The Scandinavian Brown Bear Project Print this page
Jon Swenson, Professor
University of Agricultural Sciences, Norway
Postal address: INA, NLH, P.O.Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, Norway
Subject area:
Wildlife biology, management of natural resources.
Research:
Common denominator in the research has been the study of the effects of human activities on wildlife populations, including the effects of harvesting on population dynamics and behavior. Important fields of research have been wildlife biology, population ecology, behavioral ecology, conservation biology, and landscape ecology. Scientific leader of the Scandinavian Brown Bear Research Project, where most of the research is centered today. This is a long-term cooperative project between Sweden and Norway on the ecology of the brown bear in Scandinavia. Other research is on landscape ecology of the hazel grouse and conservation biology of the endangered and endemic Chinese grouse.
Selected publications:
Scientific publications:
Linnell, J.D.C., Barnes, B., Swenson, J.E. & Andersen, R. 2000. How vulnerable are denning bears to disturbance? - Wildl. Soc. Bull. 28: 400-413.
Linnell, J.D.C., Swenson, J.E. & Andersen, R. 2000. Conservation of biodiversity in Scandinavian boreal forests: large carnivores as flagships, umbrellas, indicators, or keystones? - Biodiversity and Conservation 9: 857-868.
Waits, L., Taberlet, P., Swenson, J.E., Sandegren, F. & Franzén, R. 2000. Nuclear DNA microsatellite analysis of genetic diversity and gene flow in the Scandinavian brown bear (Ursus arctos). - Mol. Ecol. 9: 421-431.
Åberg, J., Jansson, G. , Swenson, J.E. & Mikusinski, G. 2000. Difficulties in detecting habitat selection by animals in generally suitable areas. - Wildlife Biology 6: 89-99.
Åberg, J., Swenson, J.E. & Andrén, H. 2000. The dynamics of hazel grouse (Bonasa bonasia) occurrence in habitat fragments. - Can. J. Zool. 78: 352-358.
Landa, A., Gudvangen, K., Swenson, J.E. & Røskaft, E. 1999. Factors associated with wolverine Gulo gulo predation on domestic sheep. - J. Appl. Ecol. 36: 1-12.
Linnell, J.C.D., Odden, J., Smith, M.E., Aanes, R. & Swenson, J.E. 1999. Large carnivores that kill livestock: do «problem animals» really exist? - Wildl. Soc. Bull. 27: 698-705.
Swenson, J.E., Jansson, A., Riig, R. & Sandegren, F. 1999. Bears and ants: myrmecophagy by brown bears in central Scandinavia. - Can. J. Zool. 77: 551-561.
Swenson, J.E., Sandegren, F., Söderberg, A., Heim, M., Sørensen, O.J., Bjärvall, A., Franzén, R., Wikan, S. & Wabakken, P. 1999. Interactions between brown bears and humans in Scandinavia. - Biosphere Conserv. 2: 1-9.
Tufto, J., Sæther, B.-E., Engen, S., Swenson, J.E. & Sandegren, F. 1999. Harvesting strategies for conserving minimum viable populations based on World Conservation Union criteria: brown bears in Norway. - Proc. R. Soc. London B 266: 961-967.
Dahle, B., Sørensen, O.J., Wedul, E.H., Swenson, J.E. & Sandegren, F. 1998. The diet of brown bears Ursus arctos in central Scandinavia: effect of access to free-ranging domestic sheep Ovis aries. - Wildl. Biol. 4: 147-158.
Landa, A., Franzén, R., Bø, T., Tufto, J., Lindén, M. & Swenson, J.E. 1998. Active wolverine Gulo gulo dens as a minimum population estimator in Scandinavia. - Wildl. Biol. 4: 159-168.
Saari, L., Åberg, J. & Swenson, J.E. 1998. Factors influencing the dynamics of occurrence of the hazel grouse (Bonasa bonasia) in a small-grained managed landscape. - Conserv. Biol. 12: 586-592.
