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Pereñíguez JM, Alós J, Aspillaga E, Rojo I, Calò A, Hackradt C, Hernández-Andreu R, Mourre B, García-Charton JA. Intense scuba diving does not alter activity patterns of predatory reef fish: Evidence from a protected tourism hotspot. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 344:118491. [PMID: 37390579 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
The rise of nature-based tourism has provided a new avenue for disturbing animal behaviour, especially in protected areas. One of the most important tourism sectors in aquatic environments is scuba diving, an activity considered sustainable given its non-extractive nature and capability of bringing relevant socio-economic benefits to local communities. However, knowledge about its impact on the activity patterns of aquatic animals is still scarce. Here, we used biotelemetry techniques to assess the importance of scuba diving in modulating the activity patterns of the dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus, Lowe, 1834), a marine predatory fish of high interest for fishing and tourism. We implemented Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) on high-resolution acceleration data using a temporal and spatial control while controlling for a set of environmental variables (i.e. photoperiod, time-of-day, moon phase, temperature, wave height, and intensity and direction of marine currents) within a multiple-use marine protected area, and diving tourism hot-spot, of the western Mediterranean Sea. Our results underlined the more decisive influence of environmental-related stressors on the activity patterns of the dusky grouper compared to the impact of scuba diving. A high heterogeneity existed in the response against most of the stressors, including the presence of scuba divers. Overall, the activity of dusky grouper was higher at night than at day, showing a positive relationship with wave height, water temperature, and current intensity and a negative one with the moon phase. Remarkably, our findings, based on novel biotelemetry tools, differed substantially from the common wisdom accepted for this species. In conclusion, there is no clear evidence of scuba divers influence on the general activity patterns of the dusky grouper. Beyond their relevance from an ecological perspective, these results provide useful insights for the sustainable management of coastal resources, suggesting that scuba diving, when properly carried out, can represent an important sector to foster for the blue growth of coastal communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Pereñíguez
- Department of Ecology and Hidrology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
| | - J Alós
- Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), C/ Miquel Marquès 21, 07190, Esporles, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - E Aspillaga
- Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), C/ Miquel Marquès 21, 07190, Esporles, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - I Rojo
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Calò
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences (DiSTeM), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 20-22, 90123, Palermo, Italy
| | - C Hackradt
- Ecology and Marine Conservation Laboratory (LECoMAR). Universidade Federal Do Sul da Bahia, Campus Sosígenes Costa, Porto Seguro-Eunápolis, 45810-000, Porto Seguro, Brazil
| | - R Hernández-Andreu
- Ecology and Marine Conservation Laboratory (LECoMAR). Universidade Federal Do Sul da Bahia, Campus Sosígenes Costa, Porto Seguro-Eunápolis, 45810-000, Porto Seguro, Brazil
| | - B Mourre
- SOCIB, Balearic Islands Coastal Observing and Forecasting System, Palma, Mallorca, Spain
| | - J A García-Charton
- Department of Ecology and Hidrology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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Puehringer-Sturmayr V, Fiby M, Bachmann S, Filz S, Grassmann I, Hoi T, Janiczek C, Frigerio D. Effects of food-based enrichment on enclosure use and behavioral patterns in captive mammalian predators: a case study from an Austrian wildlife park. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16091. [PMID: 37842040 PMCID: PMC10569183 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Combining naturalistic enclosure design and animal welfare with visitor interests and education can be challenging for zoos and wildlife parks. To accomplish both purposes, different types of enrichment (food-based or non-food-based items, such as environmental, sensory, cognitive, social) can be used. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of food-based and olfactory enrichments on enclosure use, behavior, and visibility of captive brown bears (Ursus arctos), pine martens (Martes martes), domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo), and golden jackals (Canis aureus). Methods We used observational approaches to measure enclosure use, behavior, and visibility during three different experimental phases: (1) pre-enrichment (baseline, no experience with the enrichment yet), (2) during enrichment (enrichment was provided at low frequented locations in the enclosures that are easily visible to visitors), and (3) post-enrichment (enrichment was removed from the enclosures). Results We found that enrichment led to a uniform use of the enclosure and enhanced visibility in brown bears, increased activity budgets in pine martens, and observed high object interaction in both species. No effects of enrichment were detected in domestic ferrets. Golden jackals did not leave their burrows during daytime during the entire observation period; thus, observations were not possible at all. Our results suggest different effects of food-based enrichment, e.g., enclosure use, temporal activity patterns, and animal visibility. However, further studies should control for the specific role of the factors involved. Our study represents one of the first explorations of food-based enrichment in rather understudied species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Puehringer-Sturmayr
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Konrad Lorenz Research Center for Behavior and Cognition, University of Vienna, Gruenau im Almtal, Austria
| | | | - Stephanie Bachmann
- Konrad Lorenz Research Center for Behavior and Cognition, University of Vienna, Gruenau im Almtal, Austria
| | - Stefanie Filz
- Konrad Lorenz Research Center for Behavior and Cognition, University of Vienna, Gruenau im Almtal, Austria
| | - Isabella Grassmann
- Konrad Lorenz Research Center for Behavior and Cognition, University of Vienna, Gruenau im Almtal, Austria
| | - Theresa Hoi
- Konrad Lorenz Research Center for Behavior and Cognition, University of Vienna, Gruenau im Almtal, Austria
| | - Claudia Janiczek
- Konrad Lorenz Research Center for Behavior and Cognition, University of Vienna, Gruenau im Almtal, Austria
| | - Didone Frigerio
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Konrad Lorenz Research Center for Behavior and Cognition, University of Vienna, Gruenau im Almtal, Austria
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3
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Donatelli A, Mastrantonio G, Ciucci P. Circadian activity of small brown bear populations living in human-dominated landscapes. Sci Rep 2022; 12:15804. [PMID: 36138081 PMCID: PMC9499929 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-20163-1] [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: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Whereas numerous studies on large carnivores have focused on analyzing spatial patterns and habitat use, the temporal dimension of their activity has been relatively little investigated, making this a topic of growing interest, especially in human-dominated landscapes. Relict and isolated Apennine brown bears (Ursus arctos marsicanus) have been living in a human-modified landscape since millennia, but no information is available on their activity patterns. By means of GPS telemetry (26,880 GPS locations collected from 18 adult Apennine brown bears) we investigated their circadian rhythms, using hourly movement rates as an index of bear activity. Based on a Bayesian modeling approach, circadian activity of Apennine brown bears was described by a bimodal curve, with peaks of activity around sunrise and sunset. We revealed seasonal effects, with bears exhibiting higher movement rates throughout the mating season, but no relevant influence of sex. In addition, bears increased their movement rate at distances < 100–500 m to roads and settlements exclusively during spring and late summer, suggesting a trade-off between foraging opportunities and risk avoidance. The absence of a marked nocturnality in Apennine brown bears suggests a relatively low degree of habitat encroachment and disturbance by humans. Yet, the occurrence of crepuscular activity patterns and the responses in proximity of anthropogenic landscape features likely indicate a coadaptation by bears to human presence through a shift in their temporal niche. Further studies should aim to unveil fitness implications of such modifications in activity patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurora Donatelli
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Ciucci
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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4
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Kawamura K, Jimbo M, Adachi K, Shirane Y, Nakanishi M, Umemura Y, Ishinazaka T, Uno H, Sashika M, Tsubota T, Shimozuru M. Diel and monthly activity pattern of brown bears and sika deer in the Shiretoko Peninsula, Hokkaido, Japan. J Vet Med Sci 2022; 84:1146-1156. [PMID: 35811130 PMCID: PMC9412065 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.21-0665] [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] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammals exhibit several types of diel activity pattern, including nocturnal, diurnal,
