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Exposure to lead (Pb) is a global health problem for both humans and wildlife. Despite a dramatic decline in human Pb exposure following restrictions of leaded gasoline and industry and thereby an overall reduction of Pb entering the environment, Pb exposure continues to be a problem for wildlife species. Literature on scavenging terrestrial mammals, including interactions between Pb exposure and life history, is however limited. We quantified Pb concentration in 153 blood samples from 110 free-ranging Scandinavian brown bears (Ursus arctos), 1–25 years old, using inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry. We used generalized linear models to test effects of age, body mass, reproduction status and spatial distribution on the blood Pb concentrations of 56 female bears. We sampled 28 females together with 56 dependent cubs and paired their blood Pb concentrations. From 20 lactating females, we measured the Pb concentration in milk. The mean blood Pb concentration was 96.6 μg/L (range: 38.7.0–220.5 μg/L). Both the mean and range are well above established threshold concentrations for developmental neurotoxicity (12 μg/L), increased systolic blood pressure (36 μg/L) and prevalence of kidney disease in humans (15 μg/L). Lactating females had higher Pb blood concentrations compared to younger, non-lactating females. Blood Pb concentrations of dependent cubs were correlated with their mother's blood Pb concentration, which in turn was correlated with the Pb concentration in the milk. Life-long Pb exposure in Scandinavian brown bears may have adverse effects both on individual and population levels. The high blood Pb concentrations found in brown bears contrast the general reduction in environmental Pb contamination over the past decades in Scandinavia and more research is needed to identify the sources and pathways of Pb exposure in the brown bears. Lead, Blood, Milk, Ursus arctos, Carnivora

American black bear (Ursus americanus; hereafter, black bear) populations in Virginia, USA, have been recovering from near extirpation for the past century. The expansion of both human and bear populations has coincided with an increase in human–black bear interactions. Mitigating human–black bear problems is a management priority of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Although the number of reported interactions has increased, no formal analysis of the spatial distribution of these interactions has been completed for Virginia. To address this gap, we assessed the role of ecological and anthropogenic variables in explaining the spatial distribution of human–black bear interactions in Virginia, at both county- and individual interaction point-scales, from 2008 to 2015. The results of these analyses indicate that landscape features representing the interface of potentially suitable black bear habitat and human development combine to increase risk of human–black bear interactions. Point locations with the highest probability of a black bear interaction had intermediate housing densities (300–600 houses/km2) and forest covered a large percentage of the surrounding landscape. At the county scale, interactions were predicted to be above average when the county exceeded roughly 67.7% forest, 27.2% agricultural cover, and 10.3% developed land. These results, combined with our generated high-resolution map of predicted relative risk, can be used to help target the strategic implementation of management actions aimed at reducing negative human–black bear interactions in Virginia, as well as throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

Despite increasing habitat fragmentation, large carnivore populations in parts of Europe have been recovering and expanding into human-dominated areas. Knowledge of animal dispersal patterns in such areas is important for their conservation, management, and coexistence with humans. We used genetic data based on 15 microsatellite markers from 312 individuals (98 females, 214 males) to assess kinship and dispersal patterns during the recovery and spatial expansion of a wild brown bear (Ursus arctos) population (2003–2010) in the humandominated landscape of Greece. We hypothesized that bear dispersal in Greece was sex-biased, with females being more philopatric and males dispersing more frequently and over greater distances. Dispersal indeed was sex-biased, with males dispersing more frequently and farther than females. Overall, females were found to be philopatric; males also appeared to be philopatric, but to a lesser degree. However, a high proportion of females displayed dispersal behavior, which may be indicative of a pre-saturation stage of the population in that part of the country. Our results indicate that dispersal may be due to evading competition and avoiding inbreeding. We also documented long-distance dispersal of bears, which is considered to be indicative of a spatially expanding population. Our results highlight the value of using noninvasive genetic monitoring data to assess kinship among individuals and study dispersal patterns in human-dominated landscapes. Brown bears remain threatened in Greece; we therefore recommend systematic genetic monitoring of the species in combination with careful habitat management to protect suitable habitat (i.e., dispersal corridors) and ultimately ensure co-existence with humans and survival of brown bears in the country. genetic relationship, Greece, kinship, spatial autocorrelation, wildlife conservation

Megafaunal frugivores can consume large amounts of fruits whose seeds may be dispersed over long distances, thus, affecting plant regeneration processes and ecosystem functioning. We investigated the role of brown bears (Ursus arctos) as legitimate megafaunal seed dispersers. We assessed the quantity component of seed dispersal by brown bears across its entire distribution based on information about both the relative frequency of occurrence and species composition of fleshy fruits in the diet of brown bears extracted from the literature. We assessed the quality component of seed dispersal based on germination experiments for 11 fleshy-fruited plant species common in temperate and boreal regions and frequently eaten by brown bears. Across its distribution, fleshy fruits, on average, represented 24% of the bear food items and 26% of the total volume consumed. Brown bears consumed seeds from at least 101 fleshy-fruited plant species belonging to 24 families and 42 genera, of which Rubus (Rosaceae) and Vaccinium (Ericaceae) were most commonly eaten. Brown bears inhabiting Mediterranean forests relied the most on fleshy fruits and consumed the largest number of species per study area. Seeds ingested by bears germinated at higher percentages than those from whole fruits, and at similar percentages than manually depulped seeds. We conclude that brown bears are legitimate seed dispersers as they consume large quantities of seeds that remain viable after gut passage. The decline of these megafaunal frugivores may compromise seed dispersal services and plant regeneration processes., This study was supported by the BearConnect project funded by the National Science Centre in Poland, (2016/22/Z/NZ8/00121) through the 2015–2016 BiodivERsA COFUND call for research proposals, with the national funders ANR/DLR-PT/UEFISCDI/NCN/RCN. Additional funding from the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education (project NN304-294037, NS), the National Science Centre in Poland (project DEC-2013/08/M/NZ9/00469, NS), the National Centre for Research and Development (GLOBE, POL-NOR/198352/85/2013, NS, JA) is also acknowledged.

Analysis of ancient environmental DNA (eDNA) has revolutionized our ability to describe biological communities in space and time,1–3 by allowing for parallel sequencing of DNA from all trophic levels.4–8 However, because environmental samples contain sparse and fragmented data from multiple individuals, and often contain closely related species,9 the field of ancient eDNA has so far been limited to organellar genomes in its contribution to population and phylogenetic studies.5,6,10,11 This is in contrast to data from fossils12,13 where full-genome studies are routine, despite these being rare and their destruction for sequencing undesirable.14–16 Here, we report the retrieval of three low-coverage (0.03×) environmental genomes from American black bear (Ursus americanus) and a 0.04× environmental genome of the extinct giant short-faced bear (Arctodus simus) from cave sediment samples from northern Mexico dated to 16–14 thousand calibrated years before present (cal kyr BP), which we contextualize with a new high-coverage (26×) and two lower-coverage giant short-faced bear genomes obtained from fossils recovered from Yukon Territory, Canada, which date to ∼22–50 cal kyr BP. We show that the Late Pleistocene black bear population in Mexico is ancestrally related to the present-day Eastern American black bear population, and that the extinct giant short-faced bears present in Mexico were deeply divergent from the earlier Beringian population. Our findings demonstrate the ability to separately analyze genomic-scale DNA sequences of closely related species co-preserved in environmental samples, which brings the use of ancient eDNA into the era of population genomics and phylogenetics.

