Estimate of brown bear (Ursus arctos) spring population size using an aerial census method of bear tracks in tundra
V.V. Anufriev, V.N. Mamontov, E.A. Punantsev
Section: Population ecology
The results of determining the number of brown bears (Ursus arctos (Linnaeus 1758)) in the tundra based on the data of the aerial survey of their tracks after the release of this predator from the dens are discussed. The aerial survey of brown bear tracks was conducted at the time when the maximum number of bears including a females with cubs, left their dens. Thirty-seven tracks of adult brown bears were recorded during air routes with a total length of 2,290 km, of which 34 (92%) were located near rivers, large lakes and sea coasts and were located at an average distance of 1,2 km from the shoreline of these reservoirs. It is suggested that the population density of brown bear can be calculated from the indicators of the density of the shoreline of reservoirs (km/km²) and the number of crossed bear tracks belonging to different individuals are located for the flying transects laid along the shoreline of reservoirs. The population density of the brown bear is calculated as the product of the density of the shoreline of the reservoirs (km/km²) and the number of registered bear tracks belonging to different individuals per 1 km of fly transects along the reservoirs. According to the results of the aerial survey in the spring season, the maximum bear density (3,8 individuals per 1000 km²) in the taiga zone, the minimum (1,8 individuals per 1000 km²) – in the southern tundra. In the northern tundra, the brown bear was absent.
Keywords: aerial census, brown bear, tundra, Ursus arctos
Article published in number 1 for 2022 DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2022-1-153-158
ISSN 1995-4301
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