Spatial–Temporal Patterns of Sympatric Asiatic Black Bears (Ursus thibetanus) and Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) in Northeastern China

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The mechanisms of coexistence between large carnivores are critical for conservation and the management of endangered species. In northeastern China, the distributions of Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) and brown bears (Ursus arctos) overlap widely. To better understand the mechanisms of coexistence among sympatric Asiatic black bears and brown bears, we assessed their spatial–temporal patterns using camera trapping data in Taipinggou National Nature Reserve, Heilongjiang Province, China. We found evidence for spatial and temporal divergences among the two Ursidae species. Asiatic black bears avoided brown bears by occupying higher elevations and being more diurnal where they coexisted. This study demonstrated how two bear species coexist through spatial and temporal niche separation, which will facilitate future studies on the mechanisms determining the coexistence of species and provide new basic data for animal conservation. ABSTRACT: Studying the spatial and temporal interactions between sympatric animal species is essential for understanding the mechanisms of interspecific coexistence. Both Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) and brown bears (Ursus arctos) inhabit northeastern China, but their spatial–temporal patterns and the mechanism of coexistence were unclear until now. Camera traps were set in Heilongjiang Taipinggou National Nature Reserve (TPGNR) from January 2017 to December 2017 to collect photos of the two sympatric bear species. The Pianka index, kernel density estimation, and the coefficient of overlap were used to analyze the spatial and temporal patterns of the two sympatric species. Our findings indicated that the spatial overlap between Asiatic black bears and brown bears was low, as Asiatic black bears occupied higher elevations than brown bears. The two species’ temporal activity patterns were similar at sites where only one species existed, yet they were different at the co–occurrence sites. Asiatic black bears and brown bears are competitors in this area, but they can coexist by changing their daily activity patterns. Compared to brown bears, Asiatic black bears behaved more diurnally. Our study revealed distinct spatial and temporal differentiation within the two species in TPGNR, which can reduce interspecific competition and facilitate coexistence between them.