Selective habitat use by brown bear (Ursus arctos L.) in northern Pindos, Greece

Abstract

The brown bear (Ursus arctos L.) is a key species indicating the conservation status of natural and seminatural mountainous ecosystems. Brown bear populations in Greece are confined to the mountain ranges of Pindos and Rodopi. Systematic data on brown bear spatial behavior based on telemetry data were lacking in Greece until 1997. This paper presents the results on brown bear habitat use patterns monitored on an annual basis in the area of Grammos and NW Voio mountains located in Northern Pindos range. A sample of six radiocollared brown bears (n = 6, 5 males - 1 female) was monitored from 1997 to 2002 using ground telemetry. Generated data (n = 3,052 bearings and n = 739 radiolocations) were combined to an analysis of vegetation characteristics identified through a classification of eight habitat types according to vegetation structure and dominant formations. Bear home range size varied individually from 102 km 2 to 507 km 2 . Seasonal variability of home range size was also evident with fall presenting the highest values ranging from 87 km 2 to 314 km 2 . Bears showed clear preference for mixed agro-forestry systems as well as for agricultural lands especially in the end of summer and beginning of fall (¯ 2 , p = 0.05). Forests with mixed broadleaved species including chestnuts (Castanea sativa) and hazelnuts (Corylus avellana) were also used more than expected (¯ 2 , p = 0.05). Brown bear habitat choice and preferences can be used as a decision making tool to delineate important areas and to take appropriate management and conservation measures for the targeted species and the related forest ecosystems.