Abstract 89 – A collaborative evaluation of multispecies interactions in Scandinavia: Brown bears, wolves, moose, and red deer in a human-dominated landscape

Aimee Tallian, Jonas Kindberg, Håkan Sand, Wiebke Neumann, Fredrik Stenbacka,
Jenny Mattisson, Anders Johannson, Beth Stacey

Here we present a new research initiative from the Scandinavian Brown Bear Research Project
(SBBRP). This study takes advantage of the convergence of research efforts in the Ljusdal
Municipality which represents a unique opportunity to explore multispecies interactions; this is
the first time brown bears, wolves, moose, and red deer will be simultaneously collared in
Sweden. The study has three core goals: a) quantify bear and wolf predation rates on moose
and red deer, b) explore and quantify various drivers of bear kill rates, and c) explore
multispecies interactions and behavior. This new study is particularly important in the context
of the shifting paradigm from single species to multispecies management. For example,
quantifying the combined effect of bears and wolves on Scandinavia’s moose and red deer
populations is fundamental for the management of all four species and will improve our
understanding of wildlife ecology in Europe’s human-dominated landscapes. Clarifying the main
drivers of bear kill rate and quantifying their effect, including the introduction of novel prey into
the ecosystem, is important for understanding the impact of bears on moose populations under
varied environmental conditions. Furthermore, understanding the nature of competition
between predators is important for managers, who need to know how multiple recovering
carnivores within their ecosystem affect both predator behavior and prey population dynamics.
This project is a collaborative effort between the SBBRP, the Scandinavian Wolf Research
Project, and the Moose Research Project at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences,
with multiple local and national stakeholders involved within the projects reference group.
Together, our three projects envision a long-term collaborative effort in the Ljusdal area with
the aim of long-term multi-species monitoring and research to facilitate scientific advancement
and adaptive wildlife management in Sweden.