Swenson, J.E. & Brainerd, S.M. 1998. The influence of hunting technique on the sex ratio in hazel grouse (Bonasa bonasia) bags. - Gibier Faune Sauvage, Game and Wildlife 15: 247-257.
Swenson, J.E., Sandegren, F. & Söderberg, A. 1998. Geographic expansion of an increasing brown bear population: evidence for presaturation dispersal. - J. Animal Ecol. 67: 819-826.
Sæther, B.E., Engen, S., Swenson, J.E., Bakke, Ø. & Sandegren, F. 1998. Assessing the viability of Scandinavian brown bear, Ursus arctos, populations: the effects of uncertain parameter estimates. - Oikos 83: 403-416.
Landa, A., Strand, O., Swenson, J.E. & Skogland, T. 1997. Wolverines and their prey in southern Norway. - Can. J. Zool. 75: 1292-1299.
Linnell, J.D.C., Aanes, R., Swenson, J.E., Odden, J. & Smith, M.E. 1997. Translocation of carnivores as a method for managing problem animals: a review. - Biodiversity and Conserv. 6: 1245-1257.
Sagør, J.T., Swenson, J.E. & Røskaft, E. 1997. Compatibility of brown bear Ursus arctos and free-ranging sheep in Norway. - Biol. Conserv. 81: 91-95.
Swenson, J.E., Sandegren, F., Brunberg, S. & Wabakken, P. 1997. Winter den sites abandonment by brown bears Ursus arctos: causes and consequences. - Wildl. Biol. 3: 35-38.
Swenson, J.E., Sandegren, F., Söderberg, A., Bjärvall, A., Franzén, R. & Wabakken, P. 1997. Infanticide caused by hunting of male bears. - Nature 386: 450-451.
Swenson, J.E. & Sandegren, F. 1996. Sustainable brown bear harvest in Sweden estimated from hunter-provided information. - J. Wildl. Res. 1: 228-231.
Swenson, J.E., Andreev, A.V. & Drovetskii, S.V. 1995. Factors shaping winter social organization in hazel grouse: a comparative study in the eastern and western Palearctic. - J. Avian Biol. 26: 4-12.
Swenson, J.E., Wabakken, P., Sandegren, F., Bjärvall, A., Franzén, R. & Söderberg, A. 1995. The near extinction and recovery of brown bears in Scandinavia in relation to the bear management policies of Norway and Sweden. - Wildl. Biol. 1: 11-25.
Taberlet, P., Swenson, J.E., Sandegren F. & Bjärvall, A. 1995. Conservation genetics of the brown bear (Ursus arctos): localization of a contact zone between two highly divrgent mitochondrial DNA lineages in Scandinavia. - Conserv. Biol. 9: 1255-1261.
Åberg, J., Jansson, G., Swenson, J.E. & Angelstam, P. 1995. Effect of matrix on hazel grouse occurrence in isolated habitat patches. - Oecologia 103: 265-269
Beshkarev, A.B., Swenson, J.E., Angelstam, P., Andrén, H. & Blagovidov, A.B. 1994. Long-term dynamics of hazel grouse populations in source- and sink-dominated pristine taiga landscapes. - Oikos 71: 375-380.
Lindström, E.R., Andrén, H., Angelstam, P., Cederlund, G., Hörnfeldt, B., Jäderberg, L., Lemnell, P.A., Martinsson, B., Sköld, K. & Swenson, J.E. 1994. Disease reveals the predator: sarcoptic mange, red fox predation and prey populations. - Ecology 75: 1042-1049.
Swenson, J.E., Saari, L. & Bonczar, Z. 1994. Effects of weather on the reproductive success of hazel grouse: an allometric perspective. - J. Avian Biol. 25: 8-14.
Swenson, J.E., Sandegren, F., Bjärvall, A., Söderberg, A., Wabakken, P. & Franzén, R. 1994. Size, trend, distribution and conservation of the brown bear Ursus arctos population in Sweden. - Biol. Conserv. 70: 9-17.
