Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus) population density and relative abundance at the buffer zone of the Chingaza National Natural Park, cordillera oriental of the colombian andes

Daniel Rodríguez,Adriana Reyes,Fidel Ernesto Poveda-Gómez,Robinson Duque,Nicolás Rafael Reyes-Amaya,Yeimy Castillo-Navarro,Andres Quiñones-Guerrero

doi:10.11606/1807-0205/2020.60.30

Abstract

The Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus) population density and relative abundance within the Chingaza Massif were assessed between September 2015 and May 2016. One hundred seventeen (117) camera traps were installed at 9 grids: 13 cameras per grid, each camera separated 750 m from the other; the sampling effort was 17,057 days-trap. Two thousand seven hundred eighty-four (2,784) native fauna records were obtained, 1,456 corresponding to mammals, 183 records for Andean bear specimens, 158 of them independent bear records (at least one hour between records), and 106 effective-independent bear records (also permitting individual recognition). Fifty-seven (57) Andean bear individuals were identified according to key external morphological features. Sixteen (16) adults were recaptured (12 males and 4 females), with a maximum mean distance of 27.22 km. Bears population density was 2.9 bears per 100 km². Based on this density and the buffer area of the sampling grids, we estimated an overall number of 122 bears in 4,215.15 km². The estimated density is the first for the species in Colombia and the lowest regarding previous reports from other countries. Thus, it is necessary to better understand how integral habitat quality and the anthropic impacts on habitat quality, availability, and connectivity may affect the Andean bear population densities in Colombia, as a useful tool for assessing populations` state and focus future conservation actions.

Highlights

Population assessments have been usually made to know the conservation status of different wildlife species (Van Horne, 1983; Witmer Gary, 2005), as biological information on populations state constitute a key tool allowing design and execution of accurate mid and long-term conservation actions (Rodríguez et al, 2019a)
The Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus) population density and relative abundance within the Chingaza Massif were assessed between September 2015 and May 2016
Fifty-seven Andean bear individuals were identified according to key external features, sixteen were recaptured, and 4 males moved a maximum mean distance (MMDM) of 27.22 km between inter-grids recaptures (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

Population assessments have been usually made to know the conservation status of different wildlife species (Van Horne, 1983; Witmer Gary, 2005), as biological information on populations state constitute a key tool allowing design and execution of accurate mid and long-term conservation actions (Rodríguez et al, 2019a). D. et al.: Andean bear population density ple size, probability of capture, location and spatial distribution of the cameras, and size of the study and effective trapping areas (Foster & Harmsen, 2011; Garshelis, 2011), along with detectability and individuals identification (Zug, 2009; Jones, 2010; Reyes et al, 2017). The relative abundance and population density of Andean bears at the buffer zone of the Chingaza National Natural Park within the Chingaza Massif (Cordillera oriental of the Colombian Andes), was estimated, as a useful tool for assessing populationsstate and focus future conservation actions

Methods

Results

Conclusion