Role of brown bears (Ursus arctos) in the flow of marine nitrogen into a terrestrial ecosystem.

Grant V. Hilderbrand; Thomas Hanley; Charles T. Robbins; Charles C. Schwartz

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Role of brown bears (Ursus arctos) in the flow of marine nitrogen into a terrestrial ecosystem.

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Grant V. Hilderbrand, Thomas Hanley, Charles T. Robbins, Charles C. Schwartz

Year:

1999

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Pacific Northwest Research Station

Source:

Oecologia. 121: 546-550

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Abstract

We quantified the amount, spatial distribution, and importance of salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.)-derived nitrogen (N) by brown bears (Ursus arctos) on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. We tested and confirmed the hypothesis that the stable isotope signature (δ¹⁵N) of N in foliage of white spruce (Picea glauca) was inversely proportional to the distance from salmon-spawning streams (r=-0.99 and P

Keywords

Bear, nitrogen, nutrient flow, salmon, spruce

Citation

Hilderbrand, Grant V.; Hanley, Thomas A.; Robbins, Charles T.; Schwartz, Charles C. 1999. Role of brown bears (Ursus arctos) in the flow of marine nitrogen into a terrestrial ecosystem. Oecologia. 121: 546-550