Activity pattern study of Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) in the Qinling Mountains, China, by using infrared camera traps

Zahoor, Babar; Liu, Xuehua; Wu, Pengfen; Sun, Weiwei; Jia, Xiaodong; Lv, Zixin; Zhao, Xueping; He, Xiaowen; He, Bing; Cai, Qiong; Songer, Melissa

doi:10.1007/s11356-020-12325-3

Cited by 16 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…When visibility is limited, thermal cameras, active infrared cameras and artificial illumination can help to monitor presence and activity of organisms (McCarthy et al, 2021 ; Zahoor et al, 2021 ). By capturing the contrast between the heat (infrared radiation) emitted by organisms and their surroundings to generate an image (Starosielski, 2019 ), thermal cameras offer the opportunity to detect and quantify the abundance of endotherms in low light conditions (Steen et al, 2012 ), even when being occluded by vegetation, smoke or fog (Corcoran et al, 2019 ; Corcoran, Winsen, et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: From Automated Data Collection To Ecological Knowledgementioning

confidence: 99%

Towards the fully automated monitoring of ecological communities

et al. 2022

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Ecosystems are increasingly exposed to stressors, leading to unprecedented rates of biodiversity decline globally (Capdevila et al., 2022;Díaz et al., 2019). Our ability to reliably forecast ecosystems dynamics is limited by our capacity to understand what governs their composition, dynamics, function and structure (Dietze et al., 2018;Petchey et al., 2015). To drive predictive ecology forward and design appropriate conservation strategies, we therefore need access to long-term, highresolution and standardised information about ecosystems' abiotic and biotic components (Farley et al., 2018;

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Section: From Automated Data Collection To Ecological Knowledgementioning

confidence: 99%

Towards the fully automated monitoring of ecological communities

et al. 2022

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“…We pooled the camera trap data of both years, and related the days and months collectively for the comparison and statistical analysis. Animal detections were grouped based on 30 min and if two animals were captured in the same photo, their independent registration was counted separately (Zhang et al 2019;Zahoor et al 2021a). Each capture was considered as an independent registration (IR).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We hypothesized that (i) black bears would be highly active in summer and autumn seasons. (ii) Hibernation period of black bears under moist temperate conditions should be longer than the bears living under subtropical and warm temperate conditions (Reid et al1991;Zahoor et al 2021a). The study aimed to nd out (i) the monthly activity pattern and (ii) hibernation period of the Asiatic black bears under the moist temperate environmental conditions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Almost Similar pattern was observed by the local people i.e., temporary residents, herders, hunters, and victims of crop raiding. The peak activity timing of black bears inside theHwang and Garshelis 2007;Trent 2010;Zahoor et al 2021a). However, camera results showed a sharp decline in the activity of black bears during autumn.Bear's autumn activities decline inside the forestWe were assuming more or even similar activity level in the autumn as in summer as previous studies reported under tropical to temperate environmental conditions(Hwang and Garshelis, 2007;Zahoor et al 2021a).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Activity pattern of Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) in Machiara National Park, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

Zahoor

Liu

Ahmad

2022

Preprint

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The Asiatic black bear is considered an indicator species of the environment, hence, any change in the environment may alter its activity pattern. We monitored the monthly activity pattern of black bears in the moist temperate forests of Machiara National Park, AJ&K, Pakistan. We used infrared camera traps and indigenous knowledge for data collection from April 2019 to April 2021. Camera traps recorded 109 (inside the forest = 107, outside the forest = 2) independent registrations (IR) within 5541 (692.63 ± 36.72, mean ± SD) camera days. We found that (i) spring and autumn were the lowest activity seasons of black bears inside the forest. (ii) Whereas, the highest activities were recorded in summer with peak activities in August followed by July (χ2 = 203.5, df= 7, P< 0.05). (iii) The activity level sharply declined after August and halted from late November to late April which was clear indication of bears’ hibernation period. We collected indigenous knowledge from 70 selected persons, including hunters, herders, temporary residents and crop raiding victims. We used the data of human observation of latest three years and found that (i) bears remained active from May to November and hibernated rest of the period. (ii) The activities were at their peak inside the forest in summer (May – August) and out of the forest in autumn (September – November) when it preferred to raid the widely cultivated maize crop (Zea mays) in the area. The capturing of black bears by camera traps outside the forest further supported the data provided by local people. Such switching over might have occurred due to the food preferences for Zea mays or easy access to abundant food availability out of the forest area. The current data can help mitigate human black bears conflict and consequently future conservation of black bears in the area.

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“…in the autumn. Acorns are the most important food source as the bear accumulates excess body fats by foraging on such a fat‐rich source during pre‐hibernation (Akcan et al, 2017; Hashimoto et al, 2003; Sathyakumar et al, 2013; Zahoor, Liu, Wu, et al, 2021). At this time, green vegetation in the bear's diet decreases dramatically and it starts consuming acorns in a large proportion (Hashimoto et al, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of climate change on Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) and its autumn diet in the northern highlands of Pakistan

Zahoor

Liu

Ahmad

et al. 2021

Global Change Biology

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Approximately 20%–30% of plant and animal species are at risk of extinction by the end of the 21st century owing to climate change. Range shifts and range contractions in plant species will dramatically affect the distribution of animals relying on them for food and shelter. The negative impacts of climate change on forested landscapes of the northern highlands of Pakistan (NHP) could change the species composition and distribution. The Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus), a forest‐dwelling species, primarily depends on plants for foraging, and is assumed to be affected by climate change in NHP. Scat analyses and indigenous knowledge from Machiara National Park revealed the maximum consumption of Quercus species (natural food) and Zea mays (human grown food) by the Asiatic black bear in autumn season. We collected the occurrence data of the Asiatic black bear and its commonly used food (three Quercus spp.) in the NHP. We used the MaxEnt model to simulate current and future (in 2050 and 2070) distribution of the species under RCP4.5 (medium carbon emission scenario) and RCP8.5 (extreme carbon emission scenario). The results predict range reduction and extreme fragmentation in the habitats of all the Quercus spp. Besides, a dramatic decrease in the suitable (SH) and very highly suitable (HSH) habitats was predicted in the future. Range shift and range reduction of Quercus spp. may interrupt the denning chronology of Asiatic black bears, escalate the human‐black bear conflicts and local extirpation of the species. Given the extent and magnitude of climate change, it will likely not be enough to focus solely on the conservation of the Asiatic black bear. We need more dynamic planning aiming at mitigating the effect of climate change in forested landscapes including the Quercus forests.

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Activity pattern study of Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) in the Qinling Mountains, China, by using infrared camera traps

Cited by 16 publications

References 35 publications

Towards the fully automated monitoring of ecological communities

Towards the fully automated monitoring of ecological communities

Activity pattern of Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) in Machiara National Park, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

Impact of climate change on Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) and its autumn diet in the northern highlands of Pakistan

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