Partitioning human and brown bear niches: transboundary connectivity and human disturbance in the Alpine region (PartNiche)

The Alpine ecosystem in Europe, a region marked by both rich biodiversity and intensive human use, stands at the forefront of conservation challenges, particularly concerning the coexistence of humans and wildlife. This research, set within the mulit-national landscape of the Alps, aims to elucidate the complex interplay between human activities and the habitat use and connectivity of the brown bear (Ursus arctos), a species emblematic of both conservation success and social conflict. After reintroduction of brown bears to Trentino, Italy 25 years ago, the growing population allows for continued range expansion into former habitat throughout the Alps. Leveraging a multidisciplinary approach, the study designs models to analyze spatio-temporal patterns of bear movements and human-bear interactions, focusing on areas impacted by human infrastructure, recreational activities, and changing social acceptance of large carnivores. Employing bio-logging, remote sensing technologies, and socio-ecological surveys, the research aims to produce dynamic, fine-scale representations of current bear distribution, connectivity to potential habitat within and outside the population range, and human-bear conflict zones stemming from both tangible and sociological human disturbance. Historical and sociological drivers of wildlife tolerance will also be investigated. Anticipated preliminary results include the identification of key areas of habitat, connectivity, and conflict hotspots. This research and its products such as interactive suitability maps, predicted areas of conflicts, and science-based conservation protocols, are done with the goal of contributing to the Conflict-to-Coexistence (C2C) Approach for mitigating human-wildlife conflicts through informed conservation strategies, and addressing the urgent need for a harmonized coexistence between humans and the recovering Alpine brown bear population.