cep_2012_03_prsnttn_bblwhitebarkpineadngrizzlybears
DESCRIPTION
http://foothillsri.ca/sites/default/files/null/CEP_2012_03_Prsnttn_BBLWhitebarkPineadnGrizzlyBears.pdfTRANSCRIPT
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DO BEARS EAT SQUIRREL FOOD?!
WHITEBARK PINE SEEDS AS FOOD
FOR GRIZZLY BEARS IN WEST CENTRAL ALBERTA
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Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis)
• Non-commercial species.
• Five-needled pine found in high
elevation forests, from treeline
down into subalpine forest.
• Dry, SW aspects in acidic soils.
• Mature trees 5m to 20m in height.
• Long-lived species – up to 1100
years!
• Considered a “keystone” species.
• Currently designated as
endangered in Alberta.
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Whitebark pine distribution
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Whitebark pine cones
• Late bloomer – starts producing cones at ~30 years.
• Cone crops are highly variable; “mast” (peak) cone
crops occur every three to five years, with very low or
no seed production in between.
• WBP are almost completely dependant upon Clark’s
nutcrackers for seed dispersal.
• Seeds are much larger than other conifer seeds, and
have a high fat content.
• Less digestible energy than meat, but at least twice
that of most common plant foods.
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Research request from Alberta Parks
In 2008, the GBP received a request to investigate a possible relationship between whitebark pine and grizzly bears in the Willmore Wilderness, based on:
• The status of whitebark pine and current threats,
• The presence of relatively large and healthy whitebark populations in the Willmore (compared to southern Alberta),
• The well-documented relationship between grizzly bears and whitebark pine in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and
• The need for a better understanding of the ecological significance of whitebark pine.
In 2009, we expanded our study area to include more of west-central Alberta.
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Previous research:
• In the US, whitebark pine (WBP) seeds are a major source of energy for bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) and the east slopes of the Montana Rocky Mountains.
• The use of whitebark seeds is seasonal and highly variable from year to year, depending on the cone crop.
• In the GYE, years with high cone crops (i.e. mast years) have fewer human-bear conflicts and a higher number of cubs per female the following spring.
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RESEARCH IN ALBERTA
• Limited research regarding WBP and bears had been completed in Canada.
• WBP seeds have not been previously reported as a significant food source for bears in Alberta, but studies did not include whitebark pine stands.
• Grizzly bears consume a wide variety of foods, and foods consumed change according to seasonal availability and by region.
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RATIONALE FOR RESEARCH
• Based on the relative abundance of whitebark pine
in our study area, and the lack of specific research
investigating use of WBP seeds in Alberta, it was
conceivable that a relationship could exist
between WBP and grizzly bears in west-central
Alberta.
• Both whitebark pine and grizzly bears are species at
risk; a relationship between the two could have
significance for conservation.
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Research questions 1. Are whitebark pine seeds available to bears within our study
area? • What is the density/abundance of WBP trees?
• Do red squirrels build middens in these WBP stands? What is the density of middens?
• Do squirrels cache WBP cones in these stands?
2. Do grizzly bears eat whitebark pine seeds in the study area? • Is there evidence of bear activity and WBP use at squirrel
middens? If so, how much? From when?
3. Is midden density and/or bear use of the seeds related to forest stand characteristics?
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The 2008/2009 study area: the Willmore Wilderness Park, Jasper National
Park, Banff National Park, and the Siffleur Wilderness Area
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METHODS: IT’S ALL ABOUT SQUIRRELS
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METHODS:
• Transect surveys to search for squirrel middens, estimate WBP densities, and measure forest stand characteristics (slope, aspect, densities of other species, canopy cover, bear foods, etc.).
• Midden surveys to measure middens, classify as active/inactive, document squirrel caching and previous use of WBP, relative use of WBP, and investigate grizzly bear activity (diggings and scat) at squirrel middens.
• Scat sample collection to confirm presence of WBP seed casings in scat.
• Remote cameras at previously excavated middens to try to photograph bears at the squirrel middens.
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RESULTS: WBP TREES
• Density (basal areas) of WBP varied (from 0.23 to
7.33m2/ha) between study sites, indicating different
levels of availability in different regions of whitebark
pine distribution within our study area.
• Basal areas in this study were in the lower range of
those observed in other areas of documented bear
WBP use (2.2 to 23.4m2/ha in the Yellowstone).
• The lower basal areas in our study indicate a lower
availability of whitebark pine seeds in Alberta as
compared to Yellowstone.
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RESULTS: SQUIRREL MIDDENS
• Squirrel middens were found in the high elevation
WBP stands in our study area!!!
• Midden densities (0 to 0.88 middens per hectare)
were similar to those previously reported in other
studies of WBP stands (0.23 to 1.09 per hectare in
the GYE, Mattson & Reinhart, 1996).
• Squirrels were eating and caching WBP cones!!!
(WBP cone scales at 90% of the middens).
• For red squirrel populations in our study area, the
overall density of conifer species may be more
important than the densities of individual species.
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RESULTS: BEARS
• Bear use of whitebark pine seeds was observed in
six out of the eleven areas visited (excavations at
middens and/or bear scat containing whitebark
pine seed casings).
• All diggings and scat looked old (~2007); no new
activity in 2008 or 2009.
• No pictures of bears on our remote cameras.
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Predictors of bear use?
• Midden size significantly affected the probability that an individual midden was excavated.
• Analysis of forest stand composition (density and relative proportions of different tree species) as predictors of excavated midden density did not produce any statistically significant results.
• Basal area of whitebark pine surrounding the midden and midden density in the surrounding study area did not have significant effects on midden excavation.
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CONCLUSIONS
• WBP seeds are available to bears in our study area.
• Bears did use WBP seeds as a food source.
• BUT, no evidence that bears used WBP in 2008 or 2009. Inter-annual variation (low cone crops in 2008
and 2009).
• Role of stand characteristics in predicting midden densities and bear activity?
• How important is it???
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SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS?
• Bears are generalists - foods consumed depend on seasonal, annual, and regional availability. Peak production years for other important bear foods (e.g. berries) are thought to affect reproductive success.
• WBP seeds are a high quality food source, and could serve as an important energy source for grizzly bears in areas of WBP distribution in years of high cone production.
• Female bears in Yellowstone are reported to eat about twice as many pine seeds as males - accumulation of fat reserves, reproductive success, lactation? Potential implications for reproduction and survival? More
cubs after a good WBP year?
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RELATIVE IMPORTANCE IN THE DIET?
• Pilot project: Sulfur isotope study of bear hair to
estimate the relative use of WBP.
• If successful, will help determine the relative
importance of WBP seeds (and other foods) in the
overall diet.
• Future declines in WBP populations could affect
grizzly bears.
• Better management of both species?
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Acknowledgements
This research was funded by the Parks Division of Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation, with in-kind contributions from the Foothills Research Institute Grizzly Bear Program.
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Questions?