In this study, we summarize Trichinella findings from four wild, free-ranging host species from Estonia during 2007&ndash, 2014. Trichinella spp. larvae were detected in 281 (0.9%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.8&ndash, 1.0) of 30,566 wild boars (Sus scrofa), 63 (14.7%, 95% CI 11.6&ndash, 18.3) of 429 brown bears (Ursus arctos), 59 (65.56%, 95% CI 55.3&ndash, 74.8) of 90 Eurasian lynxes (Lynx lynx), and three (60.0%, 95% CI 18.2&ndash, 92.7) of five badgers (Meles meles). All four European Trichinella species were detected: T. britovi in 0.7% of the wild boars, 7.2% of the brown bears, 45.6% of the lynxes, and 40.0% of the badgers, T. nativa in 0.1% of the wild boars, 5.8% of the brown bears, and 20.0% of the lynxes, T. pseudospiralis in 0.02% the wild boars, and T. spiralis in 0.03% of the wild boars and 4.4% of the lynxes. The results include the first description from Estonia of T. britovi in brown bear and badgers, T. pseudospiralis in wild boars, and T. spiralis in wild boars and lynxes. The results indicate high infection pressure in the sylvatic cycles across the years &ndash, illustrating continuous risk of spillover to domestic cycles and of transmission to humans.

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-28T19:49:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-01-01 Background: The brown bear (Ursus arctos) is considered one of the largest terrestrial carnivores, native from temperate forest regions of North America, Europe and Asia. In Brazil, they are founded in captivity and their safe capture and immobilization are obtained with one effective anesthesia for management and surgical and diagnostic procedures. Some anesthetic protocols are described for these purposes, however, there is a lack for data on the anesthetic and adverse effects they have on bears when used. The aim of this case is to report the use and effects of the association of dexmedetomidine with tiletamine and zolazepam in the chemical containment of a captive adult brown bear. Case: A 33-year-old female brown bear, weighing 100 kg, belonging to the Zoobotanic Park of Teresina, Piauí, Brazil, was chemically immobilized for an incisional biopsy of a cutaneous nodule with 1.0 cm diameter in the right face region. The anesthetic protocol included 6 μg/kg of dexmedetomidine associated with 3 mg/kg of tiletamine and zolazepam, administered intramuscularly by dart into the gluteal region of the right pelvic limb. The animal showed moderate ataxia at 5 min and assumed sternal decubitus 7 min after anesthetic administration. The bear's degree of sedation was considered adequate and safe to perform the biopsy at 10 min after administration. Heart rate (47 ± 3 bpm), respiratory rate (17 ± 2 mpm) and rectal temperature (38.7 ± 0.1ºC) were monitored. The bear remained immobile and unconscious throughout the procedure, with intense muscle relaxation, bilateral eyeball rotation, absent lateral palpebral reflex and mild medial reflex and without nystagmus. Complementary sedative doses were not necessary. At the beginning of anesthetic recovery, the bear received 6 μg/kg of atipamezole, intramuscularly. After 25 min of administration of atipamezole, the animal showed signs of recovery in the level of consciousness and reactivity to external stimuli, and assumed the quadrupedal position at 60 min after reverser application. Discussion: Even in captivity, the bears behavior is unpredictable and attack can occur, causing trauma or death to people. For this, the chemical immobilization is important to keep safety of everyone. This procedure was performed using blowgun-assisted darts thrown by a staff member who had experience in using this method, who darted accurately and effectively. The latency time observed after administration of the anesthetic protocol used is similar to reported in other studies with bears that also received intramuscular dexmedetomidine and tiletamine and zolazepam and showed intense muscle relaxation and immobility. The doses used contributed to the absence of bradycardia and hypoventilation and, performing the procedure in the morning, when the temperature is milder in the city, minimized the chance of hyperthermia and thermal stress in the animal, not requiring body cooling. The use of dexmedetomidine in chemical containment protocols for short and minimally invasive procedures allows the subsequent use of its antagonist, atipamezole, contributing to a shorter recovery time, return of the animal's degree of consciousness and lower incidence of ataxia after assuming a quadrupedal position. The anesthetic protocol used was considered efficient, providing a quick and gentle chemical containment, adequate anesthetic plan and good anesthetic recovery in an adult brown bear from captivity. Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Natureza (CCBN) Universidade Federal do Acre (UFAC), AC Centro de Ciências Agrárias (CCA) Universidade Federal do Piauí (UFPI), PI Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ) Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (Unesp), SP Escola de Veterinária Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), MG Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ) Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (Unesp), SP

Chemical communication is important for many species of mammals. Male brown bears, Ursus arctos, mark trees with a secretion from glands located on their back. The recent discovery of pedal glands and pedal-marking at a site used for tree-rubbing led us to hypothesize that both types of marking form part of a more complex communication system. We describe the patterns of chemical communication used by different age and sex classes, including differences in the roles of these classes as information providers or receivers over four years at a long-term marking site. Using video recordings from a camera trap, we registered a total of 285 bear-visits and 419 behavioral events associated with chemical communication. Bears visited the site more frequently during the mating season, during which communication behaviors were more frequent. A typical visit by male bears consisted of sniffing the depressions where animals pedal mark, performing pedal-marking, sniffing the tree, and, finally, rubbing against the trunk of the tree. Adult males performed most pedal- and tree-marking (95% and 66% of the cases, respectively). Males pedal-marked and tree-rubbed in 81% and 48% of their visits and sniffed the pedal marks and the tree in 23% and 59% of visits, respectively. Adult females never pedal marked, and juveniles did so at very low frequencies. Females rubbed against the tree in just 9% of their visits; they sniffed the tree and the pedal marks in 51% and 21% of their visits, respectively. All sex and age classes performed pedaland tree-sniffing. There were significant associations between behaviors indicating that different behaviors tended to occur during the same visit and were more likely if another individual had recently visited. These associations leading to repeated marking of the site can promote the establishment of long-term marking sites. Marking sites defined by trees and the trails leading to them seem to act as communication hubs that brown bears use to share and obtain important information at population level.

