“If all the brown bears are gone from the landscape we would be spiritually impoverished.” was the response from a researcher when she was asked why we should protect bears. This is only one of numerous answers to this question.
Bears engage our interest, as do few other wild animals. But brown bears are not simply fascinating animals, they also play an important role in the ecosystem. They are considered 'sustainable farmers'. Many species, both plants and animals, profit by them. Brown bears dig much for food and thereby they stimulate plants to reproduce. Some Canadian scientists even consider grizzlies, conspecific with the Eurasian brown bear, to be an ecological keystone. “Without the grizzlies atop the food chain,” they say, “the West’s delicate mountain ecosystem would crumble.” They think that it could set off a chain reaction that would see other large animals become extinct. Coyotes and other predators would move in and do serious damage to the ungulate population. Grizzlies prey on live ungulates far less than coyotes or wolves. The bears´ presence keeps other predators at bay. Other scientists such as Stephen Herrero, the head of the Eastern Slopes Grizzly Bear Project, do not believe in such dire predictions but Stephen Herrero agrees that the relationship between bears and the rest of the ecosystem is very complex (Sillars 1998).
However, large carnivores, like grizzlies, have been considered indicators of health or integrity of an ecosystem (Paquet and Wierzchowski 1997a) and thus make them useful focal species for large-scale conservation. Landscapes that retain viable populations of brown bears are often ones where natural vegetation predominates, where most native species can still be found, and where ecological processes operate essentially as they have done for a long time (Paquet and Jack Wierzchowski 1997a). Habitats of brown bears can be huge, but vary greatly on individuals. A modest female can manage to live within a few square kilometres, and long distance travellers among grizzlies, that are mostly males, could need up to 1500 km², which is as big as Kootenay National Park in Alberta or only a bit smaller than the Austrian “Hohe Tauern National Park”, the biggest national park in Central Europe.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
The conservation of brown bears
The situation of brown bears in Alberta
History
Current situation
Hunting, laws ands compensations – as contributing to brown bear mortality and dispersal
What do Alberta citizens think about brown bears
2. BARRIERS AND WILDLIFE CORRIDORS
BACKGROUND
DEFINITIONS
CONSERVATION THEORY
TYPES OF CORRIDORS
Ecological corridors
Dispersal corridors
Home range corridors:
Gene flow corridors
Gene flow 1
Gene flow 2
Gene flow 3
DESIGNING WILDLIFE CORRIDOR NETWORKS
Wildlife corridor and habitat patch design
Regional habitat patches
Local habitat patches
Primary or multi-species corridors
Secondary corridors
Core areas and multiple use zones
Stepwise approach to determine shape, size and width of wildlife corridors and habitat patches
Shape
Width
Starting point for wildlife corridor and local habitat patch design
THE EFFECTS OF ROADS AND OTHER ARTIFICIAL BARRIERS ON BROWN BEARS
Roads and Railways
Problem wildlife and habituation
Mitigation methods
Overpasses and Underpasses
Closures
Education
THE BOW RIVER VALLEY CORRIDOR
Closures
Education
3. SURVEY AMONG ALBERTA CITIZENS REGARDING THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARD AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT BROWN BEARS
VALUING WILDLIFE
Attitude toward bears
METHODS
Questionnaire design
Sample frame and sample size
Sampling procedure
Study areas
Canmore
Calgary
Reliability measures
Attitudes toward bears scores
Attitude toward usefulness of bears score
Attitudes toward further bear population development score
Attitude toward bear management score
Knowledge about bears score
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION I: BASIC FINDINGS BY ITEM AND SAMPLE GROUP
Attitude toward bears
Usefulness of bears
Attitude toward further bear population development
Attitude toward bear management
Knowledge about bears
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION II: FACTORS AFFECTING ATTITUDES TOWARD BEARS
Socio-demographic factors
Knowledge
Perception of the population size
Experiences with bears
Fear related questions
4. CONCLUSIONS
5. SUMMARY
6. LITERATURE
Research Objectives and Themes
The research investigates the current status of wildlife corridors in the Bow River Valley, Alberta, and evaluates public awareness, knowledge, and attitudes regarding brown bears. The central question is whether educational efforts lead to greater public acceptance of bear conservation and management measures.
