Not eating alone: Andean bear time patterns and potential social scavenging behaviors

thackerk1 — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 22:38:52 +0000

Authors

Angela Parra-Romero

Robinson Galindo-Tarazona

José F. González-Maya

I. Mauricio Vela-Vargas

Human-Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus) conflicts are increasing due to the establishment of livestock or crops near to its natural habitats. Here we report scavenging time patterns of Andean bears and the potential social scavenging behaviors in Choachí and Guasca municipalities, Cundinamarca department, buffer zone of Chingaza National Natural Park, Colombia. Between 2013 -2015, we obtained 31 Andean bear scavenging events, allegedly related with human-bear conflict reports; most records occurred in Choachí municipality (n = 29). Daily scavenging behaviors showed a heterogeneous pattern, where bears prefer to scavenge in morning hours (6:00 h-10:00 h) with small activity in the after- noon (15:00 h-17:00 h). Furthermore, we report on the first potential record of social activity of three adults scavenging on the same carcass at the same time with no aggressive/antagonistic behaviors between the individuals. Most aspects of Andean bear wild behaviors are still unknown; our observations represent interesting additions to the natural history of the species that could also be included in future programs for the mitigation and reduction of conflicts with human communities in the Andean region of Colombia.

Additional Information

Therya

Date of publication:

2018

Topics

Human-Andean bear

social behavior

scavenging

Andean Range

chingaza Massif

cundinamarca

Research Categories

Behavioral Ecology Natural History Threatened and Endangered Species

Jessen, R. R., G. H. Palmer, and J. L. Koprowski. 2013. Neotropical pygmy squirrels (Sciurillus pusillus) share termite nests. Ecotropica 19:73-76.

thackerk1 — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 18:50:19 +0000

Authors

Rosa R. Jessen

Geoffrey H. Palmer

John L. Koprowski

Nest-site selection is important for reproduction (Benson et al. 2008) and also provides a place for other activities such as resting and shelter or protection from weather and predators (Sealander Jr. 1952, Steele & Koprowski 2001). Nesting habits are also influenced by level of sociality, and can confer fitness advantages (Alexander 1974). Communal nesting is an example of increased sociality found in mammals, including tree squirrels (Wolff & Lidicker Jr. 1981, Layne & Raymond 1994, Koprowski 1996, Ebensperger et al. 2004). Sociality among tree squirrels is poorly understood and communal nesting occurs only rarely in some species of tree squirrels in temperate forests (Halloran & Bekoff 1994, Layne & Raymond 1994, Koprowski 1996).

Tree squirrels in temperate regions nest in cavities of trees, dreys (arboreal bolus structures constructed of twigs and leaves), and occasionally also in burrows (Steele & Koprowski 2001, Thorington Jr. et al. 2012). Diversity of tree squirrels is highest in the tropics, with 19 species occurring in the Neotropics, but few studies have been conducted in these areas (Koprowski & Nandini 2008). Little is known about nesting habits of Neotropical tree squirrels but they appear to use drey and cavity nests (Emmons & Feer 1997). Many Neotropical tree squirrels are believed to be solitary (Emmons & Feer 1997) but some species, such as northern and southern Amazon red squirrels (Sciurus igniventris, S. spadiceus), and Neo-tropical pygmy squirrels (Sciurillus pusillus, Geoffroy 1803), forage in groups of ≤ 4 individuals (Heymann & Knogge 1997, Eason 2010, R. Jessen, pers. obs.). Neotropical pygmy squirrels are diurnal and the smallest tree squirrels in the western hemisphere, but there is a substantial lack of information about their life history and ecology (Emmons & Feer 1997, Koprowski & Nandini 2008). Here we report our observations of Neotropical pygmy squirrels using termite nests to nest communally.