Regional Assessment of Remote Forests and Black Bear Habitat from Forest Resource Surveys

Abstract

We dcvelopt~l a spatially explicit modeling approaclr, using a county-scaled rem01 e forest (i.e., forested area reserved frown or having no direct human interference) assessment derived from l! 184-90 forest resonrce inventory data arid a 1984 trlack bear (Urszrs americancts) range map for 12 states in the southern United States. We defined minirtiinn suitable and optimal black bear habitat criteria and gc o-referenced remote forest classificatiori with csxisting black bear range. Using a suitable habitat criterion, we classified 97.2% of occupied arid 97% of rmoccupied range (38.9% of the south. U.S. region's area). I sing optimal habitat criteria, we classified 60.8% of occnpied and 60.1% of uncrccupied range (63.3% of the r :gion's area), interpreted occupied ram+* withoiit optimal habitat wt su ioptimal areas (9.9% of the regior 's area), ant1 unoccupied range with optimal Irabitat as areas with repopulation potential (26.8% of the r -g ,gion's area). There was a lack of high-density (~34%) optimal habitat linkages among existing black bear populations, which we construed as a limitaticrn on interpopulation gene flow. We recommend expansion of fr ture regional land surveys to (1) address Iargc, carnivore mammal habitat and broad home ranges of other species that may conflict with humails or tlonlcbtic animals, (2) include field inventories of woodland and reserved areas, (3) use standard measures to assess remote forests, and (4) organize available data in a geographic information system.

Factors Influencing the Abundance of Berry Plants for Black Bears, <em>Ursus americanus</em>, in Quebec

“…However, berries are generally less abundant in selective and partial cuts than in clearcuts (Costello and Sage 1994). Rudis and Tansey (1995) confirmed that Black Bears were using berry species typically found in clear cuts and other disturbed areas during summer months. Finally, in Quebec's mixed forest, Hébert (2000) found that there were significantly more berry plants for Black Bears in small gaps (< 200 m 2 ) than under the adjacent forest cover.…”

“…Berries generally represent the major food source for Black Bears (Ursus americanus) during summer (Jonkel and Cowan 1971;Hatler 1972;Lindzey and Meslow 1977;Lan ders et al 1979;Young and Ruff 1982;Maehr and Brady 1984;Irwin and Hammond 1985;Rogers 1987;Unsworth et al 1989;Holcroft and Herrero 1991;Schwartz and Franzmann 1991;Kasbohm et al 1995;Rudis and Tansey 1995;Noyce and Garshelis 1997;Welch et al 1997). In fall, when hard masts are un avail able, Black Bears will also continue to eat berries (Young and Ruff 1982;Holcroft and Herrero 1991;Schwartz and Franzmann 1991;Boileau et al 1994;Kasbohm et al 1995).…”

Prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in North Carolina Eastern Black Bears (Ursus americanus)

“…The minimum area needed for populations of black bears will differ based on several factors, such as habitat quality and population management objectives (Rudis and Tansey 1995). Based on known and apparently viable bear populations in the Southeast, researchers have suggested that 79,000 acres of forested wetlands and 198,000 acres of forested uplands are needed as the minimum areas to support a black bear population.…”

Quantifying landscape structure with vegetation inventory maps and remote sensing

“…The quantification of habitat structure over large areas using metrics or spatial indices derived from satellite image classifications (e.g., Mace et al 1999) or vegetation inventory databases (e.g., Rudis and Tansey 1995) has emerged as an important aspect of wildlife management in forested landscapes. An underlying hypothesis is that the pattern and dynamics of habitat structure are linked to behaviour or population dynamics of the species of interest (Debinski and Holt 2000).…”

“…The maps required for the quantification of marten and owl habitat were required over relatively small areas (e.g., less than two thousand hectare "home-range" or "nesting-site" sample areas), and the changes monitored over time were simple (e.g., clearcuts). Maps covering larger areas and longer time periods, and in greater thematic detail, are required in studies of large carnivore populations such as black bear (Ursus americanus), mountain lion (Felix concolor), red wolf (Canis rufus), grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) and timber wolf (Canis lupus lycaon) (Mladenoff et al 1995, Rudis and Tansey 1995. Large carnivores represent a par-ticular challenge to landscape quantification or fragmentation studies because of "their large home ranges and catholic environmental requirements" (Haila 1999), in addition to their individual and generalist behaviours.…”