crepuscular, and cathemeral. These patterns vary inter- and intra-specifically and are
affected by environmental factors, individual status, and interactions with other
individuals or species. Determining the factors that shape diel activity patterns is
challenging but essential for understanding the behavioral ecology of animal species, and
for wildlife conservation and management. Using camera-trap surveys, we investigated the
species distributions and activity patterns of terrestrial mammals on the Shiretoko
Peninsula, Hokkaido, Japan, with particular focus on brown bears and sika deer. From June
to October 2019, a total of 7,530 observations were recorded by 65 camera-traps for eight
species, including two alien species. The diel activity pattern of brown bears was
diurnal/crepuscular, similar to that of bears in North America, but different from
European populations. Bear observations were more frequent during the autumnal hyperphagia
period, and adult females and sub-adults were more diurnal than adult males. In addition,
bears inside the protected area were more diurnal than those outside it. These findings
suggest that appetite motivation, competitive interactions between conspecifics, and human
activities potentially affect bear activity patterns. Similar to other sika deer
populations and other deer species, the diel activity patterns of sika deer were
crepuscular. Deer showed less variation in activity patterns among months and sex-age
classes, while adult males were observed more frequently during the autumn copulation
period, suggesting that reproductive motivation affects their activity patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kei Kawamura
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University
| | - Mina Jimbo
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University
| | | | - Yuri Shirane
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University.,Hokkaido Research Organization
| | | | | | | | - Hiroyuki Uno
- Institute of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
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5
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Patterns of Human–Brown Bear Conflict in the Urban Area of Brașov, Romania. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14137833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Human–bear conflicts are increasing in number due to deforestation, urban expansion, tourism, and habitat invasion by humans. Our study was conducted in Brașov, a picturesque city in central Romania. Brașov is surrounded by forests and has significant tourist traffic, but also much uncollected garbage and many garbage containers, which attract brown bears. We recorded human–bear conflicts in four districts (Răcădău, the Historic Centre, Noua, and Gară) between 2004 and 2018, finding 55 cases in total, of which in 19 cases involving people, 4 people were killed and 32 were injured. In 36 cases, there were no human victims. We mapped the locations of human–bear conflicts and garbage containers, then analysed their space–time location and human victims in terms of behavioural factors. The altitudes at which brown bears were identified ranged from 580 to 790 m, whereas bears were found in the city at distances of between 100 and 2600 m from the forest. The highest frequency of human–bear conflicts occurred during summer and autumn, and the most common behavioural factor was human outdoor activities. This study provides an important background for understanding human–bear conflicts and will help local authorities develop effective strategies to reduce human–bear conflicts and mitigate risk.
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Ji Y, Liu F, Li D, Chen Z, Chen P. Spatial–Temporal Patterns of Sympatric Asiatic Black Bears (Ursus thibetanus) and Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) in Northeastern China. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12101262. [PMID: 35625108 PMCID: PMC9137604 DOI: 10.3390/ani12101262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Studying the spatial and temporal interactions between sympatric animal species is essential for understanding the mechanisms of interspecific coexistence. Both Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) and brown bears (Ursus arctos) inhabit northeastern China, but their spatial–temporal patterns and the mechanism of coexistence were unclear until now. Camera traps were set in Heilongjiang Taipinggou National Nature Reserve (TPGNR) from January 2017 to December 2017 to collect photos of the two sympatric bear species. The Pianka index, kernel density estimation, and the coefficient of overlap were used to analyze the spatial and temporal patterns of the two sympatric species. Our findings indicated that the spatial overlap between Asiatic black bears and brown bears was low, as Asiatic black bears occupied higher elevations than brown bears. The two species’ temporal activity patterns were similar at sites where only one species existed, yet they were different at the co–occurrence sites. Asiatic black bears and brown bears are competitors in this area, but they can coexist by changing their daily activity patterns. Compared to brown bears, Asiatic black bears behaved more diurnally. Our study revealed distinct spatial and temporal differentiation within the two species in TPGNR, which can reduce interspecific competition and facilitate coexistence between them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunrui Ji
- Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; (Y.J.); (D.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation, State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing 100091, China
| | - Fang Liu
- Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; (Y.J.); (D.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation, State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing 100091, China
- Correspondence: (F.L.); (P.C.)
| | - Diqiang Li
- Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; (Y.J.); (D.L.)
- Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation, State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing 100091, China
| | - Zhiyu Chen
- The Administration of Duluhe Provincial Wetland Nature Reserve, Hegang 154100, China;
| | - Peng Chen
- College of Landscape Architecture, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
- Correspondence: (F.L.); (P.C.)
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7
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Psaralexi M, Lazarina M, Mertzanis Y, Michaelidou DE, Sgardelis S. Exploring 15 years of brown bear (Ursus arctos)-vehicle collisions in northwestern Greece. NATURE CONSERVATION 2022. [DOI: 10.3897/natureconservation.47.71348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Road networks provide several benefits to human societies; however, they are also one of the major drivers of fragmentation and habitat degradation. Their negative effects include wildlife-vehicle collisions which are associated with increased barrier effects, restricted gene flow, and increased local extinction risk. Large carnivores, such as the brown bear (Ursus arctos), are vulnerable to road mortality while they also put human safety at risk in every collision. We recorded approximately 100 bear-vehicle collisions during the last 15 years (2005–2020) in northwestern Greece and identified common aspects for collisions, i.e., spatial, or temporal segregation of collision events, road features, and age or sex of the involved animals. We recorded collisions in both the core distribution area of brown bears, as well as at the periphery, where few individuals, mostly males, disperse. According to our findings, there are four collision hotspots which include ca. 60% of total collisions. Bear-vehicle collisions occurred mostly in periods of increased animal mobility, under poor light conditions and low visibility. In most cases, we deem that a collision was unavoidable at the time of animal detection, because the driver could not have reacted in time to avoid it. Appropriate fencing, in combination with the retention of safe passages for the animals, can minimize collisions. Therefore, such mitigation measures, wildlife warning signs and other collision prevention systems, such as animal detection systems, should be adopted to decrease the number of bear-vehicle collisions and improve road safety.
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8
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Behavior and Habitat Use Remain Diverse and Variable in Modern Zoological Exhibits over the Long-Term: Case Studies in 5 Species of Ursidae. JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL GARDENS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/jzbg2040049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-term evaluations of whether modern zoological exhibits help to maintain variation in the behavior of zoo animals are lacking despite the hope that animals avoid falling into monotonous patterns of behavior or boredom. This study evaluated changes in behavior and habitat use over multi-year periods in nine individuals of five bear species at two zoological facilities. Behavioral data gathered over months to years were analyzed graphically for trends in the direction of change. The habitat use dynamics were assessed graphically by looking for trends in the entropy values over time. We found that the activity budgets remained diverse and were dynamic over time, more so in younger compared to older bears. Changes in behavior suggesting positive welfare were observed, while changes that may reflect declining welfare seemed more likely to be due to age or seasonality. The observed behavioral changes suggest that the bears did not become bored with their habitats; there was likely one to several hours of daily variation in behavior, and stereotypy was rare. The diversity in the habitat use decreased over time as the animals settled into patterns of use reflecting preferences for certain areas of their habitats.
