Open AccessDen‐site characteristics and selection by brown bears ( Ursus arctos ) in the central Brooks Range of Alaska
Author(s) -
Sorum Mathew S.,
Joly Kyle,
Wells Adam G.,
Cameron Matthew D.,
Hilderbrand Grant V.,
Gustine David D.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
ecosphere
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.255
H-Index - 57
ISSN - 2150-8925
DOI - 10.1002/ecs2.2822
Subject(s) - ursus , grizzly bears , home range , wildlife , ecology , geography , selection (genetic algorithm) , site selection , wildlife management , habitat , range (aeronautics) , arctic , biology , computer science , population , engineering , demography , artificial intelligence , aerospace engineering , sociology , political science , law
Abstract Selection and use of dens is a critical behavioral adaption of bears ( Ursus spp.) to survive extended periods of resource limitation. We analyzed selection of den sites by brown bears ( Ursus arctos ) in an arctic montane environment from 2014 to 2017. We used GPS data from 51 instrumented bears to physically locate, identify, and describe den sites ( n = 33) and to quantitatively model the selection of denning habitat ( n = 65 dens over 3 yr). We conducted an analysis of den‐site selection at the home range (third order) scale using variables describing topographic, vegetative, and spatially‐explicit fish and wildlife models. We hypothesized four main factors influence den‐site selection by brown bears: (1) physiography, (2) proximity to food resources, (3) thermal insulation, and (4) den‐area fidelity. We used kernel density estimates to define space use and conditional logistic regression to estimate den selection within individual home ranges. Brown bears selected den sites on steep slopes (>31°) with high snow load potential near their previously used den site. Our results supported our hypothesis that den selection by brown bears was related to thermal insulation, structural stability, drainage, and den‐area fidelity.