Nutrients driving the foraging of Bromeliads by the Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus)

Bc. Adéla Paříková

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Andean bears (Tremarctos ornatus) are considered as Vulnerable according to IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This situation was caused mainly by habitat losses, fragmentation and poaching. One of the most important parts in conservation of the species is to study diet. Nutritional supply may vary during different seasons. However Bromeliads play important role in the diet of the Andean bear. It is essential to find out key nutrients in the diet of the Andean bear and to understand feeding ecology of this species. Aim of this study was to determine which ecological factors are affecting nutritional composition of Bromeliads. This research was conducted in Southern Ecuador in Loja province. Nutritional composition was evaluated, so it was important to collect the most abundant Bromeliad species in four diverse places (6 study sites) to obtain their nutritional levels of protein, fat, fibre, ash, starch. These Bromeliads were collected in differrent places, ecosystems (forest, páramo), distinct phases of phenological cycle (flowering, not flowering) and under different conditions of place (burnt, unburnt areas). Meristematic tissues (eaten part of Bromeliads by the Andean bear) were separated from the whole plant and were cleaned, dried and grinded. Nutritional analyses of eaten parts were made by using of NIRS method in FOSS DS2500 analyser. Obtained data were statistically analysed firstly by ANOVA, to present difference in nutritional values among all tested ecological factors, and secondly by multivariate analysis (GLMM), to specify which factors are affecting nutritional composition of the Bromeliads. Generally it was found out that ecological factors actually affect the nutritional composition of the Bromeliads. In forest ecosystem nutritional values were rather higher (expect of fat). These affected by fire were higher as well (except of starch). Flowering had also positive effect on the nutritional content of Bromeliads. Further research on nutritional quality of Bromeliads and factors driving the quality is crucial for understanding activity patterns of the Andean bears, and to ensure their conservation.

Keywords

Tremarctos ornatus, Bromeliads, nutrients, diet selection

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 27. 4. 2018

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: doc. Francisco Ceacero Herrador, Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Master programme / field:
Tropical Agriculture / Animal and Food Sciences in Tropics and Subtropics