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Bogdanović N, Hertel AG, Zedrosser A, Paunović M, Plećaš M, Ćirović D. Seasonal and diel movement patterns of brown bears in a population in southeastern Europe. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:15972-15983. [PMID: 34824804 PMCID: PMC8601923 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Most animals concentrate their movement into certain hours of the day depending on drivers such as photoperiod, ambient temperature, inter- or intraspecific competition, and predation risk. The main activity periods of many mammal species, especially in human-dominated landscapes, are commonly set at dusk, dawn, and during nighttime hours. Large carnivores, such as brown bears, often display great flexibility in diel movement patterns throughout their range, and even within populations, striking between individual differences in movement have been demonstrated. Here, we evaluated how seasonality and reproductive class affected diel movement patterns of brown bears of the Dinaric-Pindos and Carpathian bear populations in Serbia. We analyzed the movement distances and general probability of movement of 13 brown bears (8 males and 5 females) equipped with GPS collars and monitored over 1-3 years. Our analyses revealed that movement distances and probability of bear movement differed between seasons (mating versus hyperphagia) and reproductive classes. Adult males, solitary females, and subadult males showed a crepuscular movement pattern. Compared with other reproductive classes, females with offspring were moving significantly less during crepuscular hours and during the night, particularly during the mating season, suggesting temporal niche partitioning among different reproductive classes. Adult males, solitary females, and in particular subadult males traveled greater hourly distances during the mating season in May-June than the hyperphagia in July-October. Subadult males significantly decreased their movement from the mating season to hyperphagia, whereas females with offspring exhibited an opposite pattern with almost doubling their movement from the mating to hyperphagia season. Our results provide insights into how seasonality and reproductive class drive intrapopulation differences in movement distances and probability of movement in a recovering, to date little studied, brown bear population in southeastern Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anne G. Hertel
- Behavioral EcologyDepartment of BiologyLudwig‐Maximilians University of MunichPlanegg‐MartinsriedGermany
| | - Andreas Zedrosser
- Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental HealthFaculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime SciencesUniversity of South‐Eastern NorwayBø i TelemarkNorway
- Department of Integrative BiologyInstitute of Wildlife Biology and Game ManagementUniversity of Natural Resources and Applied Life SciencesViennaAustria
| | | | - Milan Plećaš
- Faculty of BiologyUniversity of BelgradeBelgradeSerbia
| | - Duško Ćirović
- Faculty of BiologyUniversity of BelgradeBelgradeSerbia
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Camera traps reveal interspecific differences in the diel and seasonal patterns of cicada nymph predation. Naturwissenschaften 2021; 108:52. [PMID: 34636975 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-021-01762-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Cicadas, a group of large-bodied insects, are preyed upon at both nymphal and adult stages by diverse range of vertebrates such as birds and mammals. Although the behavior of predators toward adult cicadas is well documented, there is a lack of research on the predation on cicada nymphs. In this study, camera traps deployed in conifer plantations, in which high population densities of cicadas Lyristes bihamatus emerge, were used to evaluate the seasonal and diel patterns of predation upon cicada nymphs by three predator species, namely brown bears, red foxes, and jungle crows, from May to September in 2018 and 2019 in northern Japan. Among all three species, cicada nymph predation occurred until early August when the final instar nymphs fully emerged. Bears were observed to constantly dig for cicada nymphs until early August, whereas foxes and crows were frequently observed foraging from late July to early August, during the season of L. bihamatus emergence. In contract to the powerful digging ability of bears, which facilitates efficient predation upon subterranean cicada nymphs, it is generally difficult for foxes and crows with limited or no digging ability to gain access these nymphs until the period of emergence. Cicada nymph predation by bears and crows was observed primarily during the daytime, despite the typical crepuscular/nocturnal emergence schedules of these insects. Contrastingly, the predatory activities of foxes tended to be nocturnal during the period prior to the beginning of cicada emergence, although subsequently became diurnal during the cicada emergence period. These observations indicate that the temporal activity patterns of cicada nymph predators are determined by interspecific differences in predation abilities and cicada emergence schedules. Accordingly, the findings of this study provide evidence to indicate that the timing and duration of trophic interactions between above- and belowground communities might vary among predator species, depending on their predation abilities.
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11
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De Angelis D, Huber D, Reljic S, Ciucci P, Kusak J. Factors affecting the home range of Dinaric-Pindos brown bears. J Mammal 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyab018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Studying how animals interact with their environment is fundamental to informing conservation and management efforts, especially when examining large, wide-ranging carnivores in human-dominated landscapes. We hypothesized that the home ranges of bears are configured to exploit supplemental food (corn) and avoid people. In 2004–2016, we tracked 10 brown bears from the Dinaric-Pindos population using GPS telemetry, then used Brownian bridge movement models to estimate their home ranges. We related seasonal home range size to circadian period and density of supplemental feeding sites using generalized linear mixed-effect models. We also used ecological-niche factor analysis to study habitat composition within home range core areas in study areas characterized by different levels of human encroachment. We found that home range size was inversely related to density of supplemental feeding sites, and bears had larger home ranges at night (x̅ = 103.3 ± 72.8 km2) than during the day (x̅ = 62.3 ± 16.6 km2). Our results also revealed that bears living in more human-influenced areas concentrated their use far from human settlements and agricultural lands but stayed close to supplemental feeding sites. Our data suggest that bears alter their space-use patterns at the home range level in response to anthropogenic land use and food availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele De Angelis
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell’Universita` 32, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Djuro Huber
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Mickiewicza Av. 33, 31120 Kraków, Poland
| | - Slaven Reljic
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Paolo Ciucci
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale dell’Universita` 32, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Josip Kusak
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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Revilla E, Ramos Fernández D, Fernández-Gil A, Sergiel A, Selva N, Naves J. Brown bear communication hubs: patterns and correlates of tree rubbing and pedal marking at a long-term marking site. PeerJ 2021; 9:e10447. [PMID: 33575120 PMCID: PMC7849508 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemical communication is important for many species of mammals. Male brown bears, Ursus arctos, mark trees with a secretion from glands located on their back. The recent discovery of pedal glands and pedal-marking at a site used for tree-rubbing led us to hypothesize that both types of marking form part of a more complex communication system. We describe the patterns of chemical communication used by different age and sex classes, including differences in the roles of these classes as information providers or receivers over four years at a long-term marking site. Using video recordings from a camera trap, we registered a total of 285 bear-visits and 419 behavioral events associated with chemical communication. Bears visited the site more frequently during the mating season, during which communication behaviors were more frequent. A typical visit by male bears consisted of sniffing the depressions where animals pedal mark, performing pedal-marking, sniffing the tree, and, finally, rubbing against the trunk of the tree. Adult males performed most pedal- and tree-marking (95% and 66% of the cases, respectively). Males pedal-marked and tree-rubbed in 81% and 48% of their visits and sniffed the pedal marks and the tree in 23% and 59% of visits, respectively. Adult females never pedal marked, and juveniles did so at very low frequencies. Females rubbed against the tree in just 9% of their visits; they sniffed the tree and the pedal marks in 51% and 21% of their visits, respectively. All sex and age classes performed pedal- and tree-sniffing. There were significant associations between behaviors indicating that different behaviors tended to occur during the same visit and were more likely if another individual had recently visited. These associations leading to repeated marking of the site can promote the establishment of long-term marking sites. Marking sites defined by trees and the trails leading to them seem to act as communication hubs that brown bears use to share and obtain important information at population level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloy Revilla
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC, Seville, Spain
| | - Damián Ramos Fernández
- Consejería de Infraestructuras, Ordenación del Territorio y Medio Ambiente, Gobierno del Principado de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Alberto Fernández-Gil
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC, Seville, Spain
| | - Agnieszka Sergiel
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland
| | - Nuria Selva
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland
| | - Javier Naves
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC, Seville, Spain
