Determinants and patterns of habitat use by the brown bear Ursus arctos in the French Pyrenees revealed by occupancy modelling

AbstractThe Pyrenean brown bear Ursus arctos population in the mountains between France and Spain is one of the smallest and most threatened populations of large carnivores in Europe. We assessed trends in brown bear habitat use in the Pyrenees and investigated the underlying environmental and anthropogenic drivers. Using detection/non-detection data collected during 2008–2014 through non-invasive methods, we developed dynamic occupancy models, accounting for local colonization and extinction processes. We found two non-connected core areas of occupancy, one in the west and the other in the centre of the Pyrenees, with a significant decrease in habitat use overall during 2008–2014. We also found a negative correlation between human density and bear occupancy, in agreement with previous studies on brown bear habitat suitability. Our results confirm the Critically Endangered status of the Pyrenean population of brown bears.

Download Full-text

Determinants and patterns of the endangered brown bear Ursus arctos habitat use in the French Pyrenees revealed by occupancy modeling

10.1101/075895 ◽

2016 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Blaise Piédallu ◽

Pierre-Yves Quenette ◽

Nicolas Bombillon ◽

Adrienne Gastineau ◽

Christian Miquel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Habitat Use ◽

Ursus Arctos ◽

Brown Bear ◽

Large Carnivores ◽

Occupancy Models ◽

The West ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Endangered Status ◽

Anthropogenic Drivers ◽

Human Density

AbstractThe Pyrenean brown bear (Ursus arctos) in the mountainous border between France and Spain is one of the smallest and most endangered populations of large carnivores in Europe. Here, we aimed at assessing trends in brown bear habitat use in the Pyrenees and determining the underlying environmental and anthropogenic drivers. Using detection/non-detection data collected between 2008 and 2014 through non-invasive methods, we developed occupancy models to investigate the dynamic of brown bear habitat use in the Pyrenees accounting for local colonization and extinction processes. First, we found two non-connected occupancy cores, one located in the West and another in the Center of the Pyrenees, with an overall significant decrease in habitat use between 2008 and 2014. Second, we showed a negative correlation between human density and bear occupancy in agreement with previous studies on brown bear habitat suitability. Our results confirm the critically endangered status of the Pyrenean population of brown bears.

Download Full-text

Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) Habitat Use and Food Resources on Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska

10.21236/ada480156 ◽

2007 ◽

Author(s):

Sean D. Farley ◽

Herman Griese ◽

Rick Sinnott ◽

Jessica Coltrane ◽

Chris Garner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Habitat Use ◽

Air Force ◽

Ursus Arctos ◽

Brown Bear ◽

Food Resources ◽

Air Force Base

Download Full-text

Testing a new SNP-chip on the Alpine and Apennine brown bear (Ursus arctos) populations using non-invasive samples

Conservation Genetics Resources ◽

10.1007/s12686-018-1017-0 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 355-363 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Patrizia Giangregorio ◽

Anita J. Norman ◽

Francesca Davoli ◽

Göran Spong

Keyword(s):

Ursus Arctos ◽

Brown Bear ◽

Snp Chip ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Apennine Brown Bear

Download Full-text

An evaluation of field and non-invasive genetic methods to estimate brown bear (Ursus arctos) population size

Biological Conservation ◽

10.1016/j.biocon.2005.09.025 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 128 (2) ◽

pp. 158-168 ◽

Cited By ~ 141

Author(s):

Knut Håkon Solberg ◽

Eva Bellemain ◽

Ola-Mattis Drageset ◽

Pierre Taberlet ◽

Jon E. Swenson

Keyword(s):

Population Size ◽

Ursus Arctos ◽

Brown Bear ◽

Non Invasive

Download Full-text

Occurrence of large carnivores – Lynx lynx, Canis lupus, and Ursus arctos – and of Felis silvestris in the Czech Republic and western Slovakia in 2012–2016 (Carnivora)

Lynx, new series ◽

10.2478/lynx-2017-0006 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 48 (1) ◽

pp. 93-107 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Miroslav Kutal ◽

Elisa Belotti ◽

Josefa Volfová ◽

Tereza Mináriková ◽

Luděk Bufka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Czech Republic ◽

Canis Lupus ◽

Ursus Arctos ◽

Brown Bear ◽

Lynx Lynx ◽

Large Carnivores ◽

Grey Wolf ◽

Felis Silvestris ◽

Eurasian Lynx ◽

The Czech Republic

Abstract In the last decades, large carnivores – the grey wolf (Canis lupus), Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) and brown bear (Ursus arctos), and to a certain extent also the wildcat (Felis silvestris) – have increased their distribution ranges throughout Europe. Monitoring of their current distribution and population trends in the Czech Republic is crucial for the effective conservation and elimination of possible conflicts with humans in the future. In the last years, many projects focused on small-scale monitoring of large carnivores were implemented in the Czech Republic and the neighbouring mountain ranges of Slovakia. Using their results, we compiled the dataset from different regions and analysed the recent distribution of large carnivores and the wildcat. The distribution maps are based on verified data on the presence and reproduction in 2012–2016. This is consistent with the standardized methodology used across Europe. The Eurasian lynx was the most widespread of all large carnivore species in the Czech Republic, with the two trans-boundary populations (Carpathian and Bohemian-Bavarian-Austrian) occupying 94 out of 868 squares (10.8%) of the mapping grid of the Czech Republic. Reproduction was confirmed in 46.8% of the occupied squares. The grey wolf occupied 6.8% of the squares in the Czech Republic and its reproduction was confirmed in 10.2% of the occupied squares. Three reproducing packs belonging to the Central European lowland population were confirmed and the area occupied by the species increased three times within the study period. The brown bear occupied 2.8% of the squares of the Czech Republic – the area is restricted to the Carpathians – with no signs of reproduction; its distribution fluctuated heavily during the study period. The wildcat occupied the smallest range of the Czech Republic among the studied species (1.4% of the squares) but its reproduction was confirmed in a trans-boundary area (White Carpathians) at the Slovakian side of the border. The wildcat also significantly increased its range from one to six squares during the study period.

