Abstract
Abstract Hedysarum (Hedysarum spp.) roots are a major food for grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) over much of their Canadian and Alaskan range. In Banff National Park, grizzly bears typically dig roots of pink hedysarum (H. alpinum) in willow (Salix glauca, S. farriae) – dwarf birch (Betula glandulosa) shrubland. This shrubland type often burned in the past, but the effects of shrubland fire on grizzly bear feeding ecology have not been studied. We applied shrubland fire to pink hedysarum digging habitat in Banff National Park and measured grizzly bear response by counting their excavations for pink hedysarum roots over the subsequent 4–6 years. In 4 of 6 study sites, a positive fire effect was recorded: the digging density ratio (digging density in burned habitat divided by digging density in unburned control) increased 4.5x to 14.3x following fire compared to the ratio we recorded in the same treatment and control areas before fire was applied. In the remaining 2 study sites, grizzly bears dug 1 site essenti...
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call