Differences in habitat selection by Asiatic black bears according to annual hard mast productivity

Abstract

Understanding the relationship between habitat selection by Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) and annual fluctuations in hard mast productivity is important in conservation and management. However, a detailed investigation regarding this relationship is still lacking. Previous studies have indicated that the vegetation map prepared by the Ministry of Environment has not always been useful to evaluate habitat selection by bears. In this study, we assessed the vegetation of the core area used by bear using a field survey and a high-resolution vegetation map. Then, we compared habitat selection in autumn between a poor and a moderate mast year. Results demonstrated the bears selected Quercus crispula forest in the moderate mast year. The field survey revealed Q. crispula was dominant in the core area. However, selective use of the vegetation was not detected in the poor mast year. In addition, there were other hard mast producing species in the core area in the poor mast year, while Q. crispula was only found in the moderate mast year. Thus, bears depended on Q. crispula, which was dominant in the study area, as their main resource in autumn. They also used alternative hard mast species, indicating flexibility in response to hard mast productivity fluctuation.