Home – Home – Jornals – Contemporary Problems of Ecology 2009 number 3

Data characterizing the dendroactivity of brown bear (Ursus arctos L.) were collected in the Yarsky District of Udmurtya, in the Pechora-Ilych (Republic of Komi) and the Sayan-Shusha state reserves. The tree stands at all the examined taiga grounds consist of hardwood and coniferous tree species. The fraction of hardwood species in local tree stands varied from 10 to 76 % (the average value being 35 %), conifers are represented by 4-5 species. Publications describing bear-affected trees (BT) in the amount of more than 50 species are also analyzed. On the basis of the original information, the data on the fractions of different tree species among the BT were compared with the fraction of the same species in local tree stands. Student statistics was used. It was concluded that the dendroactivity of brown bears is selective: the objects of activity become mainly coniferous trees, among them abies and spruce. These animals may also mark hardwood species but they do not do so if there is a choice.