1
|
Hatch KA, Kester KA, Loveless A, Roeder BL, van Manen FT. Tooth wear and the apparent consumption of human foods among American black bears (Ursus americanus) in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA. Mamm Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-022-00310-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
|
2
|
Human recreation impacts seasonal activity and occupancy of American black bears (Ursus americanus) across the anthropogenic-wildland interface. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12201. [PMID: 35842446 PMCID: PMC9287820 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15665-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Protected areas serve an important role in wildlife conservation, yet most wildlife occur outside these areas, subject to varying degrees of human disturbance. In the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, American black bears (Ursus americanus), a highly mobile, opportunistic species, are common despite an extensive outdoor recreation industry with the potential to affect black bear spatial and temporal activity. We investigated how environmental and anthropogenic factors influence black bear occupancy, detection, and diel activity patterns across the anthropogenic–wildland interface before and after hibernation. Using 30 camera traps deployed across a rural–wildland interface, we captured black bears at 23 camera sites (~ 77%), which exhibited co-occurrence with humans at 10 sites (~ 33%), revealing that human presence and human population density exert negative effects on black bear seasonal occupancy. Bears were more nocturnal during the hunting season, before hibernation. Human recreational activity increased ~ 38% after hibernation, but bear diurnal activity also increased ~ 36%, except when cubs were present. Our results suggest bears prioritize avoiding humans spatially, rather than temporally, except during the hunting season and when cubs are present. Understanding black bear responses to human recreation patterns and environmental variation is essential for minimizing human-mediated disturbance, and fueling conservation efforts of large, charismatic carnivores.
Collapse
|
3
|
Pease BS, Pacifici K, Kays R, Reich B. What drives spatially varying ecological relationships in a wide‐ranging species? DIVERS DISTRIB 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Brent S. Pease
- Foresty Program Southern Illinois University Carbondale Illinois USA
| | - Krishna Pacifici
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources North Carolina State University Raleigh North Carolina USA
| | - Roland Kays
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources North Carolina State University Raleigh North Carolina USA
- North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences Raleigh North Carolina USA
| | - Brian Reich
- Department of Statistics North Carolina State University Raleigh North Carolina USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Dai Y, Li Y, Xue Y, Hacker CE, Li C, Zahoor B, Liu Y, Li D, Li D. Mitigation Strategies for Human-Tibetan Brown Bear ( Ursus arctos pruinosus) Conflicts in the Hinterland of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12111422. [PMID: 35681886 PMCID: PMC9179409 DOI: 10.3390/ani12111422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The conservation of Tibetan brown bear (Ursus arctos pruinosus) and its habitat is of great value to the conservation of sympatric species, which helps to maintain the health and stability of the regional ecosystem. In recent years, human–bear conflicts (HBCs) have intensified in the Sanjiangyuan Region in Qinghai Province, China, decreasing the tolerance of local herders of the species and seriously affecting the motivation of local communities to protect brown bears and other wildlife, with retaliatory killing posing a threat to their survival. Timely development of effective measures and countermeasures for mitigating HBCs is crucial to protect brown bears. The mitigation or resolution of HBC issues is beneficial to both the promotion of people’s livelihoods and the conservation of brown bears on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). At present, there is still a lack of research on the mitigation measures of HBCs on the QTP. This study combined field surveys, semi-structured interviews, and HBC seminars to understand the effectiveness of current mitigation measures and to propose potential mitigation measures in the hinterland of the QTP. This work proposed targeted mitigation measures for HBCs taking into account existing HBC management practices in China and abroad, and the unique geographical environment, laws and regulations, folk culture, and religious beliefs of local regions. Although this study was limited to a single species on the QTP, the results herein are useful for drafting national-level wildlife conservation policies, compensation programs for wildlife damage, and natural resource conservation regulations. Abstract Personal injury and property damage caused by wildlife can worsen the relationship between humans and wildlife. In recent years, conflicts between herders and Tibetan brown bears (Ursus arctos pruinosus) (human–bear