Publication Type: | Journal Article |
Year of Publication: | 2006 |
Authors: | Narita, R, Sugimoto, A, Takayanagi, A |
Journal: | Wildlife Biology |
Volume: | 12 |
Pagination: | 375-384 |
Date Published: | 2006 |
ISBN Number: | 0909-6396 |
Keywords: | Ursus thibetanus |
Abstract: | We measured stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios of hair, muscle and potential food items of Japanese black bears Ursus thibetanus japonicus in Kyoto Prefecture and its surrounding area in order to determine the contributions of animal and plant foods. The δ13C values of hair samples of bears were ?22.7 ± 0.4? in early summer, ?22.8 ± 0.3? in late summer and ?22.7 ± 0.7? in autumn, while δ15N values were 3.5 ± 0.4? in early summer, 3.2 ± 0.4? in late summer and 3.6 ± 0.5? in autumn. The δ13C values of muscle samples of bears were ?24.6? in early summer, ?23.2? in late summer and ?23.1 ± 0.3? in autumn, while δ15N values of bears captured were 3.7? in early summer, 5.0? in late summer and 4.5 ± 0.7? in autumn. We determined the isotopic endpoints of seven food groups from the isotope ratios of food groups and calculated the contribution of each food group using a stochastic method. Our results suggested that animal components were the major constituent of body tissue, contributing > 61% in all samples except for muscle samples collected in early summer. In muscle samples collected in early summer, none of the food items were estimated to be the major source. In cases in which the animal components were estimated to be major food sources, invertebrates were estimated to account for most of the animal components. It was concluded that animal components are an important source of tissue material in Japanese black bears in Kyoto and its surrounding area. |
URL: | http://dx.doi.org/10.2981/0909-6396(2006)12[375:ACITDO]2.0.CO;2 |
Animal components in the diet of Japanese black bears Ursus thibetanus japonicus in the Kyoto area, Japan
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