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Pereira J, Viličić L, Rosalino LM, Reljić S, Habazin M, Huber Đ. Brown bear feeding habits in a poor mast year where supplemental feeding occurs. URSUS 2021. [DOI: 10.2192/ursus-d-19-00023.3] [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)
- Joana Pereira
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Leona Viličić
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Luís Miguel Rosalino
- Departamento de Biologia & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Slaven Reljić
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marina Habazin
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Đuro Huber
- Institute of Nature Conservation of Polish Academy of Sciences, Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31120 Krakow, Poland
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14
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De Angelis D, Kusak J, Huber D, Reljić S, Gužvica G, Ciucci P. Environmental and anthropogenic correlates of seasonal migrations in the Dinaric‐Pindos brown bear population. J Zool (1987) 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniele De Angelis
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin” Sapienza University of Rome Roma Italy
| | - Josip Kusak
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb Zagreb Croatia
| | - Djuro Huber
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb Zagreb Croatia
- Institute of Nature Conservation Polish Academy of Sciences Kraków Poland
| | - Slaven Reljić
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb Zagreb Croatia
| | - Goran Gužvica
- Oikon Ltd. Institute of Applied Ecology Zagreb Croatia
| | - Paolo Ciucci
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin” Sapienza University of Rome Roma Italy
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15
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Davidson A, Shanas U, Malkinson D. Age- and sex-dependent vigilance behaviour modifies social structure of hunted wild boar populations. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.1071/wr21017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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16
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Seasonal and Daily Activity of Two Zoo-Housed Grizzly Bears (Ursus arctos horribilis). JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL GARDENS 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/jzbg1010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Captive grizzly bears, like their wild counterparts, engage in considerable variability in their seasonal and daily activity. We documented the year-long activity of two grizzly bears located at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington. We found that behaviors emerged in relation to month-to-month, seasonal, and time of day (hour-to-hour) observations, and events that occurred on exhibit, such as daily feedings. Seventeen behaviors split into seven classes of behavior were observed during their on-exhibit time over a 13-month period. Inactivity was the most frequent class of responses recorded, with most inactive behaviors occurring during the winter months. Both stereotypic and non-stereotypic activity emerged during the spring and summer months, with stereotypic activity occurring most frequently in the morning and transitioning to non-stereotypic activity in the latter part of the day. Results are discussed with respect to how captive grizzly bear behaviors relate to their natural seasonal and daily activity, as well as how events, such as feeding times and enrichment deliveries, can be used to optimize overall captive bear welfare.
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Abstract
AbstractMammals usually adjust behavioral patterns when exposed to disturbances. Elusiveness and low-risk time selection may reduce their stress in periods of highest risk. In Europe, brown bears (Ursus arctos) coexist with humans in densely populated and modified landscapes and, consequently, are exposed to human-caused disturbances during the daytime hours. Furthermore, intraspecific interactions might also influence their behavioral responses, especially during the mating season. Activity patterns of several large carnivores have been thoroughly studied; however, research is scarce for relocated populations. Here, we report the activity patterns in the reintroduced brown bear population in the Pyrenees. We expected the bears to reduce their activity depending on the type and level of disturbances. We analyzed individual behavior of both sexes (males, solitary females, and females with offspring) and age groups (adults and subadults) using camera-trap surveys under different types of intraspecific and anthropogenic disturbances. In general, bears were more active during the night (2200–0600 h) and avoided peaks of human activity (1000–1800 h). Furthermore, with the increasing nocturnal disturbance of adult males during the mating season, females with offspring and subadults were more active during daylight. This suggests that vulnerable individuals showed high tolerance for human presence. These results contribute to improve our knowledge of how a threatened and relocated bear population behaves in a human-modified landscape of southern Europe. Further research on this population will be crucial to establish optimal management interventions during translocations, and the prevention of human-bear encounters and conflicts.
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Bartra Cabré L, Mayer M, Steyaert S, Rosell F. Beaver (Castor fiber) activity and spatial movement in response to light and weather conditions. Mamm Biol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-020-00029-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
AbstractAnimal behaviour can affect individual fitness and is influenced by exogenous and endogenous factors. Here, we investigated how light (daylight length and moonlight), weather (precipitation and temperature), age, sex and social status affected activity and movement of a semiaquatic mammal, the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber), using GPS relocation data from 47 individuals in south-eastern Norway. Independent of daylight length, beavers had a mean daily activity time of 9:42 h and reduced their activity periods when they were older, most likely due to senescence. In line with this, older individuals also spent less time in water and moved shorter distances. Furthermore, beavers reduced their activity periods in drier weather conditions and spent less time on land during brighter nights and drier conditions, indicating a predation risk avoidance strategy. Individuals spent less time in the water during the colder parts of the year and moved shorter distances with decreasing temperature, suggesting thermal constraints. Our study adds to the increasing amount of evidence that animal behaviour is modulated by various endogenous and exogenous factors, and that weather conditions can affect their behaviour. It remains to be tested, however, how climate variability together with hunting and predation pressure affect space use and demography in species such as the Eurasian beaver.
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Gabriel Hernando M, Karamanlidis AA, Grivas K, Krambokoukis L, Papakostas G, Beecham J. Reduced movement of wildlife in Mediterranean landscapes: a case study of brown bears in Greece. J Zool (1987) 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Gabriel Hernando
- Civil Society for the Protection and Management of Wildlife and the Natural Environment ARCTUROS Florina Greece
- Department of Biodiversity and Environmental Management Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences Universidad de León León Spain
| | - A. A. Karamanlidis
- Civil Society for the Protection and Management of Wildlife and the Natural Environment ARCTUROS Florina Greece
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management Norwegian University of Life Sciences Ås Norway
| | - K. Grivas
- Civil Society for the Protection and Management of Wildlife and the Natural Environment ARCTUROS Florina Greece
| | - L. Krambokoukis
- Civil Society for the Protection and Management of Wildlife and the Natural Environment ARCTUROS Florina Greece
| | - G. Papakostas
- Civil Society for the Protection and Management of Wildlife and the Natural Environment ARCTUROS Florina Greece
| | - J. Beecham
- Civil Society for the Protection and Management of Wildlife and the Natural Environment ARCTUROS Florina Greece
- Boise ID USA
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Aerial surveys cause large but ephemeral decreases in bear presence at salmon streams in Kodiak, Alaska. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0222085. [PMID: 31504063 PMCID: PMC6736237 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Aerial surveys are often used to monitor wildlife and fish populations, but rarely are the effects on animal behavior documented. For over 30 years, the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge has conducted low-altitude aerial surveys to assess Kodiak brown bear (Ursus arctos middendorffi) space use and demographic composition when bears are seasonally congregated near salmon spawning streams in southwestern Kodiak Island, Alaska. Salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) are an important bear food and salmon runs are brief, so decreases in time spent fishing for salmon may reduce salmon consumption by bears. The goal of this study was to apply different and complementary field methods to evaluate the response of bears to these aerial surveys. Ground-based counts at one stream indicated 62% of bears departed the 200m-wide survey zone in response to aerial surveys, but bear counts returned to pre-survey abundance after only three hours. Although this effect was brief, survey flights occurred during the hours of peak daily bear activity (morning and evening), so the three-hour disruption appeared to result in a 25% decline in cumulative daily detections by 38 time-lapse cameras deployed along 10 salmon streams. Bear responses varied by sex—male bears were much more likely than female bears (with or without cubs) to depart streams and female bears with GPS collars did not move from streams following surveys. Although bears displaced by aerial surveys may consume fewer salmon, the actual effect on their fitness depends on whether they compensate by foraging at other times or by switching to other nutritious resources. Data from complementary sources allows managers to more robustly understand the impacts of surveys and whether their benefits are justified. Similar assessments should be made on alternative techniques such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and non-invasive sampling to determine whether they supply equivalent data while limiting bear disturbance.
