habitat. 368 km2 supported both species, which constituted 57% of the Asiatic black bear habitat and 83% of the red panda habitat. We found that conifer forest was the most important habitat type for both species. Because the largest portions of both species' habitat were located inside the buffer zone, a peripheral zone of national park, conservation efforts for these sympatric species should be focused inside the buffer zone to be most effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manjit Bista
- Ministry of Forests and Environment, Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Babarmahal, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Saroj Panthi
- Ministry of Forests and Environment, Department of Forests, Babarmahal, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Sarah R. Weiskopf
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Climate Adaptation Science Center, Reston, VA, United States of America
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Bashir T, Bhattacharya T, Poudyal K, Qureshi Q, Sathyakumar S. Understanding patterns of distribution and space-use by Ursus thibetanus in Khangchendzonga, India: Initiative towards conservation. Mamm Biol 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2018.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Ali A, Waseem M, Teng M, Ali S, Ishaq M, Haseeb A, Aryal A, Zhou Z. Human–Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) interactions in the Kaghan Valley, Pakistan. ETHOL ECOL EVOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2017.1423113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ashfaq Ali
- College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences/Hubei Engineering Technology Research Center for Forestry Information, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
| | | | - Mingjun Teng
- College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences/Hubei Engineering Technology Research Center for Forestry Information, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Saqib Ali
- College of Plant Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Muhammad Ishaq
- College of Economics and Management, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Abdul Haseeb
- School of Forest Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensue, Finland
| | - Achyut Aryal
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Zhixiang Zhou
- College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences/Hubei Engineering Technology Research Center for Forestry Information, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, PR China
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