conflicts; HBCs) on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau have increased dramatically, severely affecting community motivation for the conservation of brown bears and other species. Understanding the types, effectiveness, and flaws of current HBC mitigation measures is critical to develop effective strategies to alleviate HBC. From 2017 to 2019, we conducted a systematic field survey regarding HBCs on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. In addition, we invited bear specialists and multiple interest groups to hold an HBC seminar and proposed some potential mitigation strategies. We surveyed 312 families via semi-structured interviews and documented 16 types of HBC mitigation measures. A total of 96% of respondents were using more than two mitigation measures simultaneously. The effectiveness evaluation of HBC mitigation measures showed that: (1) removing food from winter homes while herders were at their summer pastures and asking people to keep watch of winter homes were effective at protecting food and houses; (2) traditional grazing methods (human guarding of livestock all day) and solar soundboxes (attached to livestock) were effective at protecting free-range livestock; (3) solar street lights had a deterrent effect on brown bears and were effective in protecting livestock, houses, and people; and (4) due to the unstable power supply of photovoltaic cells and improper installation of ground wires, electric fences were not ideal in practice. Evaluation of the potential mitigation measures at the seminar showed that upgrading electric fence technology, expanding electric fence pilot areas, installing diversionary feeders, and introducing bear spray were the most optimal solutions. This study provides a scientific basis for creating human–bear coexistence plans on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yunchuan Dai
- Institute for Ecology and Environmental Resources, Chongqing Academy of Social Sciences, Chongqing 400020, China; (Y.D.); (C.L.)
- Research Center for Ecological Security and Green Development, Chongqing Academy of Social Sciences, Chongqing 400020, China
| | - Yi Li
- Research Center for Economy of Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing 400067, China;
| | - Yadong Xue
- Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation, State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China;
| | - Charlotte E. Hacker
- Department of Biological Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA;
| | - Chunyan Li
- Institute for Ecology and Environmental Resources, Chongqing Academy of Social Sciences, Chongqing 400020, China; (Y.D.); (C.L.)
- Research Center for Ecological Security and Green Development, Chongqing Academy of Social Sciences, Chongqing 400020, China
| | - Babar Zahoor
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China;
| | - Yang Liu
- School of Tourism, Kaili University, Kaili 556000, China;
| | - Diqiang Li
- Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation, State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China;
- Correspondence: (D.L.); (D.L.)
| | - Dayong Li
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- Correspondence: (D.L.); (D.L.)
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Parsons MA, Garcia A, Young JK. Scavenging vs hunting affects behavioral traits of an opportunistic carnivore. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13366. [PMID: 35529483 PMCID: PMC9070321 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Human-induced changes to ecosystems transform the availability of resources to predators, including altering prey populations and increasing access to anthropogenic foods. Opportunistic predators are likely to respond to altered food resources by changing the proportion of food they hunt versus scavenge. These shifts in foraging behavior will affect species interactions through multiple pathways, including by changing other aspects of predator behavior such as boldness, innovation, and social structure. Methods To understand how foraging behavior impacts predator behavior, we conducted a controlled experiment to simulate hunting by introducing a prey model to captive coyotes (Canis latrans) and compared their behavior to coyotes that continued to scavenge over one year. We used focal observations to construct behavioral budgets, and conducted novel object, puzzle box, and conspecific tests to evaluate boldness, innovation, and response to conspecifics. Results We documented increased time spent resting by hunting coyotes paired with decreased time spent active. Hunting coyotes increased boldness and persistence but there were no changes in innovation. Our results illustrate how foraging behavior can impact other aspects of behavior, with potential ecological consequences to predator ecology, predator-prey dynamics, and human-wildlife conflict; however, the captive nature of our study limits specific conclusions related to wild predators. We conclude that human-induced behavioral changes could have cascading ecological implications that are not fully understood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell A. Parsons
- Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States of America,National Wildlife Research Center - Predator Research Facility, USDA, Millville, UT, USA
