Habitat preferences of the Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus) in the Bolivian Andes

Rios Uzeda, B.; Gomez, H.; Wallace, R. B.

doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.2005.00013.x

Habitat preferences of the Andean bear Tremarctos ornatus were studied within two adjacent protected areas in the north-western Bolivian Andes. Standard transects measuring habitat variables and bear sign frequency were used spanning seven different vegetation types. Andean bears were present at 28 of 33 sampled sites and actively preferred high-elevation elfin forest and upper montane humid forests, and used high-elevation humid 'paramo' grasslands and middle montane humid forests according to their availability. Bears were absent from dry montane and Andean foothill forests and relative abundance was low in lower montane humid forests. Elevation and basal area of food items were the variables most closely related to the relative abundance.