Korean and Japanese stone pines (Pinus koraiensis and P. pumila, respectively) occur in Japan. Although the importance of stone pine seeds to bears (Ursus spp.) is well documented, the use of stone pine seeds by Asiatic black bears (U. thibetanus) in Japan has not been reported. We observed use of Korean and Japanese stone pine seeds by Asiatic black bears in the Northern Japanese Alps of central Japan. We found 15 scats composed mostly or entirely of the remains of Korean stone pine seeds, 27 Korean stone pines with bear claw marks up their trunks, and branches broken by bears at the tops of 3 of these trees. Two radiocollared adult females, regularly located in areas where sign of feeding on Korean stone pines seeds occurred, moved down to the upper montane zone and apparently fed on acorns of Mongolian oak (Quercus crispula) after those matured. Three radiocollared adult males using the same drainage started feeding on acorns of Mongolian oak in the lower montane zone at an earlier date. We hypothesize that bears in the study area prefer acorns to Korean stone pine seeds and that males congregate in prime feeding areas at lower elevations to start feeding on acorns earlier in the season than females. We also found 4 scats composed of 1-25% Japanese stone pine seeds and 1 scat containing traces of Japanese stone pine seeds in the alpine zone.
- Volume 12
- Issue
- Pages 47-50
- Publication Date 1 January 2001
- DOI
- File Size 170.56 KB
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