Knowledge about the connectivity among natural populations is essential to identify management units for effective conservation actions. Conservation-minded management has led to the recovery of large carnivore populations in northern Europe, possibly restoring connectivity between the two separated, but expanding brown bear (Ursus arctos) populations on the Scandinavian peninsula to the west and Karelia, a part of the large Eurasian population, to the east. The degree of connectivity between these populations has been poorly understood, therefore we investigated the extent of connectivity between the two populations using autosomal microsatellites and Y chromosome haplotypes in 924 male bears (the dispersing sex), sampled during a period of 12 years (2005–2017) across the transborder area where these two populations meet. Our results showed that the two populations are not genetically isolated as reported in earlier studies. We detected recent asymmetrical gene flow at a rate (individuals per generation) of 4.6–5.5 (1%) from Karelia into Scandinavia, whereas the rate was approximately 27.1–34.5 (8%) in the opposite direction. We estimated historical gene flow of effective number of migrants to be between 1.7 and 2.5 between the populations. Analyses of Y chromosome markers supported these results. Successful recovery and expansion of both populations led to the restoration of connectivity, however, it is asymmetric, possibly due to different recovery histories and population densities. By aligning monitoring between neighboring countries, we were able to better understand the biological processes across the relevant spatial scale. Brown bear Genetic structure Male gene flow Microsatellites Migration Recovery Ursus arctos Wildlife monitoring Y chromosome

Brown bears (Ursus arctos) hibernate for 5–6 months during winter, but despite kidney insufficiency, dyslipidemia and inactivity they do not seem to develop atherosclerosis or cardiovascular disease (CVD). IgM antibodies against phosphorylcholine (anti-PC) and malondialdehyde (anti-MDA) are associated with less atherosclerosis, CVD and mortality in uremia in humans and have anti-inflammatory and other potentially protective properties. PC but not MDA is exposed on different types of microorganisms. We determine anti-PC and anti-MDA in brown bears in summer and winter. Paired serum samples from 12 free ranging Swedish brown bears were collected during hibernation in winter and during active state in summer and analyzed for IgM, IgG, IgG1/2 and IgA anti-PC and anti-MDA by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). When determined as arbitrary units (median set at 100 for summer samples), significantly raised levels were observed in winter for anti-PC subclasses and isotypes, and for IgA anti-PC the difference was striking; 100 IQR (85.9–107.9) vs 782.3, IQR (422.8–1586.0; p

We explored fluctuating asymmetry (FA) and morphological integration (MI) in the skull of the small, highly inbred and divergent Apennine bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus), to explore its uniqueness and investigate any potential effects of inbreeding depression. We used 3D geometric morphometrics contrasting Apennine bears with other two large outbred bear populations from Scandinavia and Kamchatka as controls. Shape divergence and variability were explored by a principal component analysis on aligned coordinates of 39 landmarks. Procrustes ANOVA, morphological disparity and the global integration index were used to explore FA, shape variance and MI. By remarking Apennine bears as a highly divergent phenotype, we recorded the highest FA and deviation from self-similarity compared with the other two control populations. We conclude that Apennine bears are likely facing developmental instability as a consequence of inbreeding depression, whereas the divergent trait covariance pattern may represent a potential source of evolutionary novelties. We discuss the implications for the conservation and management of this imperiled taxon.

Stress hormone concentrations in bear scats are best explained by chlorophyll in the scat, which describes the amount of herbaceous vegetation in the diet. Bears that grazed more on grasses and forbs had the highest stress hormone concentrations. Bears grazed more near trails., Meat, fruit, seeds and other high-energy bear foods are often highly localized and briefly available and understanding which factors influence bear consumption of these foods is a common focus of bear conservation and ecology. However, the most common bear foods, graminoids and forbs, are more widespread but of lower quality. We poorly understand how herbage consumption impacts bear physiology, such as endocrine system function that regulates homeostasis and stress responses. Here, we described bear diets with a novel approach, measuring the concentration of chlorophyll in bear scats (faecal chlorophyll) to index the proportion of the recent diet that was composed of leaves from graminoids and forbs. We measured faecal chlorophyll and faecal cortisol in 351 grizzly (Ursus arctos, n = 255) and black bear (Ursus americanus, n = 96) scats from Yellowstone National Park in 2008–2009. We compared models of faecal chlorophyll and faecal cortisol concentrations considering the effects of spatial, dietary, scat and bear-specific factors including species. Faecal chlorophyll levels were the strongest predictor of faecal cortisol in a manner that suggested an endocrine response to a low-energy diet. Both compounds were highest during the spring and early summer months, overlapping the breeding season when higher energy foods were less available. Effects of scat composition, scat weathering, bear age, bear sex, species and other factors that have previously been shown to influence faecal cortisol in bears were not important unless faecal chlorophyll was excluded from models. The top models of faecal chlorophyll suggested grazing was primarily influenced by spatial attributes, with greater grazing closer to recreational trails, implying that elevated cortisol with grazing could be a response to anthropogenic activity. Our results confirm that higher stress hormone concentrations correspond with lower quality diets in bears, particularly grazing, and that faecal chlorophyll shows promise as a metric for studying grazing behaviour and its consequences.

Harvest, through its intensity and regulation, often results in selection on female reproductive traits. Changes in female traits can have demographic consequences, as they are fundamental in shaping population dynamics. It is thus imperative to understand and quantify the demographic consequences of changes in female reproductive traits to better understand and anticipate population trajectories under different harvest intensities and regulations. Here, using a dynamic, frequency‐dependent, population model of the intensively hunted brown bear (Ursus arctos) population in Sweden, we quantify and compare population responses to changes in four reproductive traits susceptible to harvest‐induced selection: litter size, weaning age, age at first reproduction, and annual probability to reproduce. We did so for different hunting quotas and under four possible hunting regulations: (i) no individuals are protected, (ii) mothers but not dependent offspring are protected, (iii) mothers and dependent offspring of the year (cubs) are protected, and (iv) entire family groups are protected (i.e., mothers and dependent offspring of any age). We found that population growth rate declines sharply with increasing hunting quotas. Increases in litter size and the probability to reproduce have the greatest potential to affect population growth rate. Population growth rate increases the most when mothers are protected. Adding protection on offspring (of any age), however, reduces the availability of bears for hunting, which feeds back to increase hunting pressure on the nonprotected categories of individuals, leading to reduced population growth. Finally, we found that changes in reproductive traits can dampen population declines at very high hunting quotas, but only when protecting mothers. Our results illustrate that changes in female reproductive traits may have context‐dependent consequences for demography. Thus, to predict population consequences of harvest‐induced selection in wild populations, it is critical to integrate both hunting intensity and regulation, especially if hunting selectivity targets female reproductive strategies.

This chapter aims to present an overview of the beer sector in Romania while looking at a case study on the implementation of sustainability in the URSUS Breweries business by using the corpus-based analysis. The paper starts with a brief history of the Romanian beer sector and literature review. Then, it continues with emphasizing and analyzing the main indicators of the beer sector in Romania overtime. Finally, it discusses the way URSUS Breweries understood the challenge of sustainability during the period 2013–17. In 2017 URSUS Breweries was the most important producer in Romania in terms of turnover, income, and profit among the four biggest companies in the beer manufacturing industry. Since 2012, the company has taken several specific actions to reduce its negative impact on the environment and on communities.