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Abstract
The existence of a synthetic program of research on what was then termed the "nocturnal problem" and that we might now call "nighttime ecology" was declared more than 70 years ago. In reality, this failed to materialize, arguably as a consequence of practical challenges in studying organisms at night and instead concentrating on the existence of circadian rhythms, the mechanisms that give rise to them, and their consequences. This legacy is evident to this day, with consideration of the ecology of the nighttime markedly underrepresented in ecological research and literature. However, several factors suggest that it would be timely to revive the vision of a comprehensive research program in nighttime ecology. These include (i) that the study of the ecology of the night is being revolutionized by new and improved technologies; (ii) suggestions that, far from being a minor component of biodiversity, a high proportion of animal species are active at night; (iii) that fundamental questions about differences and connections between the ecology of the daytime and the nighttime remain largely unanswered; and (iv) that the nighttime environment is coming under severe anthropogenic pressure. In this article, I seek to reestablish nighttime ecology as a synthetic program of research, highlighting key focal topics and questions and providing an overview of the current state of understanding and developments.
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Skuban M, Find’o S, Kajba M. Bears napping nearby: daybed selection by brown bears (Ursus arctos) in a human-dominated landscape. CAN J ZOOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2016-0217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Daybeds are essential for the survival of brown bears (Ursus arctos L., 1758) and may represent a population-limiting resource in human-dominated landscapes. In this study, we demonstrate which land-cover types and bear characteristics affect daybed selection in north-central Slovakia. We used the positional and activity data of 21 bears acquired by GPS–GSM telemetry to identify 3864 daybeds. By use of K-select analysis and linear mixed-effects modelling, we explored how bears chose these places for their daytime resting. The most important drivers for daybed selection were the presence of dense regenerating forests and forest–shrubbery belts in farmland. Bears avoided resting in older forests without suitable undergrowth. Females selected daybeds differently depending on the presence of dependent cubs. During spring – early summer, females with cubs of the year avoided other bears by selecting more rugged terrain. These females also selected daybeds significantly closer to human settlements than adult males, possibly to avoid the risk of infanticide. In late summer – autumn, all bears selected daybeds closer to human settlements than in spring, probably because they were attracted by maize (Zea mays) fields and fruit trees. Many daybeds were located outside protected areas in farmland closer to people, which could increase bear–human conflicts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Skuban
- Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Department of Biology II, Großhaderner Straße 2, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Carpathian Wildlife Society, Tulská 2461/29, 96101 Zvolen, Slovakia
| | - Slavomír Find’o
- Carpathian Wildlife Society, Tulská 2461/29, 96101 Zvolen, Slovakia
- National Forest Centre, Forest Research Institute, T.G. Masaryka 22, 96092 Zvolen, Slovakia
| | - Matúš Kajba
- National Forest Centre, Forest Research Institute, T.G. Masaryka 22, 96092 Zvolen, Slovakia
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Lara‐Díaz NE, Coronel‐Arellano H, López‐González CA, Sánchez‐Rojas G, Martínez‐Gómez JE. Activity and resource selection of a threatened carnivore: the case of black bears in northwestern Mexico. Ecosphere 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nalleli E. Lara‐Díaz
- Laboratorio de Zoología Facultad de Ciencias Naturales Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro. Av. de las Ciencias S/N Juriquilla Querétaro C. P. 76230 México
| | - Helí Coronel‐Arellano
- Laboratorio de Zoología Facultad de Ciencias Naturales Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro. Av. de las Ciencias S/N Juriquilla Querétaro C. P. 76230 México
| | - Carlos A. López‐González
- Laboratorio de Zoología Facultad de Ciencias Naturales Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro. Av. de las Ciencias S/N Juriquilla Querétaro C. P. 76230 México
| | - Gerardo Sánchez‐Rojas
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo. Km 4.5 carretera Pachuca‐Tulancingo Pachuca Hidalgo C. P. 42184 México
| | - Juan Esteban Martínez‐Gómez
- Red de Interacciones Multitróficas Instituto de Ecología A. C. Carretera antigua a Coatepec 351, El Haya Xalapa Veracruz C. P. 91070 México
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25
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The influence of human disturbance on occupancy and activity patterns of mammals in the Italian Alps from systematic camera trapping. Mamm Biol 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2017.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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26
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Richardson ML. Daily and Monthly Activity of Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) Near a Proposed Industrial Project in Coastal British Columbia. WEST N AM NATURALIST 2017. [DOI: 10.3398/064.077.0113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew L. Richardson
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Center for Conservation and Sustainability, Washington, DC 20560
- Present address: College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences, University of the District of Columbia, Washington, DC 20008
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27
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Murray MH, St. Clair CC. Predictable features attract urban coyotes to residential yards. J Wildl Manage 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maureen H. Murray
- University of Alberta; Department of Biological Sciences; 11455 Saskatchewan Drive Edmonton AB T6G 2E9 Canada
| | - Colleen Cassady St. Clair
- University of Alberta; Department of Biological Sciences; 11455 Saskatchewan Drive Edmonton AB T6G 2E9 Canada
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28
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Laske TG, Iaizzo PA, Garshelis DL. Six Years in the Life of a Mother Bear - The Longest Continuous Heart Rate Recordings from a Free-Ranging Mammal. Sci Rep 2017; 7:40732. [PMID: 28094804 PMCID: PMC5240622 DOI: 10.1038/srep40732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Physiological monitoring of free-ranging wild animals is providing new insights into their adaptations to a changing environment. American black bears (Ursus americanus) are highly adaptable mammals, spending up to half the year hibernating, and the remainder of the year attempting to gain weight on a landscape with foods that vary seasonally and year to year. We recorded heart rate (HR) and corresponding activity of an adult female black bear over the course of six years, using an implanted monitor. Despite yearly differences in food, and an every-other year reproductive cycle, this bear exhibited remarkable consistency in HR and activity. HR increased for 12 weeks in spring, from minimal hibernation levels (mean 20–25 beats/minute [bpm]; min 10 bpm) to summer active levels (July daytime: mean 95 bpm). Timing was delayed following one cold winter. In August the bear switched from primarily diurnal to nocturnal, coincident with the availability of baits set by legal hunters. Activity in autumn was higher when the bear was with cubs. Birthing of cubs in January was identified by a transient increase in HR and activity. Long-term physiological and behavioral monitoring is valuable for understanding adaptations of free-ranging animals to climate change, food availability, and human-related stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy G Laske
- University of Minnesota, Department of Surgery, Minneapolis, 55455, USA
| | - Paul A Iaizzo
- University of Minnesota, Department of Surgery, Minneapolis, 55455, USA
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29
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Hertel AG, Zedrosser A, Mysterud A, Støen OG, Steyaert SMJG, Swenson JE. Temporal effects of hunting on foraging behavior of an apex predator: Do bears forego foraging when risk is high? Oecologia 2016; 182:1019-1029. [PMID: 27696003 PMCID: PMC5061844 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-016-3729-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2015] [Accepted: 09/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Avoiding predators most often entails a food cost. For the Scandinavian brown bear (Ursus arctos), the hunting season coincides with the period of hyperphagia. Hunting mortality risk is not uniformly distributed throughout the day, but peaks in the early morning hours. As bears must increase mass for winter survival, they should be sensitive to temporal allocation of antipredator responses to periods of highest risk. We expected bears to reduce foraging activity at the expense of food intake in the morning hours when risk was high, but not in the afternoon, when risk was low. We used fine-scale GPS-derived activity patterns during the 2 weeks before and after the onset of the annual bear hunting season. At locations of probable foraging, we assessed abundance and sugar content, of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), the most important autumn food resource for bears in this area. Bears decreased their foraging activity in the morning hours of the hunting season. Likewise, they foraged less efficiently and on poorer quality berries in the morning. Neither of our foraging measures were affected by hunting in the afternoon foraging bout, indicating that bears did not allocate antipredator behavior to times of comparably lower risk. Bears effectively responded to variation in risk on the scale of hours. This entailed a measurable foraging cost. The additive effect of reduced foraging activity, reduced forage intake, and lower quality food may result in poorer body condition upon den entry and may ultimately reduce reproductive success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne G Hertel
- Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1430, Ås, Norway.
