Predictors of brown bear predation events on livestock in the Romanian Carpathians
Abstract Livestock depredation by brown bears is one of the main source of human–wildlife conflict in rural Eastern Europe. Thus, identifying environmental and anthropogenic drivers of human–bear conflict, and developing spatial predictions for predation intensity are critical to mitigate such confl...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Conservation Science and Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12884 |
| _version_ | 1811161118290214912 |
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| author | Mihai I. Pop Marissa A. Dyck Silviu Chiriac Berde Lajos Szilárd Szabó Cristian I. Iojă Viorel D. Popescu |
| author_facet | Mihai I. Pop Marissa A. Dyck Silviu Chiriac Berde Lajos Szilárd Szabó Cristian I. Iojă Viorel D. Popescu |
| author_sort | Mihai I. Pop |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Livestock depredation by brown bears is one of the main source of human–wildlife conflict in rural Eastern Europe. Thus, identifying environmental and anthropogenic drivers of human–bear conflict, and developing spatial predictions for predation intensity are critical to mitigate such conflicts. We used 756 records of bear‐caused livestock predation collected between 2008 and 2016 in the Romanian Carpathians and evaluated predictors and spatial distribution of bear livestock predation events (BPEs) using separate binomial generalized linear mixed models for cows, sheep, and other livestock. Despite differences in the direction and magnitude of the effect, the prevalence of BPE for all livestock was driven by the interaction between environmental drivers along with relative bear abundance. Distance from forest was a strong negative predictor for cows and sheep, while distance to villages was a strong negative predictor for cows. Landscape heterogeneity was positively associated with cow and other livestock predation and negatively associated with sheep. Relative bear abundance data collected by wildlife managers was a positive predictor for predation on all livestock. Livestock damage was more prevalent near villages, showcasing plasticity of food resources sought by bears. Our work informs brown bear and livestock management strategies to develop awareness and implement damage prevention measures. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T06:10:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-49bc2460a044495b9213b0a3cc8924de |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2578-4854 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T06:10:32Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Conservation Science and Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-49bc2460a044495b9213b0a3cc8924de2023-03-02T18:50:02ZengWileyConservation Science and Practice2578-48542023-03-0153n/an/a10.1111/csp2.12884Predictors of brown bear predation events on livestock in the Romanian CarpathiansMihai I. Pop0Marissa A. Dyck1Silviu Chiriac2Berde Lajos3Szilárd Szabó4Cristian I. Iojă5Viorel D. Popescu6Centre for Environmental Research (CCMESI) University of Bucharest Bucharest RomaniaDepartment of Biological Sciences Ohio University Athens Ohio USAVrancea Environmental Protection Agency Focșani RomaniaCovasna Environmental Protection Agency Sf. Gheorghe RomaniaHarghita Environmental Protection Agency Miercurea Ciuc RomaniaCentre for Environmental Research (CCMESI) University of Bucharest Bucharest RomaniaCentre for Environmental Research (CCMESI) University of Bucharest Bucharest RomaniaAbstract Livestock depredation by brown bears is one of the main source of human–wildlife conflict in rural Eastern Europe. Thus, identifying environmental and anthropogenic drivers of human–bear conflict, and developing spatial predictions for predation intensity are critical to mitigate such conflicts. We used 756 records of bear‐caused livestock predation collected between 2008 and 2016 in the Romanian Carpathians and evaluated predictors and spatial distribution of bear livestock predation events (BPEs) using separate binomial generalized linear mixed models for cows, sheep, and other livestock. Despite differences in the direction and magnitude of the effect, the prevalence of BPE for all livestock was driven by the interaction between environmental drivers along with relative bear abundance. Distance from forest was a strong negative predictor for cows and sheep, while distance to villages was a strong negative predictor for cows. Landscape heterogeneity was positively associated with cow and other livestock predation and negatively associated with sheep. Relative bear abundance data collected by wildlife managers was a positive predictor for predation on all livestock. Livestock damage was more prevalent near villages, showcasing plasticity of food resources sought by bears. Our work informs brown bear and livestock management strategies to develop awareness and implement damage prevention measures.https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12884human–carnivore conflictlandscape heterogeneitylarge carnivoreslivestock managementpredationUrsus arctos |
| spellingShingle | Mihai I. Pop Marissa A. Dyck Silviu Chiriac Berde Lajos Szilárd Szabó Cristian I. Iojă Viorel D. Popescu Predictors of brown bear predation events on livestock in the Romanian Carpathians Conservation Science and Practice human–carnivore conflict landscape heterogeneity large carnivores livestock management predation Ursus arctos |
| title | Predictors of brown bear predation events on livestock in the Romanian Carpathians |
| title_full | Predictors of brown bear predation events on livestock in the Romanian Carpathians |
| title_fullStr | Predictors of brown bear predation events on livestock in the Romanian Carpathians |
| title_full_unstemmed | Predictors of brown bear predation events on livestock in the Romanian Carpathians |
| title_short | Predictors of brown bear predation events on livestock in the Romanian Carpathians |
| title_sort | predictors of brown bear predation events on livestock in the romanian carpathians |
| topic | human–carnivore conflict landscape heterogeneity large carnivores livestock management predation Ursus arctos |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12884 |
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