To investigate mechanisms by which hibernators avoid atherogenic hyperlipidemia during hibernation, we assessed lipoprotein and cholesterol metabolisms of free-ranging Scandinavian brown bears (Ursus arctos). In winter- and summer-captured bears, we measured lipoprotein sizes and sub-classes, triglyceride-related plasma-enzyme activities, and muscle lipid composition along with plasma-levels of antioxidant capacities and inflammatory markers. Although hibernating bears increased nearly all lipid levels, a 36%-higher cholesteryl-ester transfer-protein activity allowed to stabilize lipid composition of high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Levels of inflammatory metabolites, i.e., 7-ketocholesterol and 11ß-prostaglandin F2α, declined in winter and correlated inversely with cardioprotective HDL2b-proportions and HDL-sizes that increased during hibernation. Lower muscle-cholesterol concentrations and lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase activity in winter suggest that hibernating bears tightly controlled peripheral-cholesterol synthesis and/or release. Finally, greater plasma-antioxidant capacities prevented excessive lipid-specific oxidative damages in plasma and muscles of hibernating bears. Hence, the brown bear manages large lipid fluxes during hibernation, without developing adverse atherogenic effects that occur in humans and non-hibernators.

Scent-mediated communication is considered the principal communication channel in many mammal species. Compared with visual and vocal communication, odors persist for a longer time, enabling individuals to interact without being in the same place at the same time. The brown bear (Ursus arctos), like other mammals, carries out chemical communication, for example, by means of scents deposited on marking (or rub) trees. In this study, we assessed rub tree selectivity of the brown bear in the predominantly deciduous forests of the Cantabrian Mountains (NW Spain). We first compared the characteristics of 101 brown bear rub trees with 263 control trees. We then analyzed the potential factors affecting the density of rub trees along 35 survey routes along footpaths. We hypothesized that: (1) bears would select particular trees, or tree species, with characteristics that make them more conspicuous; and (2) that bears would select trees located in areas with the highest presence of conspecifics, depending on the population density or the position of the trees within the species’ range. We used linear models and generalized additive models to test these hypotheses. Our results showed that brown bears generally selected more conspicuous trees with a preference for birches (Betula spp.). This choice may facilitate the marking and/or detection of chemical signals and, therefore, the effectiveness of intraspecific communication. Conversely, the abundance of rub trees along footpaths did not seem to depend on the density of bear observations or their relative position within the population center or its border. Our results suggest that Cantabrian brown bears select trees based on their individual characteristics and their location, with no influence of characteristics of the bear population itself. Our findings can be used to locate target trees that could help in population monitoring., During this research, EG-B was financially supported by a FPU grant (FPU15-03429) of the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities. VP and AO were financially supported by the Excellence Project CGL2017-82782-P financed by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities, the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI), and the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER, EU). VP also was financially supported by a GRUPIN research grant from the Regional Government of Asturias (Ref.: IDI/2018/000151). GB was financially supported by a collaboration contract with the MUSE – Museo delle Scienze of Trento (Italy). We acknowledge support of the publication fee by the CSIC Open Access Publication Support Initiative through its Unit of Information Resources for Research (URICI).

Large carnivore attacks on humans are a serious form of human-wildlife interaction which has increased globally in recent decades. When attacks occur, both humans and large carnivores suffer, highlighting the need to characterize these conflicts toward mitigation of attacks. We investigated brown bear (Ursus arctos) and Persian leopard (Panthera pardus) attacks on humans across Iran using reports provided by the Government of Iran during 2012–2020. We characterized temporal and spatial patterns of attacks, as well as species-specific attributes. We identified 83 attacks resulting in 77 human injuries and 6 fatalities. Bears were responsible for more attacks (63%) than leopards (37%). Attacks occurred more frequently during defensive reactions by bears and leopards on adult male people while livestock herding during the day in spring and summer. Bears reportedly attacked people more often in western provinces of Iran, while leopards attacked more frequently in northern provinces. We recommend that the Iran Department of the Environment consider implementing a national reporting system to document bear and leopard attacks on people. We further suggest development of national bear and leopard management plans that emphasize mitigating human risk to improve human attitudes toward these carnivore species to facilitate their conservation.

In this study, the teeth of cave bears from the Valsolda (Como province, near the boundary with Switzerland) have been morphologically and morphodynamically studied in order to indicate the possible evolutionary level of this population. These bears belong to the spelaeus group, and are found within the range of the Italian Alps populations that are generally characterized by medium size, at times higher, but featuring a rather simple dental surface with low or intermediate morphodynamic indices, and consequently a medium or in some case low evolutionary level. With these data only, it is impossible to define the species or subspecies (ingressus?, spelaeus ladinicus?) for the bears from Valsolda.

The cave bear ( Ursus spelaeus s.l .) was an iconic extinct bear that inhabited the Pleistocene of Eurasia. The cause of extinction of this species is unclear and to identify the actual factors, it is crucial to understand its feeding preferences. Here, we quantified the shape descriptor metrics in three-dimensional (3D) models of the upper teeth (P 4 –M 2 ) of the cave bear to make inferences about its controversial feeding behaviour. We used comparative samples, including representatives of all living bear species with known diets, as a template. Our topographic analyses show that the complexity of upper tooth rows in living bears is more clearly associated with the mechanical properties of the items consumed than with the type of food. Cave bears exhibit intermediate values on topographic metrics compared with the bamboo-feeder giant panda ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca ) and specialists in hard mast consumption ( Ursus arctos and Ursus thibetanus ). The crown topography of cave bear upper teeth suggests that they could chew on tough vegetal resources of low quality with high efficiency, a characteristic that no living bear currently displays. Our results align with a climate-driven hypothesis to explain the extinction of cave bear populations during the Late Pleistocene.

The North Cascades ecosystem of north-central Washington State (USA) and southern British Columbia, Canada, has been identified as 1 of 6 recovery zones for grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) that were at one time distributed across a nearly continuous range of western North America. The current small number of grizzly bears, along with an apparent scarcity of historical observations, obfuscates the extent to which the mountain range and its surrounding lowlands previously supported grizzly bears. We reviewed and synthesized what is currently known about the historical distribution of grizzly bears in and around the North Cascades to better inform possible future restoration actions. Archeological, ethnographic, and incidental evidence confirm the prehistoric and historic presence of grizzly bears in the ecosystem and surrounding lowlands. Successful implementation of grizzly bear restoration and management in the North Cascades is dependent in part on the perception that they are an integral component of the ecosystem's historical benchmark. Education and outreach efforts that focus on the influence of human perceptions and correcting misinformation about the history of bears in the ecosystem and their interactions with humans may improve long-term restoration success in the North Cascades.

When in 1905 the Polish writer Henryk Sienkiewicz was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature ‘for outstanding services as an epic writer’, it was his novel Quo vadis. A Narrative of the Time of Nero that motivated the committee to bestow this notable honour. The extraordinary international success of Quo vadis catapulted the author into literary stardom, placing him at the top of international league tables for the sheer quantity of his readers. But, before long, the historical novel began to detach itself from the person of its author and to become a multimedial, mass–culture phenomenon. In the West and East, Quo vadis was adapted for the stage and screen, provided the inspiration for works of music and other genres of literature, was transformed into comic strips and illustrated children’s books, and was cited in advertising and referenced in everyday objects of material culture. No work in English to date has explored in depth the mechanisms that released Quo vadis into mass circulation and the influence that its diverse spin-off forms exercised on other areas of culture—even on the reception and interpretation of the literary text itself. In the context of a robust scholarly interest in the processes of literary adaptation and classical reception, and set alongside the recent emergence of interest in the ‘Ben-Hur tradition’, this volume provides a coherent forum for a much-needed exploration, from various disciplinary and national perspectives, of the multimedial transformations of Quo vadis. Uniquely, also, for its English-speaking readers this collection of essays renders more visible the cultural conquests achieved by Poland on the world map of classical reception.

Sarcocystis spp. are protozoan parasites that cause a spectrum of lesions in various hosts. Hepatic sarcocystosis and encephalitis have been described in captive American black bears (Ursus americanus) and polar bears (Ursus maritimus), and in a free-ranging grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), but have not previously been reported in free-ranging American black bears. This study aimed to characterize the presence and lesions associated with Sarcocystis spp. in free-ranging bears in British Columbia, Canada from samples submitted to the provincial diagnostic laboratory. From 2007 to 2019, 102 free-ranging American black bear and grizzly bear tissues were examined postmortem for sarcocystosis using histopathology and follow-up molecular diagnostics. Sarcocystosis was confirmed in 41 (40%) free-ranging bears including 39 American black bears and two grizzly bears. Microscopic lesions included multifocal necrotizing hepatitis, nonsuppurative encephalitis, and/or intramuscular sarcocysts with or without associated inflammation. Sarcocystosis was considered the cause of death in eight (20%) of these bears, exclusively in cubs of the year (

Recent research highlights the ecological importance of individual variation in behavioural predictability. Individuals may not only differ in their average expression of a behavioural trait (their behavioural type) and in their ability to adjust behaviour to changing environmental conditions (individual plasticity), but also in their variability around their average behaviour (predictability). However, quantifying behavioural predictability in the wild has been challenging due to limitations of acquiring sufficient repeated behavioural measures. We here demonstrate how common biologging data can be used to detect individual variation in behavioural predictability in the wild and reveal the coexistence of highly predictable individuals along with unpredictable individuals within the same population. We repeatedly quantified two behaviours-daily movement distance and diurnal activity-in 62 female brown bears Ursus arctos tracked across 187 monitoring years. We calculated behavioural predictability over the short term (50 consecutive monitoring days within 1 year) and long term (across monitoring years) as the residual intra-individual variability (rIIV) of behaviour around the behavioural reaction norm. We tested whether predictability varies systematically across average behavioural types and whether it is correlated across functionally distinct behaviours, that is, daily movement distance and amount of diurnal activity. Brown bears showed individual variation in behavioural predictability from predictable to unpredictable individuals. For example, the standard deviation around the average daily movement distance within one monitoring year varied up to fivefold from 1.1 to 5.5 km across individuals. Individual predictability for both daily movement distance and diurnality was conserved across monitoring years. Individual predictability was correlated with behavioural type where individuals which were on average more diurnal and mobile were also more unpredictable in their behaviour. In contrast, more nocturnal individuals moved less and were more predictable in their behaviour. Finally, individual predictability in daily movement distance and diurnality was positively correlated, suggesting that individual predictability may be a quantitative trait in its own regard that could evolve and is underpinned by genetic variation. Unpredictable individuals may cope better with stochastic events and unpredictability may hence be an adaptive behavioural response to increased predation risk. Coexistence of predictable and unpredictable individuals may therefore ensure adaptable and resilient populations.

A major threat to mammalian carnivores is death due to human conflict, including carnivore use of anthropogenic food sources, predation of livestock, or car accidents. To reduce conflicts, it is critical to target proactive mitigations using reliable evidence on where conflict is likely to occur. We tested hypotheses about the importance of anthropogenic and environmental predictors in explaining the timing and distribution of human conflict with black bears (Ursus americanus) and cougars (Puma concolor) in a North American hotspot of human-carnivore conflict. Using reported conflict locations and spatial data in use-availability models, we estimated and mapped the probability of conflict for both species, including seasonally for bears, between 2011 and 2017. We found conflict increased for both species along the urban-wildland interface. Conflict with black bears was present in all seasons and increased with intermediate human density (i.e. suburban neighbourhoods). However, in autumn, bear conflict was more common in agricultural areas. Conversely, cougar conflict was primarily in rural areas, as their main attractant was livestock. We recommend targeting areas and times of expected conflict with proactive mitigations, such as bear-resistant garbage bins in communities adjacent to forests, electric fences that deter both carnivore species, and elimination of rural food attractants in autumn.

The seasonal dynamics of the prevalence, abundance, and mean intensity of egg excretion by the nematode parasite Baylisascaris transfuga in the European brown bear (Ursus arctos) were monitored relative to environmental factors (mean temperature, humidity, and temperature) over three years. The prevalence, abundance, and mean intensity of egg excretion tended to increase from spring to autumn throughout the monitoring period. The seasonal prevalence (84.2&ndash, 90.6%), abundance (470.2&ndash, 545.3 eggs per gramme (EPG) of faeces), mean intensity of excretion (558.3&ndash, 602.1 EPG), and number of eggs (1150 EPG) were highest in autumn. The prevalence of eggs (up to 48.5%), abundance (37.8&ndash, 60.6 EPG), and mean intensity of excretion (94.4&ndash, 125.0 EPG) were high in winter, despite the period of hibernation. The seasonal dynamics of B. transfuga abundance in bears, the mean temperature between spring and autumn, and the seasonal trend of increase in intensity of egg excretion with temperature from winter to summer were interrelated. Abundance differed significantly between winter and autumn, spring and autumn, and summer and autumn (p &lt, 0.0001) in all years and between spring and summer in 2016 (p &lt, 0.005), 2017 (p &lt, 0.05). B. transfuga abundance differed significantly between the seasons over the three years only in spring (p &le, 0.0001).

The article presents the findings of the paleoparasitological analysis of coprolites from the cave bear (Ursus kanivetz Vereshchagin, 1973). The material for research was obtained during excavations in the Ignatievskaya Cave (Southern Urals, Russia; 54°53' N 57°46' E). The deposits with coprolites date back to the middle of the Late Pleistocene (90 000-30 000 years ago). On the basis of the paleoparasitological analysis, eggs of the nematode characteristic of representatives of Ursidae, namely, Baylisascaris transfuga Rudolphi, 1819, have been established to be present in the coprolites. The eggs are well preserved and have not lost their morphological features. The large cave bear was infested by the nematode B. transfuga. This is the first find of the nematode B. transfuga in Pleistocene-aged sediments and the first find of parasites in coprolites of the cave bear.

