Food Habit,Home Range And Habitat Of Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus Thibetanus) In The Lesser Khingan Mountains

In May, 2004 - December, 2005 period, by using the radio telemetry technology and the GPS and GIS technology has conducted the system research to the Lesser Khingan Mountains Asiatic black bear ecology. In the field investigation and study foundation and the laboratory animal feeding habits histology analysis method, based on the 3S technology and the SPSS statistical analysis, has obtained the main results as follows:1. Food Habitat of Asiatic Black BearWe have collected and analysed 51 piles of black bear feces using wireless radio technologies. The results show that the main habitats for the Asiatic black bears are the conifer forest or the mixed forest of conifer and deciduous (at 400-560 meter elevation) for the beginning of the spring and at the end of fall; the deciduous forest or the mixed forest of conifer and deciduous for the end of spring and the beginning of summer; the deciduous forest, the mixed forest of conifer and deciduous or the mixed species forest (by the river) for the rest of summer and the beginning of the fall. The main foods for the Asiatic black bears are plants and 70% of the diet in the summer when more plants are available. The species and parts of the plants for the food of Asiatic black bears change from seasons to seasons. The number of species of plants for the food of Asiatic black bears is the least in the spring, the food diversity indicator is 2.317 and the evenness indicator is 0.5923; the number of species of plants for the food of Asiatic black bears is the most in the summer, the food diversity indicator is 2.628 and the evenness indicator is 0.6367; and the food diversity indicator is 2.361 and the evenness indicator is 0.5173 for the fall. The most preferred food for the black bears is the seeds of Korean Pine, Quercus mongolica, Juglans mandshurica and Actinidia kolomikta,, Prunus. while the least preferred foods are Hippochaete hyemale, Gramineae, Ulmus, Carex siderosricra, Acer mono, Betulla, Populus, Salixo2. Habitat of Asiatic Black BearsWe using the radio telemetry technology and the 3S technology, we analysed the seasonal changes of habitat selection and microhabitat selection of Black bears, the results show:(1) Habitat Selection of Asiatic Black Bears Existed Seasonal ChangesAt the end of April and beginning of the May the Asiatic black bears leaved the caves of hibernation, at the same time, all kinds of the verts had never turned green yet, the Asiatic black bears had no choice but to be close to the caves and having activities in the Mixed coniferous and broad-leaf stands, which was at the elevation of 400 metres and having brae exposed to the sun. By the end of the May, the verts turned green, the Asiatic black bears began to seek fresh plants and sprouts of the trees as foods in the Mixed coniferous and broad- leaf stands, and broad-leaf stands, at the elevation of 300-400 metres。From June to August, the miscellaneous foods were available in abundance, the Asiatic black bears chose herbages, Prunus Maackii, ants and so that.their territory is big, having activities in the Mixed coniferous and broad- leaf stands and broad-leaf stands, above the elevation of 300 metres and a few Coniferous stands above the elevation of 400 metres and Shrubery under the elevation of 400 metres. From September to November, the forest type were mixed coniferous and broad- leaf stands above the elevation of 400 metres and broad-leaf stands bove the elevation of 300 metres.(2) Microhabitat of Asiatic Black BearsUsing the results of radio telemetry technology, we randomly chose 50 activity spots of the Asiatic black Bears as centers of samples, making a big sample of 10m×10m in which selecting 5 small samples of 1m×1m in each spot. we analysed the 11 habitat factor as ecotypes, tree density, shrub density, fallen log density, food abundance, cover, forest canopy densities, elevation, aspect, Slope form and human disturbance by selection index and diverse covariance, the results show: the Black Bears were positive to select Mixed coniferous and broad- leaf stands and broad-leaf stands, random to select Coniferous stands, compelled to select Shrubery and never select croplands and meadows, tree density above 4 each 10m×10m, shrub density above 3 each 10m×10m, fallen log density moderate forest canopy densities above 30～80% and cover above 50%, where is the Black Bear positive to select, forest canopy densities under 30% and above 80%, poor cover where is the Black Bear compelled to select.They liked having activity at peak.rocks, sharp and moderate Slope form, above the elevation of 400 metres, orientation of 45°-315°and habitat having little human disturbance.Using the analyse of main component, We know that the main habitat factors of the Asiatic black bears were ecotypes, cover, food abundance and human disturbance.To sum up the ecological factors, the results show: the most suitable microhabitat of the Asiatic black bears was where the ecotypes was Mixed coniferous and broad- leaf stands or broad-leaf stands, the concealment grade was above 50%, the food aboundance was above 50g/m~2 and the habitat was away from human disturbance above 1000m.3. Home Range of Asiatic Black BearsIn the course of research, using the radio telemetry technology, we investigated the home ranges of Black boars by monitoring 3 Black bears cinctured wireless chaplets.Among them, one was adult and female individual (F1), and the other two were adult male individuals(M1 and M2), annual home ranges respectively were 18.20 Km~2,21.28 Km~2,13.21 Km~2, the average was 17.3Km~2.Adult Asiatic black bears have no remarkable difference in the annual home ranges (df=2. x~2=1.885, P＞0.05) ,the home ranges of different individuals sometimes superposed.the areas of the superposition had difference (df=2. x~2=1.885, P＞0.05) .Before the dormancy, the Asiatic Black bears made a long distance movement, the habit of dormancy was influential to the areas of the home ranges.4. Asiatic Black Bear Habitat Suitability AppraisalIn the course of research, using the radio telemetry technology and 3S technology and regarding elevation,gradient, vegetation type, kinds of food and human activity as estimated factors,we adopted model of habitat assessment and made habitat assessments to the Black bears distributing in forestry center of Longkong,which was the main habitat of Black bears in Xiaoxing'anling.The results show: without regard to the influence of human activities,the most suitable area of Asiatic black bears'habitat was 1219.44hm~2, occupying 7.88% total area;the suitable area of Asiatic black bears'habitat was 7797.97 hm~2, occupying 50.40% total area; Considering the influence of human activities, the most suitable area of Asiatic black bears'habitat was 1032.69 hm~2, occupying 6.67% total area;the suitable area of Black bears'habitat was 3924.19 hm~2, occupying 25.36% total area; Moreover, the hypo- suitable area of Asiatic black bears'habitat increased greatly, from 3517.56 hm~2 to 7578.09 hm~2,the rate increased 26.24%.There were no changes in area of unsuitability habitat. Due to invading of inhabitants, building of the road and other influence by human activities, a great deal suitable habitat disappeared.The results of this investigation will make sense to the programming of the Longkou Nature Reserve and enforcing the management of the Asiatic black bears'habitat.