The influence of forestry stands treatments on brown bears (Ursus arctos) habitat selection in Sweden ? an option for Alberta forestry?
Forestry treatmentsStand treatmentsHabitat selectionCommercial thinningPre-commercial thinningUrsus arctosBearsForest management and foraging
The brown bear population in Alberta, Canada has been decreasing, while the Swedish has been increasing and all the affecting parameters are not known. This study examined the difference in these populations to see if an explanation could be found in differences between the forest management. The aim of the paper was to see if stand treatments had an influence of brown bears habitat selection in autumn in Sweden and how the results can be used in Alberta. This was done by analyzing bear positions in Sweden with forest data, and comparing forest management data for the study area in Sweden with forest management data for Alberta. The results displayed that mature forests over 60 years that have been commercially thinned are selected by bears rather than forests over 60 years that have not been commercially thinned in. From pre-commercial thinning no conclusions for bears in general could be done, but males tend to select for stands that has been pre-commercial thinned. Forest management in the two study areas differs with the emphasis on pre-commercial thinning and commercial thinning being carried out in Sweden but not in Alberta.
The conclusion is that forest management influences bears habitat selection during autumn and the theory is that thinning increases the berry production by opening up the canopy and increasing the nutrient availability. Alberta might be able to promote their bear population by thinning, however experiments should be done to see if there is an increase in berry production in Alberta as in Sweden.