ABSTRACT

Resource use is the way in which an animal (or population) utilises the available resources, and is known to occur in a hierarchical fashion. The Asiatic black bear Ursus thibetanus is an opportunistic omnivore whose diet and intensity of habitat use fluctuates with season and availability of resources in the environment. In this study, we assessed the habitat use and food habits of black bears during the autumn season (pre-hibernation) in Dachigam National Park, Kashmir Himalaya, to understand the reasons behind recurrent bear–human conflict in the area. We walked 14 natural trails covering different habitats of the study area. At each bear sign location, we recorded habitat variables in plots of 10 m radius. Black bear diet was assessed from 192 scats using a standard protocol. Black bear scat encounter rate varied significantly between habitats and was highest in forest scrub. Bear habitat use exhibited a significant association with medium canopy cover represented by the forest scrub and riverine habitat, and a negative association with the distance from human habitation, indicating use of forest patches close to nearby villages. Scat analysis revealed the occurrence of 17 plant species, mainly dominated by hard mast fruit species (88.54%) including Celtis australis (55.21%), Quercus robur (39.06%), and Pyrus malus (13.54%), with no evidence of animal food. Overall resource use by black bears showed a strong association with hard mast and fruit-producing trees adjacent to human habitations (i.e. orchard plantations close to forest scrub and riverine habitats), thereby increasing the risk of bear–human conflict. By elucidating the factors affecting bear occurrence and resource use during the autumn season, this study is expected to assist in resolving issues related to bear–human conflict management in the Dachigam landscape, particularly during their pre-hibernation period.

摘要

资源使用是动物（或种群）利用可用资源的方式，并且已知以分层方式发生。亚洲黑熊熊是一种机会性杂食动物，其饮食和栖息地使用强度随季节和环境资源的可用性而波动。在这项研究中，我们评估了克什米尔喜马拉雅山达奇甘国家公园在秋季（冬眠前）期间黑熊的栖息地使用和饮食习惯，以了解该地区熊与人之间反复发生冲突的原因。我们走了14条自然小径​​，覆盖了研究区域的不同栖息地。在每个熊标志的位置，我们在10 m半径的地块中记录了栖息地变量。使用标准方案从192只粪便中评估了黑熊的饮食。黑熊的粪便接触率在不同的生境之间差异很大，并且在森林灌木丛中最高。熊栖息地的使用与以森林灌木丛和河流栖息地为代表的中等冠层覆盖率显着相关，与人类居住距离的负相关，表明在附近村庄附近使用了森林斑块。粪便分析显示有17种植物的发生，主要以坚硬的肥大水果种为主（88.54％），其中包括没有动物食物的迹象，澳大利亚的Celtis australis（55.21％），roerque robur（39.06％）和Pyrus malus（13.54％）。黑熊的总体资源利用显示出与人类居住区（即靠近森林灌木丛和河流栖息地的果园人工林）相邻的坚硬肥大和产果树的紧密联系，从而增加了熊与人发生冲突的风险。通过阐明影响秋季熊的发生和资源使用的因素，该研究有望帮助解决与达奇加姆地区的熊与人的冲突管理有关的问题，尤其是在冬眠前。