The destroyed site(s) of Koskobilo (Olazti, Navarre, Northern Iberian Peninsula) have yielded unique archaeo-paleontological evidence in the Western Pyrenees region. The quarry uncovered a karstic site with faunal remains in 1940, and fossils were recovered both in situ and from the quarry dump. Ten years later, while the quarry was still working, a new visit to the dump yielded a large lithic assemblage and additional fossil remains with a different taphonomic pattern, which has been interpreted as the remains coming from a different site or zone within the same karst system. Here we re-study the paleontological evidence and provide new dating on a speleothem covering a Stephanorhinus hemitoechus tooth, which has yielded a minimum date of c. 220 ka for part of the assemblage. In total, the fossil assemblage comprises 38 mammal and six avian taxa and three fish remains. The faunal evidence indicates that in 1940 a mix of taxa from both the Middle and Upper Pleistocene were recovered, and it is difficult to assign most of them to a concrete period. However, based on biochronological criteria some of the identified taxa (e.g., Ursus thibetanus, Ursus cf. deningeri, Cuon cf. priscus, Macaca sylvanus, cf. Megaceroides) could be roughly contemporaneous with the dated rhino tooth, which would provide a new window to the Middle Pleistocene of the region, with deposits from MIS 7d and/or older. Despite the difficulties in studying this collection, recovered without stratigraphic context and in a salvage operation, Koskobilo has yielded an important paleontological assemblage which helps to understand the paleoecology of the Middle Pleistocene human occupations in the Western Pyrenees., This work was supported by the Research Group IT1418-19 (Eusko Jaurlaritza-Gobierno Vasco) and the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (projects PGC2018-093925-B-C31 and PGC2018-093925-B-C33; MCI/AEI/FEDER, UE) and benefitted from a Synthesys grant (AT-TAF-3663). A.G.-O. is funded by a Ramón y Cajal fellowship (RYC-2017-22558). A. R.-H. is funded by a Juan de la Cierva-I. fellowship (IJC-037447-I). M. Fernández-García is beneficiary of a PEJ grant (PEJ2018-005222-P) funded by the Spanish National System of Garantía Juvenil and the European Social Fund. M. Villalba de Alvarado is funded by a FPU fellowship (Fpu 15/06882; Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades).

Sarcoptic mange continues to impact free-ranging mammal populations, including the American black bear (Ursus americanus). Administration of a single oral dose of fluralaner may be a viable treatment option for captive and free-ranging black bears affected by mange. This novel ectoparasitic in the isoxazoline class acts as an inhibitor of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-gated chloride channels and l-glutamate-gated chloride channels (GluCls) and is commercially available in the United States as a flea and tick preventative medication for domestic dogs and cats. Pharmacokinetic parameters of fluralaner were evaluated in clinically healthy American black bear cubs (n = 10) administered a single oral dose of fluralaner at a targeted minimum dose of 25 mg/kg. Blood was collected at 24 hr and 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63, and 70 days, and harvested plasma was analyzed for drug concentration using high-performance liquid chromatography. The average half-life (Ke t1/2) was determined to be 4.9 days, which is shorter than that published in domestic dogs. It was estimated that the average drug withdrawal time is approximately 64-72 days in this species.

Grading the fecal consistency of carnivores is a frequently used tool for monitoring gut health and overall digestion. Several fecal consistency grading systems are available for mainly felids and canids. No such system exists for the brown bear (Ursus arctos Linnaeus, 1758). We aim at extending current fecal consistency grading systems with a scoring system for brown bears. The system was set up during a diet study with nine individuals fed a variety of diets including beef meat, rabbit, fruit, and grass-fruit-pellet mix in an incomplete crossover design. One additional individual was included opportunistically and was fed the typical zoo diet (vegetable-fruit-meat-pellet diet). All feces from the collection period were photographed, graded by "handling the feces" and visually inspected for dietary components. Based on a total of 446 feces, a six-point scale for uniform fecal consistencies was established. In 11% of all feces, two distinct consistencies could be distinguished, a feature that appears in other carnivore species as well. Hence, an additional grading system for dual consistencies was developed. The fecal consistency of brown bears is heavily dependent on the diet items processed before defecation with the general observation that the more vegetation or whole prey, the firmer the feces, and at certain proportions of the latter, the higher the chance for dual fecal consistencies to occur. The results indicate that in bears, diet may have a strong effect on fecal consistency, hampering animal health assessments without prior knowledge of the diet.

Revision of the Silesian bear fauna, based on material from 152 sites, mainly cave and karstic localities, and also archaeological and open-air sites, shows the presence of 13 forms and species. These records encompass the last 16.5 Ma and may be divided into five main morphophyletic groups. The oldest bears, represented by the genera Ballusia and Ursavus , are dated to 16.5–11 Ma, and belonged to the stem forms of the subfamily Ursinae. After a break of 6 My, the earliest members of the genus Ursus appeared, and all known Pliocene bears in Silesia belong to the genus Ursus were identified as Ursus minimus . They represent one or two migration events. Additionally, between 3.6 and 3.2 Ma, a single occurrence of Agriotherium insigne was recorded from the Weze 1 site. A few Early Pleistocene bear records are represented by U. etruscus , which was a probable ancestor of both arctoid and spelaeoid bear lineages. The oldest representative of Ursus ex gr. arctos known so far and assigned to U. a. suessenbornensis is known from one latest Early Pleistocene (1.2–0.9 Ma) locality, while other Polish records of this form require confirmation. The first occurrence of U. deningeri , the oldest taxon within the U . ex gr. deningeri–spelaeus lineage, was recorded from ~700 ka deposits in Silesia. During the pronounced cold period of MIS 12, the Scandinavian ice sheet covered almost the entire modern territory of Poland, with the exception of the Sudetes and the Carpathians. The accompanying drastic faunal turnover led to the formation of the pan-Eurasian Mammoth Fauna at ~460 ka. At that time a characteristic member of this fauna, the steppe brown bear Ursus arctos priscus , a specific ecomorph adapted to live in open grasslands, appeared in this region. It survived until the beginning of MIS 1, when modern Ursus arctos arctos appeared in Silesia and survived to the present day. U. deningeri was the most common bear during the Middle Pleistocene, while the first records of U. spelaeus spelaeus appeared since MIS 7. The latter form was replaced by U. ingressus during the Late Pleistocene (~110–100 ka). Spelaeoid bears totally dominated the cave assemblage, and finally vanished between 27 and 24 ka.