Swenson, J.E. 1993. Hazel grouse (Bonasa bonasia) pairs during the nonbreeding season: mutual benefits of a cooperative alliance. - Behav. Ecol. 4: 14-21.
Swenson, J.E. 1993. The importance of alder to hazel grouse in Fennoscandian boreal forest: evidence from four levels of scale. - Ecography 16: 37-46.
Swenson, J.E. & Angelstam, P. 1993. Habitat separation by sympatric forest grouse in Fennoscandia in relation to forest succession. - Can. J. Zool. 71: 1303-1310.
Swenson, J.E. & Boag, D.A. 1993. Are hazel grouse monogamous? - Ibis 135: 463-467.
Swenson, J.E. 1992. Relative Alterbestimmung bei adulten Haselhühnern (Bonasa bonasia). - J. Orn. 133: 209-212.
Swenson, J.E. 1991. Evaluation of a density index for territorial male hazel grouse Bonasa bonasia in spring and autumn. - Ornis Fenn. 68: 57-65.
Irby, L.R., Swenson, J.E. & Stewart, S.T. 1989. Two views of the impacts of poaching on bighorn sheep in the Upper Yellowstone Valley, Montana, USA. - Biol. Conserv. 47: 259-272.
Swenson, J.E., Simmons, C. & Eustace, C.D. 1987. Decrease of sage grouse Centrocercus urophasianus after ploughing of sagebrush steppe. - Biol. Conserv. 41: 125-132.
Swenson, J.E. 1986. Differential survival by sex in juvenile sage grouse and gray partridge. - Ornis Scand. 17: 14-17.
Swenson, J.E., Alt, K.L. & Eng, R.L. 1986. Ecology of bald eagles in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. - Wildl. Monogr. No. 95. 46 pp.
Swenson, J.E. 1985. Compensatory reproduction in an introduced mountain goat population in the Absaroka Mountains, Montana. - J. Wildl. Manage. 49: 837-843.
Swenson, J.E., Knapp, S.J., Martin, P.R. & Hinz, T.C. 1983. Reliability of aerial cache surveys to monitor beaver population trends on prairie rivers in Montana. - J. Wildl. Manage. 47: 697-703.
Swenson, J.E. 1983. Free public hunting and the conservation of public wildlife resources. - Wildl. Soc. Bull. 11: 300-303.
Swenson, J.E. 1982. Effects of hunting on habitat use by mule deer on mixed-grass prairie in Montana. - Wildl. Soc. Bull. 10: 115-120.
Swenson, J.E. 1979. Factors affecting status and reproduction of ospreys in Yellowstone National Park. - J. Wildl. Manage. 43: 595-601.
Swenson, J.E. 1979. The relationship between prey species ecology and dive success in ospreys. - Auk 96: 408-412.
Swenson, J.E. 1978. Prey and foraging behavior of ospreys on Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming. - J. Wildl. Manage. 42: 87-90.
Popular publications:
Landa, A., Linnell, J.D.C., Lindén, M., Swenson, J.E., Røskaft, E. & Moksnes, A. 2000. Conservation of Scandinavian wolverines in ecological and political landscapes. - Pp 1-20 in: Griffiths, H.I. (ed.). Mustelids in a modern world, management and conservation aspects of small carnivore - human interactions. - Backhuys Publ., Leiden.
Swenson, J. 2000. Der Braunbär (Ursus arctos) in Eurasien. - Pp 89-108 in: Gansloßer, U. (ed.). Die Bären. - Filander Verlag, Fürth.
Sandegren, F. & Swenson, J. 1997. Björnen - viltet, ekologin och människan. - Svenska Jägareförbundet, Stockholm, Sweden. 70 pp.
Bergmann, H.-H., Klaus, S., Müller, F., Scherzinger, W., