Grizzly bear carrying capacity
Photo: Scott Nielsen - grizzly bear
Estimating grizzly bear carrying capacity using models of available kilocalories of plant and ungulate food resources
Alberta, Canada
Principle Investigator
Professor
Research Assistant
Research Assistant
Status: Active,

Conservation and management initiatives for wildlife species at risk require quantitative targets of population size in order to monitor and assess the efficacy of recovery efforts. A collaborative project between the ACE Lab and fRI Research is focusing on modelling the distribution and abundance of grizzly bear food resources, both plant and ungulate, for the Clearwater Grizzly Bear Management Area (BMA 4) in Alberta to develop carrying capacity estimates based on available kilocalories. This work seeks to build on our understanding of the number of grizzly bears that different regions of the landscape can support and to inform current management programs for this threatened species.