Sex specific seasonal variation in the diet of brown bears in human dominated landscapes.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the foraging ecology of brown bears (Ursus arctos) in human-dominated landscapes is essential for effective wildlife management and conflict mitigation. In this study, we investigated the seasonal diet composition of brown bears in the Western Carpathians, Slovakia, using a combination of molecular genetic and microhistological scat analyses. We analysed 198 brown bear scats (101 males, 97 females) collected throughout the year in central Slovakia, to assess seasonal variation in diet, identify sex-specific foraging patterns, and evaluate the use of anthropogenic food resources. Vegetation constituted the primary dietary component year-round, with hard mast frequency dominating in spring (FO = 45%), autumn (FO = 67%), and winter (FO = 82%), while soft mast (FO = 48%) and anth

SUBMITTER: Francioni M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12559401 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature