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Data access, distribution models, and stable isotopes: Merging approaches to improve bear distribution estimates and bear carnivory for conservation

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dc.contributor.advisorJohn F. Organ
dc.contributor.advisorStephen DeStefano
dc.contributor.advisorTodd K. Fuller
dc.contributor.advisorJason Kamilar
dc.contributor.authorFalconi, Nereyda
dc.contributor.departmentUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst
dc.date2024-03-27T19:31:21.000
dc.date.accessioned2024-04-26T15:47:51Z
dc.date.available2024-04-26T15:47:51Z
dc.date.submittedSeptember
dc.date.submitted2021
dc.description.abstractMy dissertation aims to contribute to the knowledge of Andean bears in Peru. The Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus) is the sole bear species in south America. The lack of knowledge on different aspects of Andean bear ecology, biogeography, and abundance patterns hinders current conservation efforts for the species. I compiled Andean bear occurrence records in Peru with collaboration from many colleagues and created an open-access database at the GBIF data repository. Next, I modeled the distribution of Andean bear within Peru and compared estimates including and excluding unpublished records. I found that models combining published and unpublished records estimated broader and more connected predicted occurrence areas than models that only included records from the published literature. Estimates were improved by using unpublished records because key data added from unsampled localities reduced spatial sampling bias. I used 15N stable isotopes analyses of hair samples to infer diet composition and trophic position for all eight bear species in the world by comparing bear 15N values to reference mammal species and to published dietary studies. I also examined how the frequency of reported human-bear conflicts related to bear trophic positions. I found that most bear species were mainly herbivorous (low15N) and similar, while the few more highly carnivorous species (high15N) differed among themselves in trophic position. At least one bear species ranged from herbivorous to carnivorous between sampling localities. The 15N signatures of bears were uncorrelated to the frequency of livestock predation or crop damage reported, indicating bear-human conflicts are not related to bear diet composition. Since undertaking effective conservation decisions and actions for broadly distributed species such as bears depends on large-scale information, individual efforts fall short in developing full understanding of conservation needs. Thus, I encourage the use and publication of raw data from opportunistic observations, reports of natural park rangers, student theses, and small independent studies to gain better knowledge particularly for poorly studied species. Also, similar diet patterns among bears suggests that techniques developed for dealing with human-bear conflicts for certain bear species can be applied to others as well, which could enhance bear conservation worldwide.
dc.description.degreeDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)
dc.description.departmentEnvironmental Conservation
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.7275/23438083
dc.identifier.orcidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5084-5659
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14394/18626
dc.relation.urlhttps://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3324&context=dissertations_2&unstamped=1
dc.source.statuspublished
dc.subjectAndean bear
dc.subjectspectacled bear
dc.subjectTremarctos ornatus
dc.subjectdistribution models
dc.subjectstable isotopes
dc.subjectopen access database
dc.subjectOther Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
dc.titleData access, distribution models, and stable isotopes: Merging approaches to improve bear distribution estimates and bear carnivory for conservation
dc.typeopenaccess
dc.typearticle
dc.typedissertation
digcom.contributor.authorisAuthorOfPublication|email:nereydafl@hotmail.com|institution:University of Massachusetts Amherst|Falconi, Nereyda
digcom.identifierdissertations_2/2310
digcom.identifier.contextkey23438083
digcom.identifier.submissionpathdissertations_2/2310
dspace.entity.typePublication
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