The aim of this study was to determine the microhabitat, relief and forest structure characteristics of brown bear (Ursus arctos L.) cave dens and other types of dens in the North Dinarides (Velebit Nature Park) in Croatia. In total, 63 dens were identified, consisting of 89% cave dens and 11% other den types (nest dens 6%, stump dens 3%, trunk dens 2%). In the 20-meter radius around each den, the microhabitat, relief and structural characteristics were recorded, including altitude, slope, exposition, rockiness, forest developmental stage, canopy density, tree height, forest site index, tree basal area, and tree species composition. Based on altitude, the climatic category was determined according to the Köppen climate classification. Most cave dens (62%) were in the temperate climate, at altitudes between 900 and 1,100 m, with a southern exposition and slope class between 30 to 60%. The dens situate in partial canopy density of the third forest site index with tree heights between 16 and 20 m and without forest degradation. Slopes and tree heights were lower (p < 0.019) in cave den areas in comparison to other den types. Keywords: cave dens, microhabitat, forest structure, North Dinarides, Velebit Nature Park

Za dolgoročno varstvo velikih zveri je pomembno razumevanje mehanizmov njihovega prilagajanja na prisotnost človeka, vključno z antropogenimi spremembami prostora. Rjavi medved (Ursus arctos) je za tovrstne raziskave zaradi holarktične razširjenosti in pojavljanja v različnih okoljih dobra modelna vrsta. S pregledom raziskav s celotnega območja razširjenosti vrste v svetu smo preučevali, kako medvedi prilagajajo rabo prostora intenziteti človekovih posegov v prostor. Medved se v splošnem antropogenim strukturam izogiba, še posebej stalno poseljenim območjem in močneje obremenjenim prometnicam. Zaznali smo tudi trend, da se medvedi na območjih z večjo gostoto prebivalstva pogosteje izogibajo antropogenim strukturam. Primerjava med Evropo in Severno Ameriko je nakazala večje izogibanje medvedov urbanim površinam v Evropi, pri drugih tipih antropogenih struktur pa so bile razlike med kontinentoma majhne. Pri primerjavi študij je vendarle potrebna previdnost, saj je večina obravnavanih raziskav temeljila na ugotavljanju relativne rabe prostora (t.j. raba glede na razpoložljivo), statistike absolutne rabe pa niso dovolj pogosto podane. Za ovrednotenje dejanske razlike v rabi prostora posameznih populacij medvedov iz okolij z različno stopnjo antropogenih motenj zato predlagamo analizo surovih podatkov. For successful large carnivore conservation it is important to understand mechanisms how large carnivores adapt to human presence, including anthropogenic environmental modifications. Widespread Holarctic distribution throughout various levels of human-use makes the brown bear (Ursus arctos) an appropriate model species for studying response to anthropogenic effects in large carnivores. We reviewed the literature throughout entire species% range to examine how bears modify their habitat use in response to the intensity of anthropogenic modifications of their environment. Results indicate that bears in general avoid human structures, with strongest avoidance observed for permanently inhabited areas and high-traffic roads. We observed their stronger avoidance of human structures in areas with higher human population densities. Comparison between Europe and North America indicate stronger avoidance of urban areas among European bears, while no obvious differences were observed for other types of anthropogenic infrastructure. We suggest caution when comparing responses among study areas, because most bear habitat-use studies reported only relative habitat selection (i.e. use relative to the availability) and there is lack of reported data on absolute habitat use. Therefore we recommend analysis of original data across the s

Hibernation represents the most refined adaptation of endothermic species to overcome unfavorable periods when food is scarce. Thus, hibernation should take place within specific time frames with respect to environmental factors. Flexibility in the timing of biological events is thus central to how well mammals can deal with varying climatic conditions. For brown bears (Ursus arctos), hibernation is not only a critical period that allows them to save vital energy reserves for times of food shortage, but also the period during which pregnant females give birth to cubs. Here, we analyzed the relationship between 74 den exit dates of females with cubs, recorded from 1995 to 2018 in the Cantabrian Mountains in northwestern Spain, with (1) average daily precipitation and (2) average maximum temperature during the 30 days before den exit, as well as with (3) the number of cubs. The bears exited from 1 April to 16 May, and the mean date was 28 April. Our results, which are consistent with the general latitudinal pattern of den emergence reported in other studies, suggested that in years with higher maximum temperatures, exit dates tended to be earlier, whereas the number of cubs and the average rainfall for the 30 days prior to den exit did not seem to determine the variation in den exit dates. Considering the relationship between spring temperatures and den exit dates of females with cubs, it is important to take into account the repercussions that current global warming may have on the reproduction of brown bears. Current trends of climate change might trigger earlier den exit dates than in the past, which may have negative consequences on the population dynamics of brown bear populations. For example, a mismatch between the chronology of hibernation and food availability might reduce cub survival and, consequently, the fitness of females., During this research, E.G.-B. was financially supported by a University Professorate Training (FPU) grant of the Spanish Ministry of Education and Professional Training (FPU15-03429). V.P. was financially supported by (1) the Excellence Project CGL2017-82782-P financed by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, the Agencia Estatal de Investigación and the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (EU); and (2) the GRUPIN research grant from the Regional Government of Asturias (Ref.: IDI/2018/000151). G.B. was financially supported by a collaboration contract with the MUSE – Museo delle Scienze of Trento (Italy). M.M.D. was awarded a Spanish ‘Ramón y Cajal’ contract no. RYC-2014-16263.

Parasites of the genus Cryptosporidium Tyzzer, 1910 are one of the most common protistan parasites of vertebrates. Faecal samples from 179 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes [Linnaeus]), 100 grey wolves (Canis lupus Linnaeus), 11 golden jackals (Canis aureus Linnaeus), and 63 brown bears (Ursus arctos Linnaeus) were collected in the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia. Samples were examined for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. using microscopy and PCR/sequence analysis. Phylogenetic analysis based on the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU), actin and 60-kDa glycoprotein (gp60) genes using the maximum likelihood method revealed the presence of Cryptosporidium tyzzeri Ren, Zhao, Zhang, Ning, Jian et al., 2012 (n = 1) and C. andersoni Lindsay, Upton, Owens, Morgan, Mead et Blackburn, 2000 (n = 2) in red foxes, C. canis Fayer, Trout, Xiao, Morgan, Lai et Dubey, 2001 (n = 2) and C. ubiquitum Fayer, Santin et Macarisin, 2010 (n = 2) in grey wolves, and C. galli Pavlasek, 1999 in brown bears (n = 1) and red foxes (n = 1). Subtyping of isolates of C. ubiquitum and C. tyzzeri based on sequence analysis of gp60 showed that they belong to the XIId and IXa families, respectively. The presence of specific DNA of C. tyzzeri, C. andersoni and C. galli, which primarily infect the prey of carnivores, is probably the result of their passage through the gastrointestinal tract of the carnivores. Finding C. ubiquitum XIId in wolves may mean broadening the host spectrum of this subtype, but it remains possible this is the result of infected prey passing through the wolf - in this case deer, which is a common host of this parasite. The dog genotype of C. canis was reported for the first time in wolves.

The tranquilizer combination of butorphanol, azaperone, and medetomidine (BAM) has shown good efficacy for immobilization of wildlife, including black bears (Ursus americanus). BAM is antagonized with a combination of naltrexone and atipamezole. We immobilized 19 adult captive wild caught black bears and, except for three bears that were euthanized immediately, bears were recovered with naltrexone and atipamezole. Tissue residues (≥0.01 ppm) for the tranquilizers butorphanol, azaperone, and medetomidine were detected in liver and muscle of all three bears euthanized on day 0 postinjection (PI). Azaperone was not detected after 1 d PI. Residue for medetomidine was detected in two bears: in the liver 3 d PI and in the kidney 6 d PI. Butorphanol was reported in three bears: in fat 5 d PI, in kidney 6 d PI, and, surprisingly, in kidney, muscle, and fat 7 d PI. No tissue residues were detected in the three bears euthanized at 8 d PI. Tissue residues for the antagonists, naltrexone and atipamezole, were detected in bears euthanized 2 and 6 d PI, but not in tissues from animals euthanized at 7 or 8 d PI.

