Evolutionary and ecological traps for brown bears Ursus arctos in human-modified landscapes

Penteriani, Vincenzo (author), Mar Delgado, María del (author), Krofel, Miha (author), Jerina, Klemen (author), Ordiz, Andrés (author), Dalerum, Fredrik (author), Zarzo-Arias, Alejandra Zarzo-Arias (author), Bombieri, Giulia (author)

Evolutionary traps, and their derivative, ecological traps, occur when animals make maladaptive decisions based on seemingly reliable environmental cues, and are important mechanistic explanations for declines in animal populations. Despite the interest in large carnivore conservation in human%modified landscapes, the emergence of traps and their potential effects on the conservation of large carnivore populations has frequently been overlooked. The brown bear Ursus arctos typifies the challenges facing large carnivore conservation and recent research has reported that this species can show maladaptive behaviours in human%modified landscapes. Here we review, describe and discuss scenarios recognised as evolutionary or ecological traps for brown bears, and propose possible trap scenarios and mechanisms that have the potential to affect the dynamics and viability of brown bear populations. Six potential trap scenarios have been detected for brown bears in human%modified landscapes: 1) food resources close to human settlements; 2) agricultural landscapes; 3) roads; 4) artificial feeding sites; 5) hunting by humans; and 6) other human activities. Because these traps are likely to be of contrasting relevance for different demographic segments of bear populations, we highlight the importance of evaluations of the relative demographic consequences of different trap types for wildlife management. We also suggest that traps may be behind the decreases in brown bear and other large carnivore populations in human-modified landscapes.

• Language: English
• Keywords: ecological traps, evolutionary traps, big beasts, cultural landscape, Ursus arctos
• Work type: Not categorized
• Typology: 1.02 - Review Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: In print
• Number of pages: Str. 1-14
• Numbering: #Vol. #[v tisku], #iss. #[v tisku]
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-100747
• UDC: 630*14+630*15
• ISSN on article: 0305-1838
• DOI: 10.1111/mam.12123
• COBISS.SI-ID: 5057190
• Publication date in RUL: 11.04.2018

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Mammal review
• Shortened title: Mamm. rev.
• Publisher: Blackwell Scientific Publ.
• COBISS.SI-ID: 25893888

Licences

• License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
• Description: The most restrictive Creative Commons license. This only allows people to download and share the work for no commercial gain and for no other purposes.
• Licensing start date: 11.04.2018

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: ekološke pasti, evolucijske pasti, velike zveri, kulturna krajina, Ursus arctos