| | - Andrew Garcia
- National Wildlife Research Center - Predator Research Facility, USDA, Millville, UT, USA
| | - Julie K. Young
- Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States of America,National Wildlife Research Center - Predator Research Facility, USDA, Millville, UT, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Seward AT, Facchini J, Reynolds‐Hogland MJ, Vieira M, Ramsey AB, Franczyk N, Muench C, Mchugh D, Ramsey PW. Remotely triggered door and real‐time monitoring for bear cage traps. WILDLIFE SOC B 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.1295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jesse Facchini
- MPG Ranch 19400 Lower Woodchuck Road Florence MT 59833 USA
| | | | - Mark Vieira
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife 317 W. Prospect Fort Collins CO 80526 USA
| | - Alan B. Ramsey
- MPG Ranch 19400 Lower Woodchuck Road Florence MT 59833 USA
| | | | - Carly Muench
- MPG Ranch 19400 Lower Woodchuck Road Florence MT 59833 USA
| | - Daniel Mchugh
- MPG Ranch 19400 Lower Woodchuck Road Florence MT 59833 USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Hagani JS, Kross SM, Clark M, Wynn-Grant R, Blair M. Mapping and modeling human-black bear interactions in the Catskills region of New York using resource selection probability functions. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0257716. [PMID: 34551021 PMCID: PMC8457482 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Black bears (Ursus americanus) are an iconic and common species throughout much of the United States and people regularly interact with these large predators without conflict. However, negative interactions between people and bears can manifest in conflicts that can hinder conservation efforts. Black bears are highly attracted to anthropogenic sources of food, and negative interactions with people are primarily a product of trash mismanagement. In the Catskills region of New York State, home to a large population of black bears, over 400 such conflicts are reported each year. While the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has seen progress recently in educating residents of the region on how to reduce unwanted interactions with bears, they have had less success educating the 12 million tourists that visit the Catskills each year. Understanding where conflict may occur in the future, and the environmental and anthropogenic factors that precede it, may help guide management strategies to reduce these unwanted interactions. Therefore, we designed resource selection probability functions (RSPFs) to examine the relationship between human-black bear conflicts in the Catskills with a suite of landscape and anthropogenic data, using conflicts reported to the DEC across the state of New York in 2018-2019. We found that human-black bear conflicts were more likely to occur in the residential areas of the Catskills on the urban-wildland interface; areas with relatively higher human population densities, away from dense forest, and further from heavily urbanized areas. While future work is needed to continuously validate our model predictions, our results will provide the DEC and other conservation managers in the Catskills the ability to create more targeted plans for mitigating unwanted human-black bear interactions, and provide a better understanding of the mechanisms driving human-carnivore interactions at an urban-wildland interface more generally.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason S. Hagani
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Sara M. Kross
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Michael Clark
- New York Department of Environmental Conservation Region 4, Schenectady, New York, United States of America
| | - Rae Wynn-Grant
- Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, United States of America
| | - Mary Blair
- Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Abstract
AbstractFeeding of wild Asian elephants at the Udawalawe National Park perimeter electric fence by the general public is longstanding. We monitored the elephants and feeding activities, and conducted questionnaire surveys of stakeholders. Over 50 individual adult male elephants engaged in the activity. The exclusive male presence was consistent with a high-risk high-gain male strategy. The elephants were mostly offered fruits and vegetables. Over a thousand people a day watched and fed the elephants. Most people bought food for elephants from roadside stalls and vendors had significantly more sales if elephants were present. The feeding of elephants brought significant economic benefit to communities bordering the park. We found the impacts of feeding on the elephants and environment to be largely neutral. Impacts on people and conservation were mainly positive. Actions taken by authorities to stop the feeding have targeted the elephants and resulted in the decrease of feeding but not its elimination. Managing the activity instead would help increase economic benefits and ensure safe interaction between people and elephants. Such management, by directly benefitting local communities, could make them partners in the conservation process and form the basis of an effective outreach program.
