Movement, genetic structure, and space use of central Georgia black bears (ursus americanus) as influenced by a highway corridor

ABSTRACTGeorgia, USA has 3 American black bear populations. The least abundant of these is the Central Georgia Bear Population. Relatively low abundance, isolation from neighboring bear populations, and a proposed plan to widen a highway which bisects the range of the Central Georgia Bear Population are cause for concern. I used movement and genetic data to address these issues. I used GPS-tracking and dynamic Brownian bridge analysis to identify black bear highway crossings in Central Georgia and recommend placement for wildlife underpasses. I used microsatellite genotypes of Georgia black bears to determine the level of genetic separation among Georgias bear populations. Results suggest a high degree of separation and low genetic diversity within the Central Georgia Bear Population. Lastly, I used GPS-tracking data to develop a step selection function of bear movement across Georgias landscape and predict the likelihood of bears migrating to the Central Georgia Bear Population.