Intrapopulation diversity in isotopic niche over landscapes: Spatial patterns inform conservation of bear–salmon systems

dc.contributor.authorAdams, Megan S.
dc.contributor.authorService, Christina N.
dc.contributor.authorBateman, Andrew
dc.contributor.authorBourbonnais, Mathieu
dc.contributor.authorArtelle, Kyle A.
dc.contributor.authorNelson, Trisalyn
dc.contributor.authorPaquet, Paul C.
dc.contributor.authorLevi, Taal
dc.contributor.authorDarimont, Chris T.
dc.date.accessioned2018-08-27T14:39:29Z
dc.date.available2018-08-27T14:39:29Z
dc.date.copyright2017en_US
dc.date.issued2017
dc.description.abstractIntrapopulation variability in resource acquisition (i. e., niche variation) influences population dynamics, with important implications for conservation planning. Spatial analyses of niche variation within and among populations can provide relevant information about ecological associations and their subsequent management. We used stable isotope analysis and kernel- weighted regression to examine spatial patterns in a keystone consumer- resource interaction: salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) consumption by grizzly and black bears (Ursus arctos horribilis, n = 886; and Ursus americanus, n = 557) from 1995 to 2014 in British Columbia (BC), Canada. In a region on the central coast of BC (22,000 km(2)), grizzly bears consumed far more salmon than black bears (median proportion of salmon in assimilated diet of 0.62 and 0.06, respectively). Males of both species consumed more salmon than females (median proportions of 0.63 and 0.57 for grizzly bears and 0.06 and 0.03 for black bears, respectively). Black bears showed considerably more spatial variation in salmon consumption than grizzlies. Protected areas on the coast captured no more habitat for bears with high- salmon diets (i.e., proportions >0.5 of total diet) than did unprotected areas. In a continental region (similar to 692,000 km(2)), which included the entire contemporary range of grizzlies in BC, males had higher salmon diets than females (median proportions of 0.41 and 0.04, respectively). Highsalmon diets were concentrated in coastal areas for female grizzly bears, whereas males with high- salmon diets in interior areas were restricted to areas near major salmon watersheds. To safeguard this predatorprey association that spans coastal and interior regions, conservation planners and practitioners can consider managing across ecological and jurisdictional boundaries. More broadly, our approach highlights the importance of visualizing spatial patterns of dietary niche variation within populations to characterize ecological associations and inform management.en_US
dc.description.reviewstatusRevieweden_US
dc.description.scholarlevelFacultyen_US
dc.description.sponsorshipWe are grateful to collaborate with the mentors, colleagues, and friends of the Heiltsuk, Kitasoo/Xai'xais, Nuxalk, and Wuikinuxv Nations in whose territories and with whom we work. We thank G. Mowat for data and thoughtful edits to the manuscript, and to H. Bryan for her contributions to data collection, quantitative expertise, and review of the manuscript. MSA was supported by a Mitacs Accelerate Fellowship and NSERC Industrial Postgraduate Scholarship, as well as key support from the Tula Foundation. CNS was supported by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Vanier Fellowship and a Mitacs Accelerate Fellowship. KAA was supported by an NSERC Vanier Fellowship and a scholarship funded by the Tula Foundation. AB was supported by an NSERC postdoctoral fellowship and a Killiam postdoctoral fellowship. PCP was supported by the Wilburforce Foundation. CTD was supported by an NSERC Discovery Grant (435683) as well as the Tula, Wilburforce, Moore, and Willow Grove Foundations.en_US
dc.identifier.citationAdams, M.S.; Service, C.N.; Bateman, A.; Bourbonnais, M.; Artelle, K.A; Nelson, T.; … & Darimont, C.T. (2017). Intrapopulation diversity in isotopic niche over landscapes: Spatial patterns inform conservation of bear-salmon systems. Ecosphere, 8(6), article e01843. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1843en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1843
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1828/9961
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherEcosphereen_US
dc.subjectbearsen_US
dc.subjectdietary nicheen_US
dc.subjectgeographic information systemsen_US
dc.subjectisoscapesen_US
dc.subjectkernel-weighted regressionen_US
dc.subjectOncorhynchusen_US
dc.subjectpredator-prey systemsen_US
dc.subjectsalmonen_US
dc.subjectstable isotope analysisen_US
dc.subjectUrsusen_US
dc.titleIntrapopulation diversity in isotopic niche over landscapes: Spatial patterns inform conservation of bear–salmon systemsen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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