Collapse
|
9
|
González-Bernardo E, Bombieri G, Mar Delgado MD, Penteriani V. The role of spring temperatures in the den exit of female brown bears with cubs in southwestern Europe. URSUS 2020. [DOI: 10.2192/ursus-d-19-00015.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Giulia Bombieri
- Research Unit of Biodiversity, UMIB (CSIC/UO/PA), E-33600 Mieres, Spain
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Honda T, Kozakai C. Mechanisms of human-black bear conflicts in Japan: In preparation for climate change. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 739:140028. [PMID: 32758947 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Many studies have reported effects of global climate change on wildlife, including changes in species distributions and population sizes but perspectives on interactions between the biosphere and the anthroposphere are limited. Bears have a worldwide range and often come into conflict with humans. We assessed the effects of weather variables including temperature, precipitation, and sunshine on human-bear conflicts. Given that the relationship between climate and bear physiology is poorly understood, we first conducted an exploratory analysis using regression techniques. We then built a final predictive model using generalized linear mixed modelling and Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC)-based model selection. Our model highlighted the influence of cold temperatures during denning on the frequency of human-bear conflicts. Cold temperatures during denning are related to increased energy requirements for thermoregulation. It is likely that the resulting increase in demand for food following denning leads to an increase in human-bear conflicts. Our results also indicate that cool springs, lingering winter snowpacks, and hot summers may increase human-bear conflicts due to associated reductions in key food sources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Honda
- Yamanashi Prefecture Agricultural Research Center, 1100, Shimoimai, Kai, Japan.
| | - Chinatsu Kozakai
- Central Region Agricultural Research Center, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 2-1-18 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
González-Bernardo E, Russo LF, Valderrábano E, Fernández Á, Penteriani V. Denning in brown bears. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:6844-6862. [PMID: 32724555 PMCID: PMC7381752 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hibernation represents an adaptation for coping with unfavorable environmental conditions. For brown bears Ursus arctos, hibernation is a critical period as pronounced temporal reductions in several physiological functions occur.Here, we review the three main aspects of brown bear denning: (1) den chronology, (2) den characteristics, and (3) hibernation physiology in order to identify (a) proximate and ultimate factors of hibernation as well as (b) research gaps and conservation priorities.Den chronology, which varies by sex and reproductive status, depends on environmental factors, such as snow, temperature, food availability, and den altitude. Significant variation in hibernation across latitudes occurs for both den entry and exit.The choice of a den and its surroundings may affect individual fitness, for example, loss of offspring and excessive energy consumption. Den selection is the result of broad- and fine-scale habitat selection, mainly linked to den insulation, remoteness, and availability of food in the surroundings of the den location.Hibernation is a metabolic challenge for the brown bears, in which a series of physiological adaptations in tissues and organs enable survival under nutritional deprivation, maintain high levels of lipids, preserve muscle, and bone and prevent cardiovascular pathologies such as atherosclerosis. It is important to understand: (a) proximate and ultimate factors in denning behavior and the difference between actual drivers of hibernation (i.e., factors to which bears directly respond) and their correlates; (b) how changes in climatic factors might affect the ability of bears to face global climate change and the human-mediated changes in food availability; (c) hyperphagia (period in which brown bears accumulate fat reserves), predenning and denning periods, including for those populations in which bears do not hibernate every year; and (d) how to approach the study of bear denning merging insights from different perspectives, that is, physiology, ecology, and behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Enrique González-Bernardo
- Research Unit of Biodiversity (UMIB, CSIC-UO-PA) Mieres Spain
- Pyrenean Institute of Ecology (IPE-CSIC) Zaragoza Spain
| | - Luca Francesco Russo
- Research Unit of Biodiversity (UMIB, CSIC-UO-PA) Mieres Spain
- Department of Biosciences and the Territory Università degli Studi del Molise Pesche Italy
| | - Esther Valderrábano
- COPAR Research Group Faculty of Veterinary University of Santiago de Compostela Lugo Spain
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Pearman-Gillman SB, Duveneck MJ, Murdoch JD, Donovan TM. Drivers and Consequences of Alternative Landscape Futures on Wildlife Distributions in New England, United States. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
|
13
|
Conflicts of human with the Tibetan brown bear (Ursus arctos pruinosus) in the Sanjiangyuan region, China. Glob Ecol Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
|
14
|
