The Baluchistan region of Iran and Pakistan is inhabited by one of the most threatened populations of Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus gedrosianus) in Asia. The first camera-trapping survey of these so-called Baluchistan bears was conducted in Bahr-e Asman Mountain, southeastern Iran. Fourteen camera traps were installed in the entrances of caves from April to December, 2009. A total of 32 bear photographs were obtained from three caves. Data analysis of photographs showed the presence of at least seven different individuals: two lone bears, and two family groups, with one and two cubs. Despite being very marginal habitat, affected both by human use and drought, the area supports a reproducing population of bears. This study suggests that caves may be important in the life history of these bears, and should be protected for their conservation.

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Generalist species are often characterized by low habitat specialization and reduced genetic structure in their populations. Here, we tested this common assumption on golden jackals in Iran, a wide country with a highly heterogeneous landscape where this carnivore is assumed to be widespread, although little is known about the ecology and population genetics of this species. We investigate distribution patterns, habitat requirements, and niche breadth of golden jackals by using GIS techniques and ecological modeling over a total of 452 presence records. We then assessed genetic diversity and population structure by analyzing 24 samples for 43 microsatellites. The observed distribution patterns show an extensive range across a wide climatic, ecological and altitudinal gradient, covering eight climate regions and 16 terrestrial ecoregions. Ecological modeling confirms high habitat plasticity of the golden jackal, with selection of mountainous areas with high slopes, moderate temperatures, and areas with low human population and activity while avoiding hyper-arid regions. Estimated values of niche breadth were high, indicating that is a generalist species in the study area. The observed genetic diversity was high, representing the highest value reported so far in this species. We found no signature of population structure, suggesting a single genetic cluster, as well as no evidence of hybridization with domestic dogs.Our results provide valuable ecological and genetic information on a widespread but poorly known carnivore, often disregarded in conservation strategies but under pressure from anthropogenic threats.

A small population of Asiatic black bear-known as the Baluchistan black bear-survives in the western limit of the species' range in Iran, where the species is rare, difficult to monitor and occupy an atypical habitat with extreme environmental conditions. Through the use of noninvasively collected samples, we analyzed mitochondrial DNA control region sequences to evaluate the phylogenetic relationships and divergence time between the Baluchistan Iranian black bear population and other Asian populations. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that Baluchistan and Nepalese (Himalayan) populations are monophyletic, with their divergence time estimated at circa 120 thousand years ago. The results reveal the low level of mitochondrial DNA variability in this small and marginal population, as is the case for many bear populations living in areas with similar conditions. The divergence time between the populations from Iran and Nepal dates to the Late Pleistocene, pointing to a transitional period between colder (glacial) and warmer (interglacial) conditions that allowed forests to expand and opened new habitats to population expansions. Pending further genetic and morphological corroboration, these preliminary results suggest that all Baluchistan and Himalayan (Nepalese) black bears might be considered as synonymous under the prior U. t. thibetanus trinomial (with gedrosianus just as junior synonym). Conservation efforts on this small and endangered population remain poor, and further measures are required to guarantee its long-term survival in Iran. Keywords Baluchistan black bear • Ursus thibetanus gedrosianus • Himalayan black bear • Late pleistocene • Subspecies taxonomy • Ursus thibetanus Handling editor: Paul Grobler. Leili Khalatbari and Michael J. Jowers have contributed equally. Hadi Fahimi deceased.