Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Flavio Augusto da Silva Coelho, Stephanie Gill, Crystal M. Tomlin, Marilena Papavassiliou, Sean D. Farley, Joseph A. Cook, Sarah A. Sonsthagen, George K. Sage, Timothy H. Heaton, Sandra L. Talbot, Charlotte Lindqvist
Summary: During the Late Pleistocene, there were ice sheets covering parts of North America. However, it is unclear whether ice-free refugia existed in the Alexander Archipelago along the SE Alaska coast during the last glacial maximum (LGM). Genetic analyses of black and brown bears in SE Alaska show that there were two subclades of black bears, one preglacial and one postglacial, that diverged over 100,000 years ago. Ancient brown bears are closely related to modern brown bears in the archipelago, suggesting colonization after the LGM. These findings suggest that there were no refugia in SE Alaska during the LGM, but vegetation quickly expanded after deglaciation.
Article
Ecology
Mathew S. Sorum, Matthew D. Cameron, Anthony Crupi, George K. Sage, Sandra L. Talbot, Grant V. Hilderbrand, Kyle Joly
Summary: A study conducted in the interior Brooks Range mountains of northern Alaska revealed that the use of salmon-bearing streams by brown bears is more prevalent than previously believed. By collecting hair samples and conducting DNA analysis, it was estimated that 24 brown bears used a 7 km section of one stream. Additionally, a higher level of relatedness was found among bears that used the same stream. Potential mitigation measures to reduce human-bear conflicts related to brown bear use of salmon-bearing streams are proposed based on these findings.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Boris Fuchs, Alexandra Thiel, Andreas Zedrosser, Ludovick Brown, Helle B. Hydeskov, Ilia Rodushkin, Alina L. Evans, Amanda H. Boesen, Anne Randi Graesli, Jonas Kindberg, Jon M. Arnemo
Summary: Exposure to lead remains a problem for wildlife species despite the overall reduction of Pb entering the environment, with Scandinavian brown bears showing high blood Pb concentrations that may have adverse effects on both individual and population levels. Lactating females have higher Pb blood concentrations compared to younger, non-lactating females.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Angela Anna Rositi, Giovanna Jona Lasinio, Paolo Ciucci
Summary: The availability of hard mast and soft-mast producing species is influenced by forest typology, historical forestry practices, and topographical features. Herb cover is negatively affected by terrain steepness and basal area, while ant richness is associated with forest volume and density. These findings provide valuable information for forest management practices to support the conservation of Apennine bears in the long term.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Nikolina Kelava Ugarkovic, Miljenko Konjacic, Josip Malnar, Kristijan Tomljanovic, Nikica Sprem, Damir Ugarkovic
Summary: This study aimed to determine the effects of sex and age on the proximate chemical composition, fatty acid profile, and lipid indices of brown bear meat. Results showed that age had an effect on the traits analyzed, while no significant differences were found related to sex.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alberto Garcia-Rodriguez, Nuria Selva, Tomasz Zwijacz-Kozica, Jorg Albrecht, Clement Lionnet, Delphine Rioux, Pierre Taberlet, Marta De Barba
Summary: A study on the diet of brown bears in Tatra National Park revealed a marked seasonality, with fleshy-fruited plants being the main food source. Despite high levels of human disturbance, brown bears continue to play a key role as seed dispersers.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Zoology
C. Lamamy, M. M. Delgado, I Kojola, S. Heikkinen, V Penteriani
Summary: Moonlight does not affect the movement behaviors of brown bears, but they move more slowly and over shorter distances during hyperphagia periods compared to the mating season. This suggests that the prey-predator relationships involving moonlight are weaker in opportunistic omnivores like brown bears than in obligate carnivores.
JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Joshua H. Schmidt, Hillary L. Robison, Lincoln S. Parrett, Tony S. Gorn, Brad S. Shults
Summary: The study found that brown bear population densities in northwestern Alaska are similar or slightly higher than in the past, and that current harvest rates are sustainable in most areas, except perhaps the Seward Peninsula. Ongoing survey work will be useful for further evaluating population assumptions, assessing population trajectory, and determining the effect of harvest on brown bear populations.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Neda Bogdanovic, Andreas Zedrosser, Anne G. Hertel, Alejandra Zarzo-Arias, Dusko Cirbvic
Summary: Natural habitats are being degraded and fragmented due to human expansion, threatening the survival of many species. Understanding species distribution and identifying movement corridors is crucial for conservation. Serbia's geographical position plays a significant role in connecting bear metapopulations. The study predicts suitable habitats and proposes measures for habitat permeability to benefit not only bears but also other species in the region.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Vincenzo Buono, Salvatore Burgio, Nicole Macri, Giovanni Catania, Heidi C. Hauffe, Nadia Mucci, Francesca Davoli
Summary: An assessment of the genetic diversity and structure of two endangered brown bear populations in Italy was conducted to propose a cost-effective management protocol for populations with low genetic variation. By analyzing microsatellite loci, the study identified the most effective STR marker sets for evaluating genetic diversity and individual discrimination. The findings indicate that the Uam population should be considered a conservation priority due to its depleted genetic variability.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Vesna Orazem, Tadeja Smolej, Iztok Tomazic
Summary: This study examined the attitudes and knowledge of brown bears among secondary school students and found that factors like gender and encountering bears in nature significantly influenced their attitudes and knowledge. Other factors such as residence, owning a dog, having a hunter in the family, breeding livestock, and visiting a zoo had a smaller effect. The results indicated that greater knowledge was correlated with proconservation attitudes and reduced fear among the students.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ansley S. Petherick, Joshua D. Reuther, Scott J. Shirar, Shelby L. Anderson, Larisa R. G. DeSantis
Summary: Arctic climate change poses a threat to polar bears due to reduced sea ice affecting their prey availability. Research suggests that polar bears traditionally prefer soft foods, but some bears in the 21st century may be shifting towards consuming harder foods. The specialized diet and cranial morphology of polar bears may severely limit their ability to adapt to a warming Arctic.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Anne G. Hertel, Raphael Royaute, Andreas Zedrosser, Thomas Mueller
Summary: Recent research has shown the importance of individual variation in behavioral predictability in ecological systems. The study on brown bears reveals a range of predictability from highly predictable to unpredictable individuals within the same population. Behavioral predictability is correlated with behavioral type, with more diurnal and mobile individuals being more unpredictable while more nocturnal individuals are more predictable.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Francesco Maroso, Giada Padovani, Victor Hugo Munoz Mora, Francesco Giannelli, Emiliano Trucchi, Giorgio Bertorelle
Summary: Reduction in population size and its predicted effects on population fitness is a major concern for endangered species. Genetic rescue (GR) is a controversial approach that introduces compatible individuals to reduce the genetic load and restore fitness of declining populations. The study on Apennine brown bears showed that introducing individuals with higher fitness and lower levels of deleterious mutations can rapidly increase fitness but also result in some loss of ancestry. Doubling the population size without genetic rescue gradually improved fitness without losing ancestry, making it the best strategy for Apennine brown bear conservation.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ludovick Brown, Boris Fuchs, Jon M. Arnemo, Jonas Kindberg, Ilia Rodushkin, Andreas Zedrosser, Fanie Pelletier
Summary: Brown bears in Sweden have higher blood lead levels compared to other populations, and this study found that the consumption of slaughter remains discarded by moose hunters is a likely significant pathway of lead exposure in female brown bears.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)