Johnson HE, Lewis DL, Breck SW. Individual and population fitness consequences associated with large carnivore use of residential development. Ecosphere 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Heather E. Johnson
- Alaska Science Center U.S. Geological Survey 4210 University Drive Anchorage Alaska 99508 USA
| | - David L. Lewis
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife 415 Turner Drive Durango Colorado 81303 USA
| | - Stewart W. Breck
- USDA National Wildlife Research Center 4101 La Porte Ave Fort Collins Colorado 80521 USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Teunissen van Manen J, Lackey CW, Beckmann JP, Muller LI, Li ZH. Assimilated diet patterns of American black bears in the Sierra Nevada and western Great Basin, Nevada, USA. URSUS 2020. [DOI: 10.2192/ursus-d-17-00031.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Carl W. Lackey
- Nevada Department of Wildlife, 1100 Valley Road, Reno, NV 89512, USA
| | - Jon P. Beckmann
- Wildlife Conservation Society, North America Program, 1050 E Main, Suite 2, Bozeman, MT 59715, USA
| | - Lisa I. Muller
- University of Tennessee, Department of Forestry Wildlife, and Fisheries, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Zheng-Hua Li
- University of Tennessee, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Assessing the importance of protected areas in human-dominated lowland for brown bear (Ursus arctos) winter denning. MAMMAL RES 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-019-00447-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
|
17
|
Growth Rate and Body Size at Maturity of Florida Black Bears. JOURNAL OF FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 2019. [DOI: 10.3996/082018-jfwm-076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Growth rate and body size at maturity are important life-history traits of interest because they represent a potential source of fitness variance within a species and provide information for understanding the nutritional condition, fecundity, and dynamics of populations. My objective here was to examine the growth rate and body size at maturity of Florida black bears Ursus americanus floridanus using body length, chest girth, and body weight measurements fitted to the nonlinear von Bertalanffy, Gompertz, and logistic size-at-age growth functions. The von Bertalanffy model had the largest Akaike weight, indicating the best fit for all measurements of both sexes. Growth models showed that females grew more slowly, with a younger age at maximum growth, faster rate at which maturity was reached, and attained significantly smaller asymptotic body length, chest girth, and weight than males. A more conservative growth strategy by females to invest available energy resources to costs of reproduction, together with intrasexual selection among males for larger body size to enhance intimidating and fighting ability to increase reproductive and survival success, are implicated as determinants of the male-biased direction and degree of sexual size dimorphism. In both sexes, the presence of human food in the diet increased the asymptotic body weight from the estimate for bears consuming a natural diet, but differences were insignificant. Females consuming human food had a slightly younger age at maximum growth and continued growth in body weight for a somewhat longer duration than did conspecifics that consumed a natural diet. In contrast, males that consumed human food had a slightly older age at maximum growth and decreased body weight growth somewhat earlier than did conspecifics consuming a natural diet. Florida black bears exhibited a larger asymptotic body size, faster growth rate, and younger age at maximum growth and maturity when compared with conspecifics in other mainland populations. Recognition of Florida black bear growth rate and adult body size provides wildlife managers a foundation for implementing measurable criteria to assess trends in population health.
Collapse
|
18
|
The cascading effects of human food on hibernation and cellular aging in free-ranging black bears. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2197. [PMID: 30792484 PMCID: PMC6385323 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-38937-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Human foods have become a pervasive subsidy in many landscapes, and can dramatically alter wildlife behavior, physiology, and demography. While such subsidies can enhance wildlife condition, they can also result in unintended negative consequences on individuals and populations. Seasonal hibernators possess a remarkable suite of adaptations that increase survival and longevity in the face of resource and energetic limitations. Recent work has suggested hibernation may also slow the process of senescence, or cellular aging. We investigated how use of human foods influences hibernation, and subsequently cellular aging, in a large-bodied hibernator, black bears (Ursus americanus). We quantified relative telomere length, a molecular marker for cellular age, and compared lengths in adult female bears longitudinally sampled over multiple seasons. We found that bears that foraged more on human foods hibernated for shorter periods of time. Furthermore, bears that hibernated for shorter periods of time experienced accelerated telomere attrition. Together these results suggest that although hibernation may ameliorate cellular aging, foraging on human food subsidies could counteract this process by shortening hibernation. Our findings highlight how human food subsidies can indirectly influence changes in aging at the molecular level.
