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<p>We report the first confirmed observation of brown bear (<i>Ursus arctos</i>) predation on pink salmon (<i>Oncorhynchus gorbuscha</i>) in Northeastern Europe, highlighting an emerging foraging behavior in response to ecological changes. The study, conducted along the Ust'-Yaren'ga River in Onezhskoye Pomorye National Park, documents adaptations to the increasing abundance of pink salmon, an introduced species. Evidence includes feeding traces, paw prints, and partially consumed salmon carcasses. Pink salmon’s semelparous life history, involving spawning once and dying, makes them particularly vulnerable during spawning migration. Observations suggest that brown bears have begun to exploit this accessible resource, in contrast to their historically limited interaction with native salmonids. These findings reveal the dietary flexibility of brown bears and raise questions about the ecological consequences of pink salmon expansion into ecosystems of Northeastern Europe. Such shifts may affect nutrient cycling, local biodiversity, and brown bear population dynamics. Given the implications of climate-driven range expansions, this study underscores the importance of continued monitoring of predator–prey interactions and their broader ecological impacts.</p>

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Adaptation of brown bears to pink salmon as a new prey resource in Northeastern Europe

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年4月18日

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  • Pavel A. Futoran,
  • Yury K. Petrunenko

摘要

We report the first confirmed observation of brown bear (Ursus arctos) predation on pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) in Northeastern Europe, highlighting an emerging foraging behavior in response to ecological changes. The study, conducted along the Ust'-Yaren'ga River in Onezhskoye Pomorye National Park, documents adaptations to the increasing abundance of pink salmon, an introduced species. Evidence includes feeding traces, paw prints, and partially consumed salmon carcasses. Pink salmon’s semelparous life history, involving spawning once and dying, makes them particularly vulnerable during spawning migration. Observations suggest that brown bears have begun to exploit this accessible resource, in contrast to their historically limited interaction with native salmonids. These findings reveal the dietary flexibility of brown bears and raise questions about the ecological consequences of pink salmon expansion into ecosystems of Northeastern Europe. Such shifts may affect nutrient cycling, local biodiversity, and brown bear population dynamics. Given the implications of climate-driven range expansions, this study underscores the importance of continued monitoring of predator–prey interactions and their broader ecological impacts.