Kate Kendall's Research Projects

Grizzly and Black Bear Population Studies

GRIZZLY AND BLACK BEAR ECOLOGY
Grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) and black bears (Ursus americanus) in northwest Montana are sympatric species (they occupy roughly the same area of land but do not interbreed). Black bears are generally smaller and their fur is usually darker than the grizzly bear. Bears are omnivorous (they eat both plants and animals). In northwest Montana, they eat berries, roots, grasses, nuts, tree cambium, insects, fungi, fish, carrion, small animals, and sometimes hunt larger animals like moose (fish and fungi are anecdotal accounts). Bears will also eat many human foods if they can gain access to them, such as bird seed, beehives, orchard fruit, livestock, and garbage. It is important to know what the key foods are for bears in this ecosystem in order to properly manage and protect the habitat bears need to survive. Management of the bears in this ecosystem also involves montoring their behavior in response to human use. Bears leave behind many signs of their presence as they travel across the landscape, including bear rubs, bear trails, tracks, scat, claw marks, bite marks, digs, wallows, and daybeds. Researchers can take advantage of bear sign to study grizzly and black bears in this ecosystem. For more information follow the link: Bear Ecology

USING DNA TO MONITOR BEAR POPULATIONS
The Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) in northwest Montana is one of the last strongholds of the grizzly bear in the lower 48 states. Of the six established grizzly bear recovery zones, the NCDE is the third largest in area, potentially harboring the greatest number of grizzly bears, and is the only zone contiguous to a strong Canadian population. However, little information exists about the bears in this region and as agencies strive to recover the threatened grizzly bear, it is clear that there is a need to assess the grizzly bear population in the NCDE. Managers and biologists are working to identify population size, trend, survival, and the corridors that link separate populations. Advances in genetic technology allow us to address these parameters through the identification of species, sex, and individuals from DNA extracted from bear hair without ever handling a bear.

Greater Glacier Bear Project (1997-2002)
No reliable information exists on the status of Greater Glacier National Park Area’s grizzly bear or black bear populations. Goals of the Greater Glacier Bear DNA Project, an interdisciplinary, interagency study, are to develop and apply non-invasive genetic techniques to determine density, trend, distribution, and genetic health of the grizzly bear and black bear populations in the greater Glacier National Park area and optimize genetic laboratory techniques for non-invasively collected hair and feces. This project applies these techniques in conjunction with statistical models to determine the population size. The results will be used to design a non-intrusive population trend monitoring scheme for grizzly and black bears inhabiting the GGA and DNA profiles with information on the degree of genetic variation, relatedness of individuals, and sex will be used to address bear conservation issues. For more information follow the link: Greater Glacier Bear Project

Northern Divide Bear Project (2003-2008)
This project applies non-invasive genetic techniques in conjunction with statistical models to estimate the number of grizzly bears and black bears inhabiting the NCDE. DNA profiles with information on the degree of genetic variation, relatedness of individuals, and sex will be used to address bear conservation issues. The results will be used in conjunction with the GGA project (below) to investigate questions such as survival rates and changes in regional density patterns. For more information follow the link: Northern Divide Bear Project

Whitebark and Limber Pine Studies

WHITEBARK AND LIMBER PINE COMMUNITIES
Whitebark pine is a keystone species in the communities where it occurs, whitebark and limber pine seeds are a significant food for wildlife, especially for threatened bear populations, and both species are declining due to introduced disease and fire exclusion. Studies were initiated on whitebark and limber pine communities from southern CA to northern Wyoming with an emphasis on Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Parks. Project goals were to document regional population status, distribution in GNP, blister rust infection and mortality rates, effects of decline on biodiversity, impacts of blister rust control activities on surrounding plant communities, identify stands for treatment with managed fire and planting.

Whitebark Pine Communities
Limber Pine Communities