Collapse
|
19
|
Delgado MM, Tikhonov G, Meyke E, Babushkin M, Bespalova T, Bondarchuk S, Esengeldenova A, Fedchenko I, Kalinkin Y, Knorre A, Kosenkov G, Kozsheechkin V, Kuznetsov A, Larin E, Mirsaitov D, Prokosheva I, Rozhkov Y, Rykov A, Seryodkin IV, Shubin S, Sibgatullin R, Sikkila N, Sitnikova E, Sultangareeva L, Vasin A, Yarushina L, Kurhinen J, Penteriani V. The seasonal sensitivity of brown bear denning phenology in response to climatic variability. Front Zool 2018; 15:41. [PMID: 30410564 PMCID: PMC6211405 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-018-0286-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND For brown bears (Ursus arctos), hibernation is a critical part of the annual life cycle because energy savings during hibernation can be crucial for overwintering, and females give birth to cubs at that time. For hibernation to be a useful strategy, timing is critical. However, environmental conditions vary greatly, which might have a negative effect on the functionality of the evolved biological time-keeping. Here, we used a long-term dataset (69 years) on brown bear denning phenology recorded in 12 Russian protected areas and quantified the phenological responses to variation in temperature and snow depth. Previous studies analyzing the relationship between climate and denning behavior did not consider that the brown bear response to variation in climatic factors might vary through a period preceding den entry and exit. We hypothesized that there is a seasonal sensitivity pattern of bear denning phenology in response to variation in climatic conditions, such that the effect of climatic variability will be pronounced only when it occurs close to den exit and entry dates. RESULTS We found that brown bears are most sensitive to climatic variations around the observed first den exit and last entry dates, such that an increase/decrease in temperature in the periods closer to the first den exit and last entry dates have a greater influence on the denning dates than in other periods. CONCLUSIONS Our study shows that climatic factors are modulating brown bear hibernation phenology and provide a further structuring of this modulation. The sensitivity of brown bears to changes in climatic factors during hibernation might affect their ability to cope with global climate change. Therefore, understanding these processes will be essential for informed management of biodiversity in a changing world.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M M Delgado
- Research Unit of Biodiversity (UMIB, UO-CSIC-PA), Oviedo University, Campus Mieres, 33600 Mieres, Spain
| | - G Tikhonov
- University of Helsinki, PO BOX 65, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - E Meyke
- EarthCape OY, Viikinkaari 6, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - M Babushkin
- Darwin Nature Biosphere Reserve, Borok, 44 p/o Ploskovo, Cherepovets District, Vologda Region Russian Federation 162723
| | - T Bespalova
- Kondinskie Lakes National Park, Komsomolski st., 5, City Sovietsky, Hanty-Mansijsk District Russian Federation 628240
| | - S Bondarchuk
- Sikhote-Alin State Nature Biosphere Reserve named after K.G. Abramov, Partizanskaya 44, Primorsky krai, Terney Russian Federation 692150
| | - A Esengeldenova
- Kondinskie Lakes National Park, Komsomolski st., 5, City Sovietsky, Hanty-Mansijsk District Russian Federation 628240
| | - I Fedchenko
- Pinezhsky State Nature Reserve, Pervomayskaya Street, 123 А, Arhangel Region, Pinezkiy District, Pinega Russian Federation 164610
| | - Y Kalinkin
- Altai State Nature Biosphere Reserve, Naberezhnyi st., 1, Gorno-Altaysk, Altai Republic Russian Federation 649000
| | - A Knorre
- State Nature Reserve Stolby, Kariernaya 26, Krasnoyarsk, Krasnoyarsk Region Russian Federation 660006
| | - G Kosenkov
- Smolenskoe Poozerje National Park, Gurevitch street 19, Demidovskiy District, Przhevalskoe, Smolensk Region Russian Federation 216270
| | - V Kozsheechkin
- State Nature Reserve Stolby, Kariernaya 26, Krasnoyarsk, Krasnoyarsk Region Russian Federation 660006
| | - A Kuznetsov
- Darwin Nature Biosphere Reserve, Borok, 44 p/o Ploskovo, Cherepovets District, Vologda Region Russian Federation 162723
| | - E Larin
- Visimsky Nature Biosphere Reserve, Stepana Razina, 23, Kirovgrad, Russian Federation 624140
| | - D Mirsaitov
- State Nature Reserve Malaya Sosva, Lenina str., 46, Sovetskiy, Tjumen Region Russian Federation 628242
| | - I Prokosheva
- State Nature Reserve Vishersky, Gagarina Street 36 B, Krasnovishersk, Perm Region Russian Federation 618590