Perceived predation risk and the resulting antipredator behaviour varies across space, time and predator identity. Communities with multiple predators that interact and differ in their use of space, time of activity and hunting mode create a complex landscape for prey to avoid predation. Anthropogenic presence and disturbance have the potential to shift interactions among predators and prey and the where and when encounters occur. We examined how white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus fawn spatiotemporal antipredator behaviour differed along an anthropogenic disturbance gradient that had black bears Ursus americanus, coyotes Canis latrans, bobcats Lynx rufus and humans present. We quantified (a) spatial co-occurrence in species distributions, (b) temporal overlap across the diel cycle and (c) spatiotemporal associations between humans, bears, coyotes, bobcats, adult male deer and fawns. We also examined how deer vigilance behaviour changed across the anthropogenic disturbance gradient and survey duration. Anthropogenic disturbance influenced spatiotemporal co-occurrence across multiple scales, often increasing spatiotemporal overlap among species. In general, species' spatial co-occurrence was neutral or positive in anthropogenically disturbed environments. Bears and fawns, coyotes and adult male deer, and bobcats and fawns all had higher temporal overlap in the agriculture-development matrix sites. In addition, factors that influenced deer vigilance (e.g. distance to forest edge and predator relative abundance) in the agriculture-development matrix sites did not in the forest matrix site. By taking into account the different antipredator behaviours that can be detected and the different scales these behaviours might occur, we were able to gain a more comprehensive picture of how humans reduce available niche space for wildlife, creating the neutral and positive spatiotemporal associations between species that studies have been seeing in more disturbed areas.

A new species of Crenosoma Molin, 1861 is described from the lungs of the Eurasian lynx, Lynx lynx (L.) (Carnivora: Felidae). Crenosoma vismani n. sp. differs from other species of the genus in the morphology of the male copulatory organs (two ventral rays originating from a common stem; three lateral rays with common stem; gubernaculum 79–92 μm long, well developed, spoon-shaped; spicules 232–253 μm long, slightly curved, with robust dorsal appendage) and a vulva with rounded, prominent vulvar cuticular appendage is located in middle region of body in females. An analysis of the morphology and life-cycle data for Crenosoma petrowi Morozov, 1939 from Ursus americanus Pallas indicate that this nematode should be described as a new species. The validity of Crenosoma schulzi Gagarin, 1958 is resurrected. A new identification key for the species of Crenosoma is provided. Published records of the genus Crenosoma from definitive hosts and patterns of host specificity are presented. Morphological data revealed that the genus Crenosoma should contain 15 species (14 with valid names) with different host specificity, ranging from oioxenous to euryxenous. However, a review of the current genetic data indicates that the actual number of Crenosoma spp. is greater, and the host range is still unknown, even in Europe.

The Bering Land Bridge connecting North America and Eurasia was periodically exposed and inundated by oscillating sea levels during the Pleistocene glacial cycles. This land connection allowed the intermittent dispersal of animals, including humans, between Western Beringia (far north-east Asia) and Eastern Beringia (north-west North America), changing the faunal community composition of both continents. The Pleistocene glacial cycles also had profound impacts on temperature, precipitation, and vegetation, impacting faunal community structure and demography. While these paleoenvironmental impacts have been studied in many large herbivores from Beringia (e.g., bison, mammoths, horses), the Pleistocene population dynamics of the diverse guild of carnivorans present in the region are less well understood, due to their lower abundances. In this study, we analyze mitochondrial genome data from ancient brown bears (Ursus arctos; n = 103) and lions (Panthera spp.; n = 39), two megafaunal carnivorans that dispersed into North America during the Pleistocene. Our results reveal striking synchronicity in the population dynamics of Beringian lions and brown bears, with multiple waves of dispersal across the Bering Land Bridge coinciding with glacial periods of low sea levels, as well as synchronous local extinctions in Eastern Beringia during Marine Isotope Stage 3. The evolutionary histories of these two taxa underscore the crucial biogeographic role of the Bering Land Bridge in the distribution, turnover, and maintenance of megafaunal populations in North America.

A 27-year-old female Kodiak bear displayed signs of progressive visual loss over an 18-year period. The bear was examined under general anaesthesia, where fixed mydriatic pupils, a diffusely hyper-reflective retina with vascular attenuation was observed. An electroretinogram was performed bilaterally, revealing no electrical activity associated with either retina and confirming a diagnosis of severe bilateral retinal degeneration. The bear was euthanased eight months later due to a diagnosis of a metastasised hepatic neoplasm. Histopathology of the bear’s eyes revealed marked outer layer retinal degeneration. The aetiology of this retinal degeneration could not be confirmed.

Dens are important for species that need to survive and reproduce during harsh winters. Brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Romania, listed by the European Union as a population of concern, use dens for several months each year. To date, few quantitative assessments of denning habitat have been carried out for this population or others in Europe. In 2008–2013 and 2015–2017, we used local knowledge and telemetry data from brown bears fitted with GPS collars to identify 115 winter dens and eight open ground nests used by bears in eastern Transylvania, Romania. We located most dens in mountainous areas (64%) and fewer in foothills (36%). Den entrances in mountainous areas were significantly narrower than entrances in foothills, likely due to the need for reduced thermal loss during more severe winters at higher elevations. We selected seven habitat characteristics (abiotic and biotic) and human-related covariates associated with known locations of dens and open nests to identify potential brown bear denning habitat using maximum entropy modeling. We found that terrain ruggedness was the single most important factor when predicting bear denning habitat. The habitat map derived from this study can be used in the future to safeguard bear denning areas from potential human disturbances.

Understanding the distributions and density of wild mammals is integral to the implementation of wildlife management strategies, particularly for controlling diseases and conservation management. Recent advances in camera trap technology together with the development of the Random Encounter Model have provided a non-invasive method for estimating mammal densities. In addition, the development of citizen science initiatives have advanced ecological data collection. This study describes a national camera trap survey delivered by local stakeholders in eleven forest sites in Kosovo from 2014 to 2015 to measure the distributions and abundance of medium to large wild mammals as part of the Control and/or eradication of animal diseases project. The Random Encounter Model was used to calculate density data for each species, which appear realistic when compared to densities found in other European countries. The study particularly focussed on the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and the grey wolf (Canis lupus) as potential vectors of rabies and wild boar (Sus scrofa) as a vector of classical swine fever. These species were found to be three of the most widely distributed species in Kosovo and were present at the majority of sites at high densities. The camera survey also provided information on species of conservation concern such as the Eurasian brown bear (Ursus arctos) and provided the first physical evidence of a live Eurasian golden jackal (Canis aureus) in Kosovo. Although sources of bias were identified, these estimates are likely to be more accurate than those devised from methods such as hunting bags and the findings of this study suggest that, with a moderate amount of development, camera trapping implemented by local stakeholders can be used as an effective and practicable method to estimate national distributions and population sizes of medium to large sized wild mammals.