This research provides the first in-depth analysis of fine-scale grizzly bear habitat selection and movement patterns in response to the linear footprints cleared for below-ground pipelines in Alberta. Using an extensive set of GPS location data from collared grizzly bears, we were able to determine that grizzly bears selected for younger pipelines (mean age since last construction~6.5 years), which are known to have a greater abundance of important bear foods. Bears also selected for wider corridors that were disturbed for construction more than once. During the spring season, sex/age class was an important predictor of grizzly bear use of pipelines, with adult female bears more likely to use these features than other sex/age classes. Examination of movement patterns revealed that pipeline density influenced grizzly bears’ movement rates and path straightness, particularly in the spring, when bears moved more slowly and movement paths were more tortuous in areas with higher pipeline densities. These movement patterns are consistent with foraging behavior and further indicate that bears are not exhibiting avoidance behaviors or displacement by pipeline features, and pipelines may be functioning as seasonally important foraging areas for grizzly bears in Alberta.

这项研究针对阿尔伯塔省地下管线清除的线性足迹，首次对细小灰熊生境选择和运动方式进行了首次深入分析。使用来自带颈圈的灰熊的大量GPS位置数据，我们能够确定选择用于较年轻管道（自上次建设以来的平均年龄〜6.5年）的灰熊，这些管道具有大量重要的熊食。熊还选择了较宽的走廊，这些走廊不止一次被建筑扰乱。在春季，性别/年龄组是灰熊使用管道的重要预测指标，成年雌性熊比其他性别/年龄组更可能使用这些功能。运动模式的检查表明，管道密度影响灰熊的运动速度和路径平直度，特别是在春季，当管道密度较高的区域熊运动速度较慢且运动路径更曲折时。这些运动模式与觅食行为一致，并进一步表明熊没有表现出回避行为或因管道特征而发生位移，并且管道可能在阿尔伯塔省作为灰熊的季节性重要觅食区。