Class
Article
College
S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources
Department
English Department
Faculty Mentor
Larissa Yocom
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
The American black bear (Ursus americanus) is the most common bear species in North America and inhabits forested areas throughout Utah state. Black bears provide a variety of ecosystem services including seed dispersal, opportunity for hunting, and offering a representation of pristine wilderness. Food source availability is believed to be the driving force behind black bear movement, habitat selection, and home range formation. Ensuring that black bears have a variety of vegetation types available to them is crucial to their success. Wildfire is a major disturbance in the forested regions black bears occupy and can cause dramatic habitat changes that in turn affect bear behavior and population dynamics. Depending on the intensity, severity, and size of a fire, the vegetation types black bears rely on can be greatly reduced or even eliminated, causing black bears to be displaced. Conversely, low severity fires can promote growth of early successional species that offer forage and cover for black bears. In addition, fires can provide course woody debris that often house insects which are an important protein source for black bears. As larger parts of the landscape are being more frequently impacted by wildfire, understanding how fire history affects black bear habitat selection is vital for managing black bear populations. However, there is a significant lack of research on how wildfires affect black bears. This study examined how fires throughout Utah influence black bear habitat selection. I predicted that high severity patches will remain depleted of forage and cover for several years post burn, while low severity patches will support increased growth of early successional plant species and provide more forage and cover. Therefore, I hypothesized black bears will avoid high severity burned patches but will select for low severity burned patches and fire edges, with selection being stronger 2-5 years post burn. This research will provide crucial insights for how to manage black bear populations following a fire as well as how to manage fire that will benefit black bears viability.
Location
Logan, UT
Start Date
4-8-2022 12:00 AM
Included in
How Fire Severity Influences Black Bear Space Use
Logan, UT
The American black bear (Ursus americanus) is the most common bear species in North America and inhabits forested areas throughout Utah state. Black bears provide a variety of ecosystem services including seed dispersal, opportunity for hunting, and offering a representation of pristine wilderness. Food source availability is believed to be the driving force behind black bear movement, habitat selection, and home range formation. Ensuring that black bears have a variety of vegetation types available to them is crucial to their success. Wildfire is a major disturbance in the forested regions black bears occupy and can cause dramatic habitat changes that in turn affect bear behavior and population dynamics. Depending on the intensity, severity, and size of a fire, the vegetation types black bears rely on can be greatly reduced or even eliminated, causing black bears to be displaced. Conversely, low severity fires can promote growth of early successional species that offer forage and cover for black bears. In addition, fires can provide course woody debris that often house insects which are an important protein source for black bears. As larger parts of the landscape are being more frequently impacted by wildfire, understanding how fire history affects black bear habitat selection is vital for managing black bear populations. However, there is a significant lack of research on how wildfires affect black bears. This study examined how fires throughout Utah influence black bear habitat selection. I predicted that high severity patches will remain depleted of forage and cover for several years post burn, while low severity patches will support increased growth of early successional plant species and provide more forage and cover. Therefore, I hypothesized black bears will avoid high severity burned patches but will select for low severity burned patches and fire edges, with selection being stronger 2-5 years post burn. This research will provide crucial insights for how to manage black bear populations following a fire as well as how to manage fire that will benefit black bears viability.