| | - Andreas Zedrosser
- Department of Environmental and Health Sciences, Telemark University College, 3800, Bø, Norway
- Institute for Wildlife Biology and Game Management, University for Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1180, Vienna, Austria
| | - Atle Mysterud
- Department of Biosciences, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), University of Oslo, 0316, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ole-Gunnar Støen
- Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1430, Ås, Norway
| | - Sam M J G Steyaert
- Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1430, Ås, Norway
- Department of Environmental and Health Sciences, Telemark University College, 3800, Bø, Norway
| | - Jon E Swenson
- Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1430, Ås, Norway
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, 7485, Trondheim, Norway
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30
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Predator avoidance and dietary fibre predict diurnality in the cathemeral folivore Hapalemur meridionalis. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-016-2247-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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31
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Ikeda T, Uchida K, Matsuura Y, Takahashi H, Yoshida T, Kaji K, Koizumi I. Seasonal and Diel Activity Patterns of Eight Sympatric Mammals in Northern Japan Revealed by an Intensive Camera-Trap Survey. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0163602. [PMID: 27732611 PMCID: PMC5061397 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0163602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The activity patterns of mammals are generally categorized as nocturnal, diurnal, crepuscular (active at twilight), and cathemeral (active throughout the day). These patterns are highly variable across regions and seasons even within the same species. However, quantitative data is still lacking, particularly for sympatric species. We monitored the seasonal and diel activity patterns of terrestrial mammals in Hokkaido, Japan. Through an intensive camera-trap survey a total of 13,279 capture events were recorded from eight mammals over 20,344 camera-trap days, i.e., two years. Diel activity patterns were clearly divided into four categories: diurnal (Eurasian red squirrels), nocturnal (raccoon dogs and raccoons), crepuscular (sika deer and mountain hares), and cathemeral (Japanese martens, red foxes, and brown bears). Some crepuscular and cathemeral mammals shifted activity peaks across seasons. Particularly, sika deer changed peaks from twilight during spring–autumn to day-time in winter, possibly because of thermal constraints. Japanese martens were cathemeral during winter–summer, but nocturnal in autumn. We found no clear indication of predator-prey and competitive interactions, suggesting that animal densities are not very high or temporal niche partitioning is absent among the target species. This long-term camera-trap survey was highly cost-effective and provided one of the most detailed seasonal and diel activity patterns in multiple sympatric mammals under natural conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Ikeda
- Faculty of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Kenta Uchida
- Graduate School of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Yukiko Matsuura
- Hokkaido Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Takahashi
- Kansai Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Yoshida
- Wildlife Management Laboratory, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Koichi Kaji
- Laboratory of Wildlife Management, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Itsuro Koizumi
- Faculty of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
- Graduate School of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
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32
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Seasonal and Diel Activity Patterns of Eight Sympatric Mammals in Northern Japan Revealed by an Intensive Camera-Trap Survey. PLoS One 2016. [DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0163602%20october] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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33
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Cozzi G, Chynoweth M, Kusak J, Çoban E, Çoban A, Ozgul A, Şekercioğlu ÇH. Anthropogenic food resources foster the coexistence of distinct life history strategies: year‐round sedentary and migratory brown bears. J Zool (1987) 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- G. Cozzi
- Population Ecology Research Group Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies Zurich University Zürich Switzerland
| | - M. Chynoweth
- Department of Biology University of Utah Salt Lake City UT USA
| | - J. Kusak
- Biology Department Veterinary Faculty University of Zagreb Zagreb Croatia
| | | | - A. Çoban
- KuzeyDoğa Society Kars Turkey
- Department of Parasitology Institute of Health Sciences Kafkas University Kars Turkey
| | - A. Ozgul
- Population Ecology Research Group Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies Zurich University Zürich Switzerland
| | - Ç. H. Şekercioğlu
- Department of Biology University of Utah Salt Lake City UT USA
- KuzeyDoğa Society Kars Turkey
- College of Sciences Koç University Istanbul Turkey
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34
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Ware JV, Rode KD, Pagano AM, Bromaghin J, Robbins CT, Erlenbach J, Jensen S, Cutting A, Nicassio-Hiskey N, Hash A, Owen M, Jansen HT. Validation of mercury tip-switch and accelerometer activity sensors for identifying resting and active behavior in bears. URSUS 2015. [DOI: 10.2192/ursus-d-14-00031.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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35
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Ćirović D, de Gabriel Hernando M, Paunović M, Karamanlidis AA. Home range, movements, and activity patterns of a brown bear in Serbia. URSUS 2015. [DOI: 10.2192/ursus-d-15-00010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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36
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Maślak R, Sergiel A, Bowles D, Paśko Ł. The Welfare of Bears in Zoos: A Case Study of Poland. J APPL ANIM WELF SCI 2015; 19:24-36. [PMID: 26451618 DOI: 10.1080/10888705.2015.1071671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The welfare of captive bears became a big issue of concern in Poland when a case of a bear being ill-treated became a high-profile case in the media. This case created a challenge to verify, study, and understand the main problems associated with bear keeping so that zoos could significantly improve the conditions in which they keep bears or ensure they keep bears at the minimum required standards. The results presented here are from 1 of the few countrywide studies of captive bear conditions conducted in all the captive institutions in Poland that keep bears. Thirteen institutions kept bears at the time of the study (2007-2009), including 54 individuals of 5 species. Major welfare problems were identified, and the results have been used to challenge zoos to address the changes required and focus the government's attention on areas that require legislative improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Maślak
- a Department of Evolutionary Biology and Conservation of Vertebrates , Institute of Environmental Biology, University of Wroclaw , Wroclaw , Poland
| | - Agnieszka Sergiel
- b Department of Wildlife Conservation , Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences , Krakow , Poland
| | - David Bowles
- c Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals , Horsham , United Kingdom
| | - Łukasz Paśko
- a Department of Evolutionary Biology and Conservation of Vertebrates , Institute of Environmental Biology, University of Wroclaw , Wroclaw , Poland
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Murray MH, St. Clair CC. Individual flexibility in nocturnal activity reduces risk of road mortality for an urban carnivore. Behav Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arv102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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Quinn TP, Wirsing AJ, Smith B, Cunningham CJ, Ching J. Complementary use of motion-activated cameras and unbaited wire snares for DNA sampling reveals diel and seasonal activity patterns of brown bears (Ursus arctos) foraging on adult sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka). CAN J ZOOL 2014. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2014-0114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The seasonal and diel movements of predators to take advantage of shifts in prey availability are fundamental elements of their foraging ecology, and also have consequences for the prey populations. In this study, we used complementary noninvasive techniques (motion-activated cameras and hair snares) to investigate seasonal and diel activity of brown bears (Ursus arctos L., 1758) along six proximate streams supporting spawning populations of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka (Walbaum in Artedi, 1792)) in southwestern Alaska. Camera records over 3 years showed a rapid increase in bear activity around the time salmon arrived in the streams, with differences among streams corresponding to differences in salmon phenology. Bears were active throughout the day and night, but there were clear crepuscular peaks when camera data were pooled. When wire snares (to collect hair samples) were paired with cameras, the data showed similar seasonal patterns, but each technique detected bears missed by the other. Roughly equal numbers of bears left hair but no camera image, and images but no hair, at paired sites. Taken together, the results indicated a close correspondence between bear activity and salmon timing, differences in diel timing among streams, and the complementarity of data obtained by motion-activated cameras and hair snares.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas P. Quinn