| | - Y Rozhkov
- State Nature Reserve Olekminsky, Filatova 6, Olekminsk, Republic Sakha Russian Federation 678100
| | - A Rykov
- Pinezhsky State Nature Reserve, Pervomayskaya Street, 123 А, Arhangel Region, Pinezkiy District, Pinega Russian Federation 164610
| | - I V Seryodkin
- Pacific Geographical Institute, Far-Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 7 Radio Street, Vladivostok, Russian Federation 690041
- Far Eastern Federal University, 8 Sukhanova Street, Vladivostok, Russian Federation 690091
| | - S Shubin
- State Nature Reserve Nurgush, Lenina Street, 129a, Kirov, Russian Federation 610002
| | - R Sibgatullin
- Visimsky Nature Biosphere Reserve, Stepana Razina, 23, Kirovgrad, Russian Federation 624140
| | - N Sikkila
- Kostomuksha Nature Reserve, Priozernaya Street, 2, Kostomuksha, Karelia Republic Russian Federation 186930
| | - E Sitnikova
- Bryansk Forest Nature Reserve, Nerussa St., Zapovednaya Street, 2, Suzemka District, Bryansk Region Russian Federation 242180
| | - L Sultangareeva
- National Park Bashkirija, Nurgush, Abubakirova 1, Meleuzovskiy District, Bashkortostan Republic Russian Federation 453870
| | - A Vasin
- State Nature Reserve Malaya Sosva, Lenina str., 46, Sovetskiy, Tjumen Region Russian Federation 628242
| | - L Yarushina
- Darwin Nature Biosphere Reserve, Borok, 44 p/o Ploskovo, Cherepovets District, Vologda Region Russian Federation 162723
| | - J Kurhinen
- University of Helsinki, PO BOX 65, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Forest Research Institute, Karelian Research Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences, Puskinskaya Street, Petrozavodsk, Russian Federation 11
| | - V Penteriani
- Research Unit of Biodiversity (UMIB, UO-CSIC-PA), Oviedo University, Campus Mieres, 33600 Mieres, Spain
- Pyrenean Institute of Ecology (IPE), C.S.I.C., Avda. Montañana 1005, 50059 Zaragoza, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Bieber C, Turbill C, Ruf T. Effects of aging on timing of hibernation and reproduction. Sci Rep 2018; 8:13881. [PMID: 30224823 PMCID: PMC6141465 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32311-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Small hibernators are long-lived for their size because seasonal dormancy greatly reduces predation risk. Thus, within a year, hibernators switch between states of contrasting mortality risk (active season versus hibernation), making them interesting species for testing the predictions of life-history theory. Accordingly, we hypothesized that, with advancing age and hence diminishing reproductive potential, hibernators should increasingly accept the higher predation risk associated with activity to increase the likelihood of current reproductive success. For edible dormice (Glis glis) we show that age strongly affects hibernation/activity patterns, and that this occurs via two pathways: (i) with increasing age, dormice are more likely to reproduce, which delays the onset of hibernation, and (ii) age directly advances emergence from hibernation in spring. We conclude that hibernation has to be viewed not merely as an energy saving strategy under harsh climatic conditions, but as an age-affected life-history trait that is flexibly used to maximize fitness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Bieber
- Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1, 1160, Vienna, Austria.
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia.
| | - Christopher Turbill
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
| | - Thomas Ruf
- Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1, 1160, Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Johnson HE, Lewis DL, Lischka SA, Breck SW. Assessing ecological and social outcomes of a bear-proofing experiment. J Wildl Manage 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - David L. Lewis
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife; 415 Turner Drive Durango CO 81303 USA
| | - Stacy A. Lischka
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife; 317 West Prospect Ave. Fort Collins CO 80526 USA
| | - Stewart W. Breck
- U.S. Department of Agriculture National Wildlife Research Center; 4101 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins CO 80521 USA
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Johnson HE, Lewis DL, Verzuh TL, Wallace CF, Much RM, Willmarth LK, Breck SW. Human development and climate affect hibernation in a large carnivore with implications for human-carnivore conflicts. J Appl Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|