Stable isotope and trace element studies of black bear hair, Big Bend ecosystem, Texas and Mexico

W.C. Pat Shanks III; Eric C. Hellgren; Craig A. Stricker; Pamela A. Gemery-Hill; David P. Onorato

Stable isotope and trace element studies of black bear hair, Big Bend ecosystem, Texas and Mexico

By: W.C. Pat Shanks III, Eric C. Hellgren, Craig A. Stricker, Pamela A. Gemery-Hill, and David P. Onorato

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Abstract

Hair from black bears (Ursus americanus), collected from four areas in the Big Bend ecosystem, has been analyzed for stable isotopes of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur to determine major food sources and for trace metals to infer possible effects of environmental contaminants. Results indicate that black bears are largely vegetarian, feeding on desert plants, nuts, and berries. Mercury concentrations in bear hair are below safe level standards (

Additional publication details
Publication type	Report
Title	Stable isotope and trace element studies of black bear hair, Big Bend ecosystem, Texas and Mexico
Year Published	2008
Language	English
Publisher	U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location	Reston, VA
Contributing office(s)	Fort Collins Science Center
Description	8 p.
Larger Work Type	Report
Larger Work Subtype	USGS Numbered Series
Larger Work Title	Geological, geochemical, and geophysical studies by the U.S. Geological Survey in Big Bend National Park, Texas (Circular 1327)
First page	77
Last page	84
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