Search Results (6)

The aim of this study was to determine the microclimate of brown bear dens depending on their size, their status (active or inactive), and the location of the den. The study included five dens of different sizes and locations in the Velebit Mountains, in the Dinaric Alps. The measurements of air temperature (°C) and relative humidity (%) in dens and the forest stands were carried out over 182 days. The absolute minimum air temperature in inactive dens was between −2.88 °C and −0.38 °C and belonged to the dens with shorter tunnels and without chambers. The exception was inactive den 1, which was situated in a thermophilic forest. No negative absolute minimum air temperatures were recorded in active dens. The absolute minimum air temperatures in the forest stands were lower than in the dens. The relative humidity was significantly higher in all dens than in the forest stands. Dens with a large entrance opening and a short tunnel were strongly influenced by the local microclimate of the forest stand. The greatest temperature difference (den–forest) was between elongated dens with chambers and the associated forest stand, while the smallest temperature differences occurred in dens with a short tunnel, without a chamber, and at the northern exposure. The greatest differences in relative humidity (den–forest) were found in dens with chambers. The den temperatures correlated with the air temperatures in the forest stands. Full article

Until recently, the Bulgarian bear population (Ursus arctos L.) was considered one of the significant ones in Europe and one of the few with more than 500 bears. While the numbers of some neighboring populations may be increasing, the Bulgarian population has been on a downward trend since the early 1990s. The probable numbers of the species at the end of the 1980s was about 700–750 individuals. Calculations based on field data from national monitoring and statistical analysis show probable numbers in Bulgaria in 2020 of about 500 individuals (data for the autumn state). This decline is mostly related to poaching due to weaker control activity, the reduction of forest areas and habitat fragmentation. The preservation of the Bulgarian population, which, together with the other Balkan populations and the Apennine bear, has a unique gene pool, is particularly important from the point of view of preserving the biodiversity of the species in Europe. Full article

Most habitat suitability models and resource selection functions (RSFs) use indirect variables and habitat surrogates. However, it is known that in order to adequately reflect the habitat requirements of a species, it is necessary to use proximal resource variables. Direct predictors should be used to construct a real RSF that reflects the real influence of main resources on species habitat use. In this work, we model the spatial distribution of the main food resources of brown bear Ursus arctos L. within the natural and human-modified landscapes of the Central Forest State Nature Reserve (CFNR) for further RSF construction. Food-probability models were built for Apiaceae spp. (Angelica sylvestris L., Aegopodium podagraria L., Chaerophyllum aromaticum L.), Populus tremula L., Vaccinium myrtillus L., V. microcarpum (Turcz. ex Rupr.) Schmalh., V. oxycoccos L., Corylus avellana L., Sorbus aucuparia L., Malus domestica Borkh., anthills, xylobiont insects, social wasps and Alces alces L. using the MaxEnt algorithm. For model evaluation, we used spatial block cross-validation and held apart fully independent data. The true skill statistic (TSS) estimates ranged from 0.34 to 0.95. Distribution of Apiaceae forbs was associated with areas having rich phytomass and moist conditions on southeastern slopes. Populus tremula preferred areas with phytomass abundance on elevated sites. Vaccinium myrtillus was confined to wet boreal spruce forests. V. microcarpum and V. oxycoccos were associated with raised bogs in depressions of the terrain. Corylus avellana and Sorbus aucuparia preferred mixed forests on elevated sites. Distribution of Malus domestica was associated with meadows with dry soils in places of abandoned cultural landscapes. Anthills were common on the dry soils of meadows, and the periphery of forest areas with high illumination and low percent cover of tree canopy. Moose preferred riverine flood meadows rich in herbaceous vegetation and sparse mixed forests in spring and early summer. The territory of the human-modified CFNR buffer zone was shown to contain a higher variety of food resources than the strictly protected CFNR core area. Full article

In order to optimize the appropriate conservation actions for the brown bear (Ursus arctos L.) population in Greece, we estimated the census (Nc) and effective (Ne) population size as well as the genetic status of brown bear sub-populations in three National Parks (NP): Prespa (MBPNP), Pindos (PINDNP), and Rhodopi (RMNP). The Prespa and Pindos sub-populations are located in western Greece and the Rhodopi population is located in eastern Greece. We extracted DNA from 472 hair samples and amplified through PCR 10 microsatellite loci. In total, 257 of 472 samples (54.5%) were genotyped for 6–10 microsatellite loci. Genetic analysis revealed that the Ne was 35, 118, and 61 individuals in MBPNP, PINDNP, and RMNP, respectively, while high levels of inbreeding were found in Prespa and Rhodopi but not in Pindos. Moreover, analysis of genetic structure showed that the Pindos population is genetically distinct, whereas Prespa and Rhodopi show mutual overlaps. Finally, we found a notable gene flow from Prespa to Rhodopi (10.19%) and from Rhodopi to Prespa (14.96%). Therefore, targeted actions for the conservation of the bears that live in the abovementioned areas must be undertaken, in order to ensure the species’ viability and to preserve the corridors that allow connectivity between the bear sub-populations in Greece. Full article

The expansion of large carnivores across Europe is posing a challenge to their conservation. Since success with conservation may depend significantly on human behavior, knowledge of certain behaviors’ emergence and all the factors that affect them are crucial. The present study included 534 students who were divided into a comparison group (n = 317) and a treatment group (n = 217) consisting of 309 lower secondary (LS, M_Age = 12.2, SD = 0.94) and 225 upper secondary (US, n = 225, M_Age = 16.5, SD = 0.99) school students. We assessed their attitudes to and knowledge of brown bears. An indirect effect of the workshops (instructions) is also described. Sociodemographic factors, such as gender and seeing a bear in nature, significantly influenced the students’ attitudes and knowledge. Residence, owning a dog, having a hunter in the family, breeding livestock and visiting a zoo had a smaller effect on the students’ attitudes and knowledge. The results thus show that greater knowledge is correlated with proconservation attitudes, and partly with reduction of fear. Therefore, future conservation and management should employ strong communication, especially education activities based on direct experiences and carefully designed information regarding species and socio-scientific issues. Full article

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. Full article