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Box 355020, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Aaron J. Wirsing
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, Box 352100, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Brendan Smith
- Department of Biology, Box 351800, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Curry J. Cunningham
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Box 355020, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Jason Ching
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Box 355020, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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Almpanidou V, Mazaris AD, Mertzanis Y, Avraam I, Antoniou I, Pantis JD, Sgardelis SP. Providing insights on habitat connectivity for male brown bears: A combination of habitat suitability and landscape graph-based models. Ecol Modell 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2014.04.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Elfström M, Zedrosser A, Jerina K, Støen OG, Kindberg J, Budic L, Jonozovič M, Swenson JE. Does despotic behavior or food search explain the occurrence of problem brown bears in Europe? J Wildl Manage 2014; 78:881-893. [PMID: 25253909 PMCID: PMC4140552 DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2013] [Accepted: 04/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Bears foraging near human developments are often presumed to be responding to food shortage, but this explanation ignores social factors, in particular despotism in bears. We analyzed the age distribution and body condition index (BCI) of shot brown bears in relation to densities of bears and people, and whether the shot bears were killed by managers (i.e., problem bears; n = 149), in self-defense (n = 51), or were hunter-killed nonproblem bears (n = 1,896) during 1990-2010. We compared patterns between areas with (Slovenia) and without supplemental feeding (Sweden) of bears relative to 2 hypotheses. The food-search/food-competition hypothesis predicts that problem bears should have a higher BCI (e.g., exploiting easily accessible and/or nutritious human-derived foods) or lower BCI (e.g., because of food shortage) than nonproblem bears, that BCI and human density should have a positive correlation, and problem bear occurrence and seasonal mean BCI of nonproblem bears should have a negative correlation (i.e., more problem bears during years of low food availability). Food competition among bears additionally predicts an inverse relationship between BCI and bear density. The safety-search/naivety hypothesis (i.e., avoiding other bears or lack of human experience) predicts no relationship between BCI and human density, provided no dietary differences due to spatiotemporal habitat use among bears, no relationship between problem bear occurrence and seasonal mean BCI of nonproblem bears, and does not necessarily predict a difference between BCI for problem/nonproblem bears. If food competition or predation avoidance explained bear occurrence near settlements, we predicted younger problem than nonproblem bears and a negative correlation between age and human density. However, if only food search explained bear occurrence near settlements, we predicted no relation between age and problem or nonproblem bear status, or between age and human density. We found no difference in BCI or its variability between problem and nonproblem bears, no relation between BCI and human density, and no correlation between numbers of problem bears shot and seasonal mean BCI for either country. The peak of shot problem bears occurred from April to June in Slovenia and in June in Sweden (i.e., during the mating period when most intraspecific predation occurs and before fall hyperphagia). Problem bears were younger than nonproblem bears, and both problem and nonproblem bears were younger in areas of higher human density. These age differences, in combination with similarities in BCI between problem and nonproblem bears and lack of correlation between BCI and human density, suggested safety-search and naïve dispersal to be the primary mechanisms responsible for bear occurrence near settlements. Younger bears are less competitive, more vulnerable to intraspecific predation, and lack human experience, compared to adults. Body condition was inversely related to the bear density index in Sweden, whereas we found no correlation in Slovenia, suggesting that supplemental feeding may have reduced food competition, in combination with high bear harvest rates. Bears shot in self-defense were older and their BCI did not differ from that of nonproblem bears. Reasons other than food shortage apparently explained why most bears were involved in encounters with people or viewed as problematic near settlements in our study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Elfström
- Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life SciencesPostbox 5003, NO-1432, Ås, Norway
| | - Andreas Zedrosser
- Department of Environmental and Health Studies, Telemark University CollegeNO-3800, Bø i Telemark, Norway
- Institute of Wildlife Biology and Game Management, Department of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Research, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life SciencesGregor-Mendel-Str. 33, A-1180, Vienna, Austria
| | - Klemen Jerina
- Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources, Biotechnical Faculty, University of LjubljanaVečna pot 83, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ole-Gunnar Støen
- Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life SciencesPostbox 5003, NO-1432, Ås, Norway
| | - Jonas Kindberg
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesSE-901 83, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Lara Budic
- Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life SciencesPostbox 5003, NO-1432, Ås, Norway
- Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of FreiburgTennenbacherstr. 4, DE-79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Marko Jonozovič
- Slovenia Forest ServiceVečna pot 2, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jon E Swenson
- Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life SciencesPostbox 5003, NO-1432, Ås, Norway
- Norwegian Institute for Nature ResearchNO-7485, Trondheim, Norway
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Ware JV, Nelson OL, Robbins CT, Carter PA, Sarver BAJ, Jansen HT. Endocrine rhythms in the brown bear (Ursus arctos): Evidence supporting selection for decreased pineal gland size. Physiol Rep 2013; 1:e00048. [PMID: 24303132 PMCID: PMC3835004 DOI: 10.1002/phy2.48] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2013] [Revised: 07/09/2013] [Accepted: 07/10/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Many temperate zone animals adapt to seasonal changes by altering their physiology. This is mediated in large part by endocrine signals that encode day length and regulate energy balance and metabolism. The objectives of this study were to determine if the daily patterns of two important hormones, melatonin and cortisol, varied with day length in captive brown bears (Ursus arctos) under anesthetized and nonanesthetized conditions during the active (March-October) and hibernation periods. Melatonin concentrations varied with time of day and season in nonanesthetized female bears despite exceedingly low nocturnal concentrations (1-4 pg/mL) in the active season. In contrast, melatonin concentrations during hibernation were 7.5-fold greater than those during the summer in anesthetized male bears. Functional assessment of the pineal gland revealed a slight but significant reduction in melatonin following nocturnal light application during hibernation, but no response to beta-adrenergic stimulation was detected in either season. Examination of pineal size in two bear species bears combined with a phylogenetically corrected analysis of pineal glands in 47 other species revealed a strong relationship to brain size. However, pineal gland size of both bear species deviated significantly from the expected pattern. Robust daily plasma cortisol rhythms were observed during the active season but not during hibernation. Cortisol was potently suppressed following injection with a synthetic glucocorticoid. The results suggest that melatonin and cortisol both retain their ability to reflect seasonal changes in day length in brown bears. The exceptionally small pineal gland in bears may be the result of direct or indirect selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine V Ware
