Space use data and systematic conservation planning inform habitat conservation priorities for brown bears in Romania

Presentation cancelled by author

Space use data and systematic conservation planning inform habitat conservation priorities for brown bears in Romania

(Oral)

Mihai Pop
University of Bucharest, Center for Environmental Research, Romania
,
Ruben Iosif
University of Bucharest, Center for Environmental Research, Romania
,
Viorica-Iulia Miu
University of Bucharest, Center for Environmental Research, Romania
,
Laurentiu Rozylowicz
University of Bucharest, Center for Environmental Research, Romania
,
Viorel Popescu
popescu@ohio.edu

Ohio University, Biological Sciences, Athens Ohio, United States

DOI: 10.17011/conference/eccb2018/108017

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Recovery of large carnivores in the European human-dominated landscapes has sparked a debate regarding the optimal landscape conditions in which carnivores can thrive and coexist with humans (López-Bao et al. 2015). Here, we use brown bears (Ursus arctos) in the Romanian Carpathians to test and develop a framework for identifying habitat conservation priorities based on a novel integration of resource selection functions, home range data, and systematic conservation planning (Pop et al. 2018). We used a comprehensive GPS telemetry dataset from 18 individuals to (1) calculate sex-specific seasonal home ranges, and (2) characterize population-level habitat selection. We then used systematic conservation planning software Zonation to identify contiguous areas of high conservation value for males and females by using Manly’s habitat selection ratios as weights for habitat layers, and home range information as a smoothing parameter for habitat connectivity. Home ranges were smallest during winter (median [IQR] for November-February: 28.2 km2 [9.8-42.4]), and largest during the intense-feeding season (September-November: 127.3 km2 [62.2-288.5]), with males having larger home ranges across all seasons. Females consistently selected for mixed forest habitat during all seasons. Males selected mixed forest during winter; then switched to a rather generalist approach, selecting regenerating forest, and mixed and coniferous forests during low-feeding/reproduction and wild berries seasons. We identified large tracts of forest habitat (~14% of the landscape) that was selected across all seasons as key habitats for brown bear conservation in the Eastern Carpathians. Spatially, high-value winter habitat was the most dissimilar for both males and females, suggesting that conservation actions should focus on protecting contiguous denning habitat. These key findings can inform the management and conservation of the brown bear population in the Romanian Carpathians, currently plagued by high uncertainity in management outcomes (Popescu et al. 2016) by identifying critical intervention areas for maintaining landscape connectivity, enable transboundary management, and contribute to maintaining Favourable Conservation Status, an important target of European Union Strategy for Biodiversity.

1. López-Bao, J.V., Kaczensky, P., Linnell, J.D.C., Boitani, L. & Chapron, G. (2015). Carnivore coexistence: Wilderness not required. Science 348, 871–872.
2. Pop, M. I., R. Iosif, I. V. Miu, S. Chiriac, L. Rozylowicz, and V. D. Popescu. 2018. Combining resource selection functions and home range data to identify habitat conservation priorities for brown bears. Animal Conservation. in press
3. Popescu, V. D., K. A. Artelle, M. I. Pop, S. Manolache, and L. Rozylowicz. 2016. Assessing biological realism of wildlife population estimates in data-poor systems. Journal of Applied Ecology 53, 1248-1259

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INTRO:
Conserving large carnivores is one of the most challenging issues in the current situation. The ever increasing human population exerts humongous pressure on the natural resources and it grows exponentially every day. Hence, inviolate areas to conserve wild animals have become a rarity and in case of large carnivores the situation is even graver as they are long ranging animals. This depicts the necessity of human-wildlife co-existence for successful conservation stories. European human dominated landscapes have set an example by sustaining the large carnivores of a considerable size. This work talks about the brown bear population based on the data collected from radiotelemetry and emphasizes the importance of maintaining connectivity between habitat patches.
MERITS:
1. Sample size is sufficient

2. Population-level resource selection
CRITIQUE:
I feel the reduced home range size in winters is because of the period of torpor. The possible reasons for variations in home range sizes should be mentioned. Authors can also look at within home range resource selection and try predictive modelling to determine the movement path.
DISCUSSION:
This kind of study is significant in the present conservation scenario. Detailed interpretation of the results will be better instead of focusing on the nitigrities of the findings only.

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INTRO:
This study seeks to identify important habitat for brown bear conservation in the Romanian Carpathians using GPS telemetry data to derive home ranges and habitat selection, and then systematic conservation planning
MERITS:
Use of empirical data and current analytical approaches for conservation planning for the brown bear population in the Romanian Carpathians for which critical ecological knowledge is lacking and that, as stated by the authors, is "plagued by high uncertainty in management outcomes"

Integration of resource selection functions, home range data, and systematic conservation planning
CRITIQUE:
No weaknesses
DISCUSSION:
This study provides relevant ecological knowledge lacking for brown bears in the Carpathians and has implications for conservation and connectivity planning