Data from: Diet and macronutrient niche of Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) in two regions of Nepal during summer and autumn

Relatively little is known about the nutritional ecology of omnivorous
Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) in Nepal. We characterized the diet
of black bears in two seasons (June–July, “summer”; and October–November
“autumn”) and two study areas (Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve [DHR]; and
Kailash Sacred Landscape [KSL]). We then conducted nutritional analysis of
species consumed by black bears in each study area, in combination with
nutritional estimates from the literature, to estimate the proportions of
macronutrients (i.e., protein [P], lipid [L], and carbohydrate [C]) in the
seasonal bear foods and diets, as well as their macronutrient niche
breadth. We found that bamboo (Arundinaria spp.) had the highest relative
frequency in both study areas and seasons. Ants and termites were found in
DHR diets, but not KSL diets. One anthropogenic crop was found in DHR
summer diets (Zea mays) and two were found in KSL summer diets (Z. mays;
and Kodo millet [Paspalum scrobiculatum]). Other than insects, no animal
prey was found in either diet. The proportions of macronutrients in diets
(i.e., realized macronutrient niches) were relatively high in carbohydrate
for both study areas and seasons: DHRsummer 24.1P:8.7L:67.2C; KSLsummer
16.7P:8.2L:75.1C; DHRautumn 21.1P:10.5L:68.4C; KSHautumn
19.0P:11.0L:70.0C. Macronutrient niche breadth was 3.1 × greater in the
DHR than KSL during summer, and 4.0 × greater in the autumn, primarily due
to the higher proportion of lipid in ants and termites relative to plant
foods. Within‐study area differences in niche breadth were greater during
summer than autumn; in the KSH the macronutrient breadth was 1.4 × greater
in summer, while in the DHR it was 1.1 × greater in summer. Similarity in
dietary macronutrient proportions despite differences in foods consumed
and niche breadth are suggestive of foraging to reach a preferred
macronutrient balance.