Download Full-text

Coexistence with Bears in Romania: A Local Community Perspective

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11247167 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (24) ◽

pp. 7167

Author(s):

Petru Tudor Stăncioiu ◽

Ioan Dutcă ◽

Marian Cristian Bălăcescu ◽

Ștefan Vasile Ungurean

Keyword(s):

Ursus Arctos ◽

Local Community ◽

Brown Bear ◽

Large Carnivores ◽

Negative Attitudes ◽

Cognitive Evaluation ◽

Important Challenge ◽

General Preference ◽

Modern Context ◽

Competition For Resources

In the modern context of the strict protection of large carnivores, the competition for resources between local community dwellers and these animals has become an important challenge for ensuring coexistence—the key for conservation success. To assess the perceptions of this intricate relationship, six local communities from Central Romania, located in areas with high-density brown bear (Ursus arctos L.) population and frequent conflicts, were investigated. A large proportion of the respondents (69%) showed various forms of intolerance (e.g., relocation, punishment, or killing) towards aggressive bears. However, the cognitive evaluation score derived from the level of interaction with bears showed a non-significant (p = 0.470) segregation by tolerance levels, suggesting that not only the tangible costs (direct damage) but rather the psychological costs of fear, danger, or risk are more important drivers of negative attitudes towards bears. Furthermore, the prevalent experienced emotions towards an inoffensive bear (fear, terror, and hate, which represent 73%) underline the general preference for living in “separate worlds”. This requires that bears should avoid humans and their settlements, a goal unlikely to be achieved under the current strict protection regime. Therefore, an alternative strategy that ensures mutual avoidance of the two players may be more appropriate for successful human–bear coexistence.

Download Full-text

Brown bear (Ursus arctos L.) habitat use in the Cantabrian Mountains, Spain

Mammalia ◽

10.1515/mamm-1992-0204 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 56 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

A.P. Clevenger ◽

F.J. Purroy ◽

M.R. Pelton

Keyword(s):

Habitat Use ◽

Ursus Arctos ◽

Brown Bear ◽

Cantabrian Mountains

Download Full-text

Does genetic variation on the shy–bold continuum influence carnivore attacks on people? Evidence from the brown bear

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605320000824 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-4

Author(s):

Juan C. Blanco ◽

Guillermo Palomero ◽

José V. López-Bao ◽

Fernando Ballesteros

Keyword(s):

Genetic Variation ◽

Population Density ◽

Human Activities ◽

Human Population ◽

Ursus Arctos ◽

Brown Bear ◽

Large Carnivores ◽

Cantabrian Mountains ◽

Attack Pattern ◽

Habitat Differences

Abstract Little is known about the heritable behavioural traits of attacks by large carnivores on people. During the last 30 years attacks by brown bears Ursus arctos on people in the Cantabrian Mountains of Spain have been disproportionately concentrated in the eastern subpopulation. Excluding factors such as the existence of a single unusually bold bear, a higher human population density, particular human activities promoting encounters, or clear habitat differences in the area of this subpopulation, we propose that a plausible explanation for the unbalanced geographical attack pattern is that this subpopulation, separated a century earlier from the western subpopulation, may harbour a higher proportion of bolder bears. In the absence of genetic analyses this explanation remains speculative, but supports the hypothesis that genetic variation on the shy–bold continuum may influence attacks of large carnivores on people.

Download Full-text

Spatiotemporal habitat use by a multitrophic Alaska alpine mammal community

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/cjz-2018-0186 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 97 (8) ◽

pp. 713-723

Author(s):

Jeremy S. Dertien ◽

Calvin F. Bagley ◽

John A. Haddix ◽

Aleya R. Brinkman ◽

Elizabeth S. Neipert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Habitat Use ◽

Ursus Arctos ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Brown Bear ◽

Camera Traps ◽

Gray Wolf ◽

Mammal Species ◽

Large Herbivore ◽

Multiple Groups ◽

Mammal Community

Evaluating sympatric habitat use of a mammal community can help determine intra- and inter-guild interactions and identify important habitats, potentially improving the management of these communities with a changing climate. Increasingly variable climatic patterns in Alaska, USA, are raising concerns of mismatched phenologies and altered ecosystem structures. We studied the occupancy of 10 mammal species over 15 months, via camera traps, occupying alpine areas of the Alaska Range in interior Alaska, from 2013 to 2014. We tested hypotheses about how habitat use of these species within and between groups varied by spatial and temporal covariates. Furthermore, we modeled two-species occupancy of brown bears (Ursus arctos Linnaeus, 1758) and gray wolves (Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758) against different potential prey species. Our results suggest that medium-sized and large herbivore use was positively correlated with fine-scale covariates including rock, forb, and graminoid coverage. Large herbivore habitat use was also correlated with abiotic landscape covariates. Detection probabilities of predators and Dall’s sheep (Ovis dalli dalli Nelson, 1884) was improved by camera traps on wildlife trails. Two-species models suggested co-occurrence of habitat use between brown bear – caribou (Rangifer tarandus (Linnaeus, 1758)) and gray wolf – caribou. Results demonstrate the sympatric habitat use by multiple groups of mammals within Alaskan alpine ecosystems and the importance of incorporating multiple groups and spatial scales when making management decisions.

Download Full-text