- Departments of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University Pullman, Washington, 99164
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Fortin JK, Ware JV, Jansen HT, Schwartz CC, Robbins CT. Temporal niche switching by grizzly bears but not American black bears in Yellowstone National Park. J Mammal 2013. [DOI: 10.1644/12-mamm-a-238.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Concentration of 137Cs and 40K in meat of omnivore and herbivore game species in mountain forest ecosystems of Gorski Kotar, Croatia. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-013-2475-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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45
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Elfström M, Zedrosser A, Støen OG, Swenson JE. Ultimate and proximate mechanisms underlying the occurrence of bears close to human settlements: review and management implications. Mamm Rev 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2907.2012.00223.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Elfström
- Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management; Norwegian University of Life Sciences; Pb. 5003 NO-1432 Ås Norway
| | - Andreas Zedrosser
- Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management; Norwegian University of Life Sciences; Pb. 5003 NO-1432 Ås Norway
- Institute of Wildlife Biology and Game Management; Department of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Research; University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences; Gregor-Mendel-Str. 33 1180 Vienna Austria
| | - Ole-Gunnar Støen
- Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management; Norwegian University of Life Sciences; Pb. 5003 NO-1432 Ås Norway
| | - Jon E. Swenson
- Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management; Norwegian University of Life Sciences; Pb. 5003 NO-1432 Ås Norway
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research; NO-7485 Trondheim Norway
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Smith TS, Oyster J, Partridge SD, Martin IE, Sisson A. Assessing American black bear response to human activity at Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska. URSUS 2012. [DOI: 10.2192/ursus-d-11-00020.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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47
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Ware JV, Nelson OL, Robbins CT, Jansen HT. Temporal organization of activity in the brown bear (Ursus arctos): roles of circadian rhythms, light, and food entrainment. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2012; 303:R890-902. [DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00313.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Seasonal cycles of reproduction, migration, and hibernation are often synchronized to changes in daylength (photoperiod). Ecological and evolutionary pressures have resulted in physiological specializations enabling animals to occupy a particular temporal niche within the diel cycle leading to characteristic activity patterns. In this study, we characterized the annual locomotor activity of captive brown bears (Ursus arctos). Locomotor activity was observed in 18 bears of varying ages and sexes during the active (Mar-Oct) and hibernating (Nov-Feb) seasons. All bears exhibited either crepuscular or diurnal activity patterns. Estimates of activity duration (α) and synchronization to the daily light:dark cycle (phase angles) indirectly measured photoresponsiveness. α increased as daylength increased but diverged near the autumnal equinox. Phase angles varied widely between active and hibernating seasons and exhibited a clear annual rhythm. To directly test the role of photoperiod, bears were exposed to controlled photoperiod alterations. Bears failed to alter their daily activity patterns (entrain) to experimental photoperiods during the active season. In contrast, photic entrainment was evident during hibernation when the daily photocycle was shifted and when bears were exposed to a skeleton (11:1:11:1) photoperiod. To test whether entrainment to nonphotic cues superseded photic entrainment during the active season, bears were exposed to a reversed feeding regimen (dark-fed) under a natural photocycle. Activity shifted entirely to a nocturnal pattern. Thus daily activity in brown bears is highly modifiable by photoperiod and food availability in a stereotypic seasonal fashion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine V. Ware
- Departments of Veterinary Comparative Anatomy, Pharmacology, and Physiology,
| | - O. Lynne Nelson
- Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington; and
| | - Charles T. Robbins
- School of the Environment, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington
| | - Heiko T. Jansen
- Departments of Veterinary Comparative Anatomy, Pharmacology, and Physiology,
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Martin J, van Moorter B, Revilla E, Blanchard P, Dray S, Quenette PY, Allainé D, Swenson JE. Reciprocal modulation of internal and external factors determines individual movements. J Anim Ecol 2012; 82:290-300. [PMID: 23039315 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2012.02038.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2012] [Accepted: 08/14/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Movement is fundamental to individual and population dynamics, as it allows individuals to meet their basic requirements. Although movement patterns reflect interactions between internal and external factors, only few studies have examined the effects of these factors on movement simultaneously, and they generally focused on particular biological contexts (e.g. dispersal, foraging). However, the relative importance of these factors in driving individual routine movements might reflect a species' potential flexibility to cope with landscape changes and therefore buffer their potential impact on fitness. We used data from GPS collars on Scandinavian brown bears to investigate the relative role of these factors, as well as an additional factor (period of the year) on routine movements at two spatial scales (hourly and daily relocations). As expected, internal factors played a major role in driving movement, compared to external factors at both scales, but its relative importance was greater at a finer scale. In particular, the interaction between reproductive status and period of the year was one of the most influential variables, females being constrained by the movement capacity of their cubs in the first periods of the year. The effect of human disturbance on movement was also greater for females with cubs than for lone females. This study showed how reciprocal modulation of internal and external factors is shaping space use of brown bears. We stress that these factors should be studied simultaneously to avoid the risk of obtaining context-dependent inferences. Moreover, the study of their relative contribution is also highly relevant in the context of multiple-use landscapes, as human activities generally affect the landscape more than they affect the internal states of an individual. Species or individuals with important internal constraints should be less responsive to changes in their environment as they have less freedom from internal constraints and should thus be more sensitive to human alteration of the landscape, as shown for females with cubs in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jodie Martin
- Université de Lyon, F-69000, Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France; Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Science, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432, Ås, Norway; Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage, CNERA PAD, Equipe ours, Impasse de la Chapelle, 31800, Villeneuve de Rivière, France; Centre for African Ecology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Wits 2050, South Africa
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Karamanlidis AA, Straka M, Drosopoulou E, de Gabriel Hernando M, Kocijan I, Paule L, Scouras Z. Genetic diversity, structure, and size of an endangered brown bear population threatened by highway construction in the Pindos Mountains, Greece. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-011-0598-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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STEYAERT SMJG, ENDRESTØL A, HACKLÄNDER K, SWENSON JE, ZEDROSSER A. The mating system of the brown bear Ursus arctos. Mamm Rev 2011. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2907.2011.00184.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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