Brown bears Ursus arctos were historically persecuted and almost eradicated from Southern Europe in the 20th century as a result of hunting and direct persecution (Zedrosser et al. 2011; Martínez Cano et al. 2016). The effects of human induced mortality were exacerbated by other threats, such as habitat loss and fragmentation, due to the expansion of human populations (Swenson et al. 2000). As a result, nowadays there are only small fragmented populations of bears in Southern Europe, where brown bears frequently inhabit human modified landscapes. These areas are characterised by the widespread presence of people and infrastructures, which potentially have ecological impacts on bears. The close coexistence of brown bears and humans generates multiple human-driven disturbances (Ordiz et al. 2017) and causes bear mortality (Bischof et al. 2009), affecting the distribution, demography, behaviour and viability of bear populations (Penteriani et al. 2018a; Zarzo-Arias et al. 2018). Brown bears in the Cantabrian (north-western Spain), Apennine (central Italy) and Pindos (north-western Greece) mountains (Figure 19.1) represent three examples of small and threatened bear populations in human-modified landscapes (Figure 19.2). Most of their range is characterised by high human densities, widespread agricultural activities, livestock raising and urban development, connected by dense networks of transport infrastructures (Penteriani et al. submitted; Mateo-Sánchez et al. 2016). This has resulted in a reduction of continuous habitat suitable for the species (Martínez Cano et al. 2016). Here, we summarise the past and present histories and fates of these three populations as examples on how the coexistence of bears and people in human-modified landscapes can take different turns depending on human attitudes.

Bears in human-modified landscapes: The case studies of the Cantabrian, Apennine, and Pindos Mountains / V., Penteriani; Karamanlidis, A. A.; Ordiz, A.; Ciucci, P.; Boitani, L.; Bertorelle, G.; Zarzo-Arias, A.; Bombieri, G.; González-Bernardo, E.; Morini, P.; Pinchera, F.; Fernández, N.; Mateo-Sánchez, M. C.; Revilla, E.; de Gabriel Hernando, M.; Mertzanis, Y.; Mario Melletti, And. - (2020), pp. 260-272.

Bears in human-modified landscapes: The case studies of the Cantabrian, Apennine, and Pindos Mountains

P. Ciucci;L. Boitani;
2020

Abstract

Brown bears Ursus arctos were historically persecuted and almost eradicated from Southern Europe in the 20th century as a result of hunting and direct persecution (Zedrosser et al. 2011; Martínez Cano et al. 2016). The effects of human induced mortality were exacerbated by other threats, such as habitat loss and fragmentation, due to the expansion of human populations (Swenson et al. 2000). As a result, nowadays there are only small fragmented populations of bears in Southern Europe, where brown bears frequently inhabit human modified landscapes. These areas are characterised by the widespread presence of people and infrastructures, which potentially have ecological impacts on bears. The close coexistence of brown bears and humans generates multiple human-driven disturbances (Ordiz et al. 2017) and causes bear mortality (Bischof et al. 2009), affecting the distribution, demography, behaviour and viability of bear populations (Penteriani et al. 2018a; Zarzo-Arias et al. 2018). Brown bears in the Cantabrian (north-western Spain), Apennine (central Italy) and Pindos (north-western Greece) mountains (Figure 19.1) represent three examples of small and threatened bear populations in human-modified landscapes (Figure 19.2). Most of their range is characterised by high human densities, widespread agricultural activities, livestock raising and urban development, connected by dense networks of transport infrastructures (Penteriani et al. submitted; Mateo-Sánchez et al. 2016). This has resulted in a reduction of continuous habitat suitable for the species (Martínez Cano et al. 2016). Here, we summarise the past and present histories and fates of these three populations as examples on how the coexistence of bears and people in human-modified landscapes can take different turns depending on human attitudes.
2020
Bears of the World. Ecology, Conservation and Management
9781108483520
Apennines, Brown bear, small populations, Ursus arctos, wildlife conservation
02 Pubblicazione su volume::02a Capitolo o Articolo
Bears in human-modified landscapes: The case studies of the Cantabrian, Apennine, and Pindos Mountains / V., Penteriani; Karamanlidis, A. A.; Ordiz, A.; Ciucci, P.; Boitani, L.; Bertorelle, G.; Zarzo-Arias, A.; Bombieri, G.; González-Bernardo, E.; Morini, P.; Pinchera, F.; Fernández, N.; Mateo-Sánchez, M. C.; Revilla, E.; de Gabriel Hernando, M.; Mertzanis, Y.; Mario Melletti, And. - (2020), pp. 260-272.
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