Andean bears (Tremarctos ornatus) display selective behaviors while foraging bromeliads (Puya spp.) in high elevation puna grasslands


Summary

Andean bears display selective behaviors while foraging for bromeliads in high-elevation puna grasslands, with a preference for Puya leptostachya over Puya membranacea, and a tendency to forage during the dry season.

Highlights

  • Andean bears forage extensively on bromeliads across their range.
  • The study found that Andean bears display selective behaviors while foraging for bromeliads.
  • The bears preferred to forage on Puya leptostachya over Puya membranacea.
  • Foraging activity was mostly observed during the dry season.
  • The bears selected for high-elevation, east-facing, steep slopes in a band near the cloud forest edge.
  • Andean bears avoided areas with current pastoral activities when selecting foraging patches.
  • The study suggests that the reduction or removal of cattle grazing from puna grasslands may quickly increase the amount of seasonal foraging habitat for Andean bears.

Key Insights

  • Andean bears actively select for resources within puna grasslands, suggesting behavioral flexibility in response to changing environmental conditions.
  • The bears' preference for Puya leptostachya over Puya membranacea may be due to differences in nutritional value or palatability.
  • The selection of high-elevation, east-facing, steep slopes in a band near the cloud forest edge may be related to optimal growing conditions for bromeliads and habitat selection by the bears.
  • The avoidance of areas with current pastoral activities when selecting foraging patches suggests that Andean bears are sensitive to human disturbance.
  • The study highlights the importance of considering the impact of livestock on the sustainability of puna grasslands and the diversity of plant species of importance to endemic wildlife.
  • The reduction or removal of cattle grazing from puna grasslands may be a conservation strategy to increase the amount of seasonal foraging habitat for Andean bears.
  • The study contributes to our understanding of the ecological and conservation significance of puna grasslands for Andean bears and other wildlife.



Mindmap

Manu National Park, Peru
High-elevation puna grasslands
3499-3806 meters above sea level
Study Area
11,613 individual plants recorded
2,895 distinct patches
Puya leptostachya dominant species
Bromeliad Diversity
Andean bears prefer Puya leptostachya
Higher-density patches preferred
Vegetative-stage plants preferred
Foraging Selection
East-facing slopes preferred
Steeper slopes preferred
High-elevation areas preferred
Habitat Characteristics
Livestock disturbance reduces foraging
Protected areas crucial for conservation
Historical human influence on grasslands
Human Impact
Puna grasslands key habitat for Andean bears
Livestock management crucial for conservation
Protected areas essential for bear survival
Conservation Implications
Resource Selection Functions used
Binomial logit-link GLM used
Akaike Information Criterion used
Research Methods
Dry season preferred for foraging
Seasonal variation in flowering status
Seasonal variation in species composition
Seasonal Variation

Citation

Pilfold, N. W., Mateo-Chero, D., Farfan-Rios, W., Watsa, M., Owen, M. A., & Van Horn, R. C. (2024). Andean bears (Tremarctos ornatus) display selective behaviors while foraging bromeliads (Puya spp.) in high elevation puna grasslands. In J. A. Benavides-Montaño (Ed.), PLOS ONE (Vol. 19, Issue 12, p. e0314547). Public Library of Science (PLoS). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0314547

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