- Ecological significance and habitat requirements of brown bears.
- Impact of anthropogenic barriers, such as roads and railways, on bear connectivity.
- Effectiveness of mitigation strategies like wildlife crossings and trail closures.
- Socio-demographic factors and knowledge levels influencing public attitudes toward bear conservation.
Excerpt from the Book
The conservation of brown bears
“If all the brown bears are gone from the landscape we would be spiritually impoverished.” was the response from a researcher when she was asked why we should protect bears. This is only one of numerous answers to this question.
Bears engage our interest, as do few other wild animals. But brown bears are not simply fascinating animals, they also play an important role in the ecosystem. They are considered 'sustainable farmers'. Many species, both plants and animals, profit by them. Brown bears dig much for food and thereby they stimulate plants to reproduce. Some Canadian scientists even consider grizzlies, conspecific with the Eurasian brown bear, to be an ecological keystone. “Without the grizzlies atop the food chain,” they say, “the West’s delicate mountain ecosystem would crumble.” They think that it could set off a chain reaction that would see other large animals become extinct. Coyotes and other predators would move in and do serious damage to the ungulate population. Grizzlies prey on live ungulates far less than coyotes or wolves. The bears´ presence keeps other predators at bay.
Summary of Chapters
1. INTRODUCTION: This chapter provides an overview of brown bear ecology, historical and current status in Alberta, and the importance of public perception in conservation management.
2. BARRIERS AND WILDLIFE CORRIDORS: The text details the theory behind wildlife corridors, design principles for connectivity, and specific impacts of artificial barriers like roads and railways.
3. SURVEY AMONG ALBERTA CITIZENS REGARDING THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARD AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT BROWN BEARS: This section presents the empirical methodology and survey results, analyzing public attitudes, knowledge levels, and the factors affecting them.
4. CONCLUSIONS: The final chapter synthesizes the research findings, highlighting the correlation between knowledge, personal experience, and positive attitudes toward bear conservation.
Keywords
Brown bear, Ursus arctos, Alberta, wildlife corridors, habitat fragmentation, Banff National Park, Bow River Valley, public attitudes, conservation biology, human-bear conflict, wildlife management, grizzly bear, habituation, environmental education.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The work focuses on the conservation of brown bears in Alberta, analyzing the effectiveness of wildlife corridors and assessing public attitudes and knowledge to improve management strategies.
What are the core thematic areas discussed?
Key themes include the ecological role of brown bears, the impact of transportation infrastructure, the design of mitigation structures, and the human dimensions of wildlife management.
What is the central research question?
The study examines whether public educational initiatives lead to higher acceptance of brown bear conservation and management practices.
Which methodology was used for data collection?
The author conducted a standardized survey of 237 individuals, primarily students and residents in Alberta, to measure attitudes and knowledge regarding bears.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers conservation theory for corridors, structural mitigation methods like overpasses, specific challenges in the Bow River Valley, and detailed analysis of survey data concerning socio-demographic factors and bear perception.
Which keywords characterize this work?
The work is defined by terms such as wildlife corridors, habitat fragmentation, grizzly bear, Alberta, public attitudes, and conservation management.
How do brown bears interact with artificial barriers like roads?
Roads act as both barriers and sources of mortality. The study notes that bears may be attracted to roadsides for food but face significant collision risks, necessitating mitigation like fencing and crossing structures.
What role does public education play in bear management?
Education is highlighted as a critical tool to prevent habituation, reduce human-bear conflicts, and increase public support for necessary conservation measures like trail closures.
- Quote paper
- Maria Wechselberger, Mag. (Author), 2002, Wildlife corridors and their effects on brown bears (Ursus arctos): a survey of Alberta citizens on knowledge and attitudes, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/16056
