Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joanna Klees van Bommel, Catherine Sun, Adam T. Ford, Melissa Todd, A. Cole Burton
Summary: The urban-wildland interface is expanding and increasing the risk of human-wildlife conflict. In this study, we investigated black bear habitat use in a North American hotspot of conflict and found that bears modify their behaviors by avoiding humans in space and time, but conflicts still occur in summer and autumn.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Don W. Hardeman Jr, Hannah B. Vander Zanden, J. Walter McCown, Brian K. Scheick, Robert A. McCleery
Summary: Growing human populations and development have led to increased conflicts between humans and carnivores, especially bears. Wildlife managers often remove bears from developed areas under the assumption that they will become food conditioned and more likely to cause conflicts. However, our study using isotopic values of bear hair found that the presence of bears in developed areas does not necessarily indicate food conditioning. Therefore, assumptions about bears in developed areas should not be made based solely on observations of their behavior.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Jennifer Vonk
Summary: By training an American black bear, it was found that the bear was able to choose the correct response button for a preferred food item but struggled with a less preferred food item. This study represents the first attempt to train a bear to indicate its preferences using a Likert scale-like method, and it could be beneficial for improving animal welfare.
Article
Virology
Arturo Oliver-Guimera, Alzbeta Hejtmankova, Kenneth Jackson, Patricia A. Pesavento
Summary: Polyomaviruses are ancient DNA viruses that infect various species of animals. Black bears are the natural hosts for Ursus americanus polyomavirus 1 (UaPyV1), with the virus detected in tissues of six out of seven bears submitted for examination. However, there is currently no evidence of a specific disease associated with UaPyV1 infection in this small group of bears.
ARCHIVES OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Greta M. Schmidt, Tabitha A. Graves, Jordan C. Pederson, Sarah L. Carroll
Summary: Spatial capture-recapture (SCR) models are powerful tools for estimating abundance and density of wild animal populations. This study evaluated the factors influencing the uncertainty of SCR parameter estimates using black bear data, and provided density estimates for Utah black bear populations. The results showed that sample sizes are important for the accuracy and precision of parameter estimates, and multiple years of data are needed for precise density estimates.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Sean. M. M. Sultaire, Yuki Kawai-Harada, Ashley Kimmel, Emily. M. M. Greeson, Patrick. J. J. Jackson, Christopher. H. H. Contag, Carl. W. W. Lackey, Jon. P. P. Beckmann, Joshua. J. J. Millspaugh, Robert. A. A. Montgomery
Summary: In the first two decades of the 21st century, the population of American black bear (Ursus americanus) has rebounded and expanded its range into previously extinct areas. Habitat quality and availability are crucial factors limiting the range expansion, especially in western Nevada, USA. Through various data collection methods, including cameras, hair sampling, genotyping, and GPS tracking, we found that black bears preferred the Sierra Nevada with conifer land cover over the Great Basin Desert. The population density of black bears in the Sierra Nevada was over 4 times higher than in desert mountain ranges, indicating limited range expansion into the western Great Basin due to habitat quality and availability.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Maximilian L. Allen, L. Mark Elbroch, Heiko U. Wittmer
Summary: Interactions between apex predators and dominant scavengers, such as kleptoparasitism by American black bears on puma kills, can have significant effects on the foraging behavior and energetics of the apex predators. The study found that black bears were the most frequent scavenger of puma kills, leading to pumas spending less time at their kill sites and experiencing energetic losses, which in turn influenced their inter-kill intervals and kill rates. The results highlight the importance of understanding interspecific interactions in ecological communities and how dominant scavengers can impact apex predator dynamics.
BASIC AND APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Ashley Friedenberger, Colleen Doyle, Lindsey Couillard, Christopher J. Kyle
Summary: A multiplex qPCR assay was developed in this study to detect and distinguish different bear species, showing its sensitivity and applicability in bile mixture recipes. This assay can aid wildlife enforcement applications for the protection of bear species.
FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL-GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Joshua D. Alston, Joseph D. Clark, Daniel B. Gibbs, John Hast
Summary: This study used spatially explicit capture-recapture methods to estimate the abundance and growth of reintroduced American black bear population in Kentucky and Tennessee. The results showed that hunting seasons had minimal impact on the population growth, and genetic diversity was retained. This could be attributed to the lack of conspecifics, highly productive habitat, and initial age and sex distribution.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Michael J. Hooker, Joseph D. Clark, Bobby T. Bond, Michael J. Chamberlain
Summary: Habitat fragmentation and loss have negative impacts on the isolation and extinction risks of American black bear populations. The study found limited demographic connectivity between the central Georgia bear population and surrounding bear populations, and the establishment of corridors may have marginal effects on gene flow.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Eric J. Howe, Derek Potter, Kaela B. Beauclerc, Katelyn E. Jackson, Joseph M. Northrup
Summary: This study proposes a method to quickly and accurately estimate animal abundance across different landscapes, while avoiding biases caused by pooling spatially heterogeneous data.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Melanie R. Boudreau, Mariela G. Gantchoff, Laura Conlee, Charles Anderson, Nathaniel R. Bowersock, Jerrold L. Belant, Raymond B. Iglay
Summary: Having reproducible and transparent science-based processes is crucial in wildlife management, especially when establishing harvest frameworks. This study provides an example of using multiple data sets to assess spatial and temporal vulnerability of black bear harvest, resulting in the establishment of bear management zones and timing recommendations to limit female harvest bias.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Michelle L. Crabb, Matthew J. Clement, Andrew S. Jones, Kirby D. Bristow, Larisa E. Harding
Summary: This study investigates the habitat selection and home ranges of American black bears before and after the largest wildfire in Arizona history. The results show that after the fire, black bears continued to use all levels of burn severity and their home ranges did not expand.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Markus Dyck, Eric Regehr, Jasmine Ware
Summary: Knowledge of long-term demographic trends is crucial for managing large carnivore populations, and this study on the polar bear population in Gulf of Boothia revealed a stable and productive subpopulation. Ongoing monitoring is necessary due to the potential impact of climate change and loss of sea ice.
MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Hannah S. Tiffin, Michael J. Skvarla, Erika T. Machtinger
Summary: The study indicates that black bears may play an important role in tick ecology and dispersal, as all three mobile life-stages of Ixodes scapularis were found parasitizing black bears in a region with high numbers of Lyme disease cases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Michael J. Hooker, Richard B. Chandler, Bobby T. Bond, Michael J. Chamberlain
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2020)
Article
Zoology
Paige E. Howell, Blake R. Hossack, Erin Muths, Brent H. Sigafus, Richard B. Chandler
Article
Agronomy
Jeffrey D. Ritterson, David I. King, Raul Raudales, Richard Trubey, Richard B. Chandler
Summary: This study provides guidance on the application of a land sparing production system to conserve forest-dependent wildlife in coffee growing areas where land sharing cultivation is not feasible. The Integrated Open Canopy (IOC) coffee system allows farmers to control leaf rust and increase yields by removing shade trees, while conserving adjacent forest patches of equal or greater area. Conservation of forest patches is facilitated through compensation for opportunity costs and ecosystem services provided by forests, supporting biodiversity in regions where land sharing cultivation is impractical.
AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Samuel A. Merker, Richard B. Chandler
Summary: Through field observations and experiments, this research found no evidence to support the limitation of Canada warbler's distribution at the trailing-edge by socially mediated Allee effects. Instead, factors such as temperature, precipitation and negative density dependence were found to strongly influence population growth rates.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ornithology
Jeffrey D. Ritterson, David I. King, Richard B. Chandler
Summary: Nearctic-Neotropical migratory birds face threats at various stages of their annual cycle, leading to severe population declines. Despite relatively well-studied habitat associations of the golden-winged warbler, lack of basic demographic rates hinders conservation efforts, particularly during the winter period where survival rates play a crucial role. Our study in Costa Rica contributes to understanding the impacts of winter events on migratory bird populations and informs potential conservation strategies.
JOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Jose Jimenez, Ben C. Augustine, Daniel W. Linden, Richard B. Chandler, J. Andrew Royle
Summary: The study introduces a novel random thinning SCR model that incorporates both known and unknown identity samples, improving parameter estimates in noninvasive sampling studies for low-density populations with low rates of individual identification.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Paige E. Howell, Nathan G. Wilhite, Rachel Gardner, Jessica L. Mohlman, Richard B. Chandler, Ira B. Parnell, James A. Martin
Summary: The northern bobwhite is an ecologically and economically valuable species in the United States, with researchers using spatial capture-recapture methods to estimate population size and study spatial density variation. The study found that landscape structure significantly influenced density variations in bobwhite populations.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
John M. Yeiser, John J. Morgan, Danna L. Baxley, Richard B. Chandler, James A. Martin
Summary: Recovery of grassland birds in agricultural landscapes is crucial on a global scale, with consideration of species-specific landscape responses necessary. A spatially explicit approach can help optimize conservation strategies, aiding in the recovery of grassland bird species.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Brett T. McClintock, Briana Abrahms, Richard B. Chandler, Paul B. Conn, Sarah J. Converse, Robert L. Emmet, Beth Gardner, Nathan J. Hostetter, Devin S. Johnson
Summary: Ecologists and conservation biologists increasingly rely on spatial capture-recapture (SCR) and movement modeling to study animal populations. Historically, SCR has focused on population-level processes, while animal movement modeling has focused on individual behavior. Integrating SCR and animal movement modeling has the potential to scale up from individuals to populations, advancing types of inferences and improving population-level parameter estimations critical for species conservation and management.
Article
Ecology
Tori D. Mezebish, Richard B. Chandler, Glenn H. Olsen, Michele Goodman, Frank C. Rohwer, Nicholas J. Meng, Mark D. McConnell
Summary: The study found that the selection of wetlands by ring-necked ducks during winter is influenced by local wetland characteristics, with wetland area and type playing significant roles in their selection. After the hunting season, the relative probability of selection for different wetland characteristics changed, possibly due to migratory preparation, resource depletion, and reproductive pairing.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
James T. Johnson, Richard B. Chandler, L. Mike Conner, Michael J. Cherry, Charlie H. Killmaster, Kristina L. Johannsen, Karl Miller
Summary: Bait is often used to attract wildlife for various purposes, but it can alter animal behavior and distribution. Short-term baiting was found to affect white-tailed deer's space use within home ranges, potentially enhancing disease transmission and changing harvest susceptibility. This study highlights the importance of understanding how baiting impacts wildlife behavior and distribution for effective management and research.
Article
Ecology
Lydia L. S. Margenau, Michael J. Cherry, Karl Miller, Elina P. Garrison, Richard B. Chandler
Summary: Long-term monitoring is essential for effective wildlife conservation, but current methods of density estimation are often expensive or challenging to implement on a large scale. The spatial mark-resight (SMR) models have recently gained popularity as a cost-effective solution that can estimate density using both marked and unmarked individuals. In this study, a generalized SMR model was developed to incorporate long-term camera data and auxiliary telemetry data, allowing for improved spatiotemporal inference in monitoring efforts. The model can be applied in two stages, reducing computational demands and making it more practical for large-scale, long-term monitoring initiatives.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Richard B. Chandler, Daniel A. Crawford, Elina P. Garrison, Karl Miller, Michael J. Cherry
Summary: Studies on animal abundance and distribution are often conducted separately from research on movement. However, a joint model incorporating camera trap and GPS telemetry data has been used to enhance understanding of deer population abundance and movement patterns.
Article
Ecology
H. N. Abernathy, R. B. Chandler, D. A. Crawford, E. P. Garrison, L. M. Conner, K. V. Miller, M. J. Cherry
Summary: Predation risk and ecological disturbance regimes can influence prey behavioral decisions. Studying the relationship between these factors can help in understanding how prey adapt to different predator and disturbance regimes.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Florent Bled, Michael J. Cherry, Elina P. Garrison, Karl Miller, L. Mike Conner, Heather N. Abernathy, W. Hunter Ellsworth, Lydia L. S. Margenau, Daniel A. Crawford, Kristin N. Engebretsen, Brian D. Kelly, David B. Shindle, Richard B. Chandler
Summary: Large carnivore restoration programs, like the Florida panther restoration program in South Florida, can have significant impacts on prey populations such as the white-tailed deer. Panther predation was found to be the primary cause of death for deer, with the predation rate being much higher after the restoration effort. Increasing water depth had a negative impact on female deer survival, but drowning was not a common cause of mortality. It will be challenging to balance the competing demands of predator restoration and sustainable deer harvest.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)