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Den Structure and Selection of Denning Habitat by Brown Bears in the Romanian Carpathians

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Den Structure and Selection of Denning Habitat by Brown Bears in the Romanian Carpathians Den structure and selection of denning habitat by brown bears in the Romanian Carpathians Authors: Iosif, Ruben, Pop, Mihai I., Chiriac, Silviu, Sandu, Radu M., Berde, Lajos, et. al. Source: Ursus, 2020(31e5) : 1-13 Published By: International Association for Bear Research and Management URL: https://doi.org/10.2192/URSUS-D-18-00010.1 BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses. Your use of this PDF, the BioOne Complete website, and all posted and associated content indicates your acceptance of BioOne’s Terms of Use, available at www.bioone.org/terms-of-use. Usage of BioOne Complete content is strictly limited to personal, educational, and non - commercial use. Commercial inquiries or rights and permissions requests should be directed to the individual publisher as copyright holder. BioOne sees sustainable scholarly publishing as an inherently collaborative enterprise connecting authors, nonprofit publishers, academic institutions, research libraries, and research funders in the common goal of maximizing access to critical research. Downloaded From: https://bioone.org/journals/Ursus on 18 Apr 2020 Terms of Use: https://bioone.org/terms-of-use Access provided by International Association for Bear Research and Management Den structure and selection of denning habitat by brown bears in the Romanian Carpathians Ruben Iosif1, Mihai I. Pop2,3, Silviu Chiriac4, Radu M. Sandu4,LajosBerde5, Szilárd Szabó6, Lauren¸tiu Rozylowicz2, and Viorel D. Popescu2,7,8 1Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University Ovidius Constanta, 1 Aleea Universitatii, Building B, Constan¸ta, 900470 Romania 2Centre for Environmental Research (CCMESI), University of Bucharest, 1 N. Balcescu, Bucharest, 010041 Romania 3Association for Biodiversity Conservation (ACDB), 12 Ion Creanga, Focsani, 620083 Romania 4Vrancea Environmental Protection Agency, 2 Dinicu Golescu St., Focsani, 620106 Romania 5Covasna Environmental Protection Agency, 10 Grigore Balan St., Sf. Gheorghe, 520082 Romania 6Harghita Environmental Protection Agency, 43 Márton Áron St., Miercurea Ciuc, 530211 România 7Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, 107 Irvine Hall, Athens, OH 45701, USA Abstract: The Romanian Carpathian Mountains provide one of the largest areas suitable for brown bear (Ursus arctos) in Europe, but the long history of logging has reduced old-growth forest to fragments. Continuous timber extraction, along with new recreation opportunities from motorized vehicles, may affect brown bear denning habitat through disturbance. As such, understanding den site selection at the landscape and local levels is important for the conservation and sustainable management of the Romanian brown bear population. We used data on 86 den sites collected between 2010 and 2013 in Southeastern Carpathians and developed Resource Selection Functions for second-order (landscape- level) and third-order (local level) den habitat selection, using habitat structure and topographic attributes of den locations. The altitude of dens ranged between 440 and 1,320 m, with a mean slope of 19.7 ± 0.8%. Aspect was evenly distributed between southwest (22.9% of the dens), east (20.5%), south (18.1%), and southeast (15.7%). Dens stabilized by boulders were dominant (68%), and had maximum mean length = 149.2 ± 5.6 cm, width = 109.1 ± 4.8 cm, and height = 113.8 ± 10.5 cm. At both local and the landscape scales, bears selected for steeper slope and higher percent coverage of mixed (beech–fir–spruce [Fagus sylvatica–Abies alba–Picea abies]) forest. At the landscape scale, bears also selected dens at higher altitude, and with greater coverage of old forest, and away from urban areas and recent clear-cuts. Our spatial predictions have the potential to inform forest management by identifying areas where disturbance of brown bear denning habitat should be avoided or limited, thus contributing to brown bear management and conservation planning in the Romanian Carpathians. Key words: brown bear, conservation planning, den selection, disturbance, habitat suitability, resource selection function, Romanian Carpathians, Ursus arctos DOI: 10.2192/URSUS-D-18-00010.1 Ursus 31:article e5 (2020) Large carnivores are recovering in the European ments (Di Minin et al. 2016). Such spatial predictions human-dominated landscape and efforts are made toward have potential to assist mitigation measures, such as reg- coexistence with humans (Chapron et al. 2014, Zarzo- ulating forestry practices in sensitive areas for conserva- Arias et al. 2018). However, large carnivore habitat con- tion (Pop et al. 2018b), creating green infrastructure to nectivity is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, ensure connectivity over barriers (Mateo-Sánchez et al. especially in the context of rapid deforestation (Ripple 2014, Ziółkowska et al. 2016), and finally helping prior- et al. 2014). To assist conservation and management poli- itize conservation decisions from an economic point of cies, conservationists use landscape planning to delineate view while reducing conflicts between humans and large and rank landscape features according to species require- carnivores (Rondinini and Boitani 2007). Large carnivores have high dispersal capabilities and large space-use requirements that are influenced by food 8email: [email protected] availability (Hertel et al. 2016), challenging coexistence 1 Downloaded From: https://bioone.org/journals/Ursus on 18 Apr 2020 Terms of Use: https://bioone.org/terms-of-use Access provided by International Association for Bear Research and Management r 2BROWN BEAR DEN HABITAT IN THE CARPATHIANS Iosif et al. with humans in fragmented landscapes (Clevenger et al. denning season); therefore, we expect such activities to 1987, Rozylowicz et al. 2011, Skrbinšek et al. 2012). For exert a high level of disturbance on denning habitat. In hibernating species, such as brown bears (Ursus arctos), addition to logging disturbance, humans are increasingly fragmentation may affect the quality of denning habitat using forest landscape for recreational activities deep into and bear safety during hibernation (Petram et al. 2004, previously undisturbed areas (e.g., off-road vehicles; see Sahlén et al. 2011, Pigeon et al. 2016). Brown bears have Goldstein et al. 2010). high sensitivity to any form of human disturbance during The goal of this study is to identify and map high- this biological stage, and they require contiguous habitats quality denning areas for brown bears in the Southeast- with limited access for humans (Linnell et al. 2000). Dur- ern Carpathians to fill a critical knowledge gap for bear ing pre-denning and denning season, brown bears select conservation, and to provide information for future man- habitat with steeper slopes and remote old-aged forest agement strategies of forest ecosystems in the Carpathi- stands (Pigeon et al. 2014, Pop et al. 2018b). Any distur- ans. Spatial models have the potential to assist managers bance during hibernation may eventually lead to reduced to regulate potential disturbance in highly sensitive den- fitness of individuals (Evans et al. 2016) or cub aban- ning areas. Such models can vary from simple habitat donment and mortality (i.e., pregnant females give birth suitability indices (Kaminski et al. 2013) to frameworks inside the dens, where they feed and shelter cubs until that incorporate species connectivity needs (Pop et al. the spring; Swenson et al. 1997, Linnell et al. 2000). For 2018b), and stochastic predictions that account for sea- example, Swenson et al. (1997) showed that 9% of their sonality in ecology and behavior of species (Nakajima studied dens in Scandinavia were abandoned as a result et al. 2012). We used a data set of 86 den locations col- of human disturbances, with bears forced to move up to lected between 2010 and 2013, along with topographic, 30 km before denning again, thus resulting in a signifi- land cover, and disturbance factors to evaluate denning cant fitness cost. Sahlén et al. (2011) and Hodder et al. habitat selection at landscape and local levels (Johnson (2014) documented avoidance of denning close to roads 1980). Habitat selection is a hierarchical process that in- and areas with high levels of human activity. volves individual behaviors and decisions that ultimately Across the Carpathian Mountains, the transition from maximize individual fitness (Johnson 1980, Johnson et al. a socialist to a capitalist economy was a determinant fac- 2006). Specifically, our objectives were to 1) investigate tor affecting the efficacy of protected areas (Kuemmerle the characteristics of brown bear denning habitat at land- et al. 2008, Müller et al. 2009, Butsic et al. 2017). Ex- scape (second-order selection) and local levels (third- tensive logging that exceeds the maximum allowed patch order selection), 2) develop a spatial model for brown bear size of 3 ha was frequently highlighted through satellite den suitability at the landscape scale, and 3) provide man- image processing (Knorn et al. 2012), threatening valu- agement recommendations regarding brown bear denning able temperate forests in the Polish, Czech, and Romanian habitat in the Southeastern Romanian Carpathians. Carpathians (Griffiths et al. 2013). Although the Roma- nian Carpathians shelter the largest stands of old-growth forest in Europe, suitable for brown bear conservation Study area (Pop et al. 2018b),
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