Habitat selection by black bears in an intensively logged boreal forest
Extensive logging of the boreal forest rejuvenates landscapes once dominated by old-growth stands. As black bear ( Ursus americanus Pallas, 1780) fitness and behavior are known to be primarily related to the abundance of shade-intolerant soft mast species in northern forests, we hypothesized that lo...
Published in: | Canadian Journal of Zoology |
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Canadian Science Publishing
2008
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z08-118 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full-xml/10.1139/Z08-118 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/Z08-118 |
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crcansciencepubl:10.1139/z08-118 2024-06-23T07:56:22+00:00 Habitat selection by black bears in an intensively logged boreal forest Brodeur, Vincent Ouellet, Jean-Pierre Courtois, Réhaume Fortin, Daniel 2008 http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z08-118 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full-xml/10.1139/Z08-118 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/Z08-118 en eng Canadian Science Publishing http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 86, issue 11, page 1307-1316 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 journal-article 2008 crcansciencepubl https://doi.org/10.1139/z08-118 2024-06-13T04:10:51Z Extensive logging of the boreal forest rejuvenates landscapes once dominated by old-growth stands. As black bear ( Ursus americanus Pallas, 1780) fitness and behavior are known to be primarily related to the abundance of shade-intolerant soft mast species in northern forests, we hypothesized that logging will influence habitat and space use patterns of black bears. We used VHF telemetry on 12 female black bears in the Réserve faunique des Laurentides (Quebec, Canada) to investigate seasonal patterns of habitat selection in an exploited heterogeneous boreal landscape at different spatial scales. Habitat characterization based on seven forest cover types allowed us to compare the productivity of key forage species in various post-logging age classes. Regenerating stands (6–20 years old) had the uppermost ground vegetation cover, providing both the highest density and a high biomass of berries. Black bears preferred regenerating stands (6–20 years old) and avoided mature coniferous forests inside their home range. Home-range size was inversely related to the proportion of regenerating stands (6–20 years old). Intensive logging influenced black bear habitat and space use patterns, and presumably their population dynamics. An increase in the habitat quality of an opportunistic predator poses great concern for conservation, especially for forest-dwelling woodland caribou ( Rangifer tarandus caribou (Gmelin, 1788)). Article in Journal/Newspaper Rangifer tarandus Canadian Science Publishing Canada Canadian Journal of Zoology 86 11 1307 1316 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Canadian Science Publishing |
op_collection_id |
crcansciencepubl |
language |
English |
description |
Extensive logging of the boreal forest rejuvenates landscapes once dominated by old-growth stands. As black bear ( Ursus americanus Pallas, 1780) fitness and behavior are known to be primarily related to the abundance of shade-intolerant soft mast species in northern forests, we hypothesized that logging will influence habitat and space use patterns of black bears. We used VHF telemetry on 12 female black bears in the Réserve faunique des Laurentides (Quebec, Canada) to investigate seasonal patterns of habitat selection in an exploited heterogeneous boreal landscape at different spatial scales. Habitat characterization based on seven forest cover types allowed us to compare the productivity of key forage species in various post-logging age classes. Regenerating stands (6–20 years old) had the uppermost ground vegetation cover, providing both the highest density and a high biomass of berries. Black bears preferred regenerating stands (6–20 years old) and avoided mature coniferous forests inside their home range. Home-range size was inversely related to the proportion of regenerating stands (6–20 years old). Intensive logging influenced black bear habitat and space use patterns, and presumably their population dynamics. An increase in the habitat quality of an opportunistic predator poses great concern for conservation, especially for forest-dwelling woodland caribou ( Rangifer tarandus caribou (Gmelin, 1788)). |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Brodeur, Vincent Ouellet, Jean-Pierre Courtois, Réhaume Fortin, Daniel |
spellingShingle |
Brodeur, Vincent Ouellet, Jean-Pierre Courtois, Réhaume Fortin, Daniel Habitat selection by black bears in an intensively logged boreal forest |
author_facet |
Brodeur, Vincent Ouellet, Jean-Pierre Courtois, Réhaume Fortin, Daniel |
author_sort |
Brodeur, Vincent |
title |
Habitat selection by black bears in an intensively logged boreal forest |
title_short |
Habitat selection by black bears in an intensively logged boreal forest |
title_full |
Habitat selection by black bears in an intensively logged boreal forest |
title_fullStr |
Habitat selection by black bears in an intensively logged boreal forest |
title_full_unstemmed |
Habitat selection by black bears in an intensively logged boreal forest |
title_sort |
habitat selection by black bears in an intensively logged boreal forest |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
2008 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z08-118 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full-xml/10.1139/Z08-118 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/Z08-118 |
geographic |
Canada |
geographic_facet |
Canada |
genre |
Rangifer tarandus |
genre_facet |
Rangifer tarandus |
op_source |
Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 86, issue 11, page 1307-1316 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 |
op_rights |
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/z08-118 |
container_title |
Canadian Journal of Zoology |
container_volume |
86 |
container_issue |
11 |
container_start_page |
1307 |
op_container_end_page |
1316 |
_version_ |
1802649410785509376 |