Mammalia 2017; aop Yoshihiro Umemura a , Shinsuke Koike*, Chinatsu Kozakai b , Koji Yamazaki c , Yui Nemoto d , Ami Nakajima e , Mari Kohri f , Shin Abe, Takashi Masaki and Koichi Kaji Using a novel method of potential available energy to determine masting condition influence on sex-specific habitat selection by Asiatic black bears https://doi.org/10.1515/mammalia-2015-0172 Received November 23, 2015; accepted July 27, 2017 Abstract: Habitat selection is assumed to accrue fitness benefits. Where resource availability is variable, indi- viduals should respond by changing habitat selection to increase resource availability. However, direct links between observed changes in habitat selection and energetic benefits of this behavior are rarely detected. We used a novel method whereby we converted inter- annual production levels of three hard-mast-producing Fagaceae species into a comparative energetic productiv- ity score to investigate potential energetic benefits of Asi- atic black bear habitat selection. We captured and fitted GPS collars on 19 bears between 2006 and 2010 in the Ashio-Nikko Mountains, Japan. We also collected data on hard-mast production and integrated these data with fine-scale vegetation maps. Then we mapped the poten- tial available mast energetic production for each veg- etation type to evaluate their potential energetic benefit for bears. Habitat use differed between poor and good mast years. Bears mostly used Japanese oak in good mast years, and there were sexual differences in September of poor mast years; females used mostly Japanese oak, whereas males used Konara oak. In those years, bears may have benefitted energetically by changing habitat use; however, the mean potential available energy to bears never exceeded that in good mast years, even if they used different habitats. Keywords: energetics; Fagaceae; habitat selection; mast production; Ursus thibetanus. Introduction Understanding the habitat choices of wildlife has impor- tant implications for explaining the distribution of organisms and managing their habitat. In general, many studies have shown a strong link between food availabil- ity and habitat use. Under natural conditions, habitat preferences are assumed to be shaped by the fitness con- sequences of using particular types of habitats (Jaenike and Holt 1991, Orians and Wittenberger 1991, Chalfoun and Martin 2009). The link between habitat quality, which is affected by factors such as food availability, and fitness has been well demonstrated, and habitat quality is often used as a substitute for fitness measures and for conservation efforts (e.g. Johnson 2007, Chalfoun and Martin 2009). Most bears (Ursus sp.) undergo hyperphagia to store fat from key foods in autumn in preparation for hiber- nation (e.g. Garshelis 2009). For example, hard masts, such as the acorns produced by the Fagaceae species, are important foods for brown bears (Ursus arctos Linnaeus), American black bears (Ursus americanus Pallas) and Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus G. Cuvier) in most temperate areas (e.g. Rogers 1987a, Mattson et al. 1990, Koike 2010). However, Fagaceae have a reproductive strategy character- ized by numerous synchronous mast crops, followed by small or very few mast crops (Kelly 1994, Koenig and Knops 2002). Thus, bears that depend on these hard mast species in autumn must cope with interannual fluctuations in hard mast availability (Spady et al. 2007). a Present address: Shireto Nature Foundation, 531, Iwaubetsu, Shari, Hokkaido 099-4356, Japan b Present address: National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 2-1-18, Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8666, Japan c Present address: Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan d Present address: Fukushima Prefectural Center for Environmental Creation, 10-2 Fukasaku, Miharu Town, Fukushima 963-7700, Japan e Present address: Tokyo Zoological Park Society, 7-1-1 Hodokubo, Hino, Tokyo 191-0042, Japan f Present address: Japan Forest Technology Association, 7 Rokubann- cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0085, Japan *Corresponding author: Shinsuke Koike, Institute of Agriculture, Division of Environment Conservation, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-Cho, Fuchu, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan, e-mail: koikes@cc.tuat.ac.jp Yoshihiro Umemura, Chinatsu Kozakai, Yui Nemoto, Ami Nakajima and Koichi Kaji: Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-Cho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan Koji Yamazaki: Ibaraki Nature Museum, 700 Osaki, Bando, Ibaraki 306-0622, Japan Mari Kohri, Shin Abe and Takashi Masaki: Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, 1 Matsunosato, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8687, Japan Brought to you by | University of Gothenburg Authenticated Download Date | 9/25/17 10:05 PM