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Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons

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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Chemically Mediated Foraging Preference Of Black Bears ( Ursus Americanus), Bruce A. Kimball, Dale L. Nolte, Richard M. Engeman, John J. Johnston, Frank R. Stermitz May 1998

Chemically Mediated Foraging Preference Of Black Bears ( Ursus Americanus), Bruce A. Kimball, Dale L. Nolte, Richard M. Engeman, John J. Johnston, Frank R. Stermitz

USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The role of chemical constituents in the foraging behavior of black bears (Ursus americanus) was investigated using two field studies. Vascular tissue samples were collected from Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) trees recently foraged by black bears. Samples were extracted and analyzed by liquid and gas chromatography to determine carbohydrates and terpenes, respectively. Chemical data were subjected to correlation analyses and multiple regression to examine if they adequately describe observed foraging preferences. Free-ranging black bears also were offered a choice of four test diets that differed in content of carbohydrates and terpenes. Results indicated that forage preferences were …


The Impact Of Timber Management On The Phytochemicals Associated With Black Bear Damage, Dale L. Nolte, Bruce A. Kimball, Georg J. Ziegltrum Jan 1998

The Impact Of Timber Management On The Phytochemicals Associated With Black Bear Damage, Dale L. Nolte, Bruce A. Kimball, Georg J. Ziegltrum

Proceedings of the Eighteenth Vertebrate Pest Conference (1998)

Black bears forage on Douglas-fir vascular tissue in the spring, and this behavior can be severely detrimental to the health and economic value of a timber stand. Foraging is selective in that not all stands are damaged and, within a stand, one tree may be stripped while its neighbor is ignored or minimally sampled. A series of studies was conducted to assess whether bear selectivity is affected by chemical constituents within vascular tissue, and whether these constituents are affected by silvicultural practices. The results are interpreted to identify forest practices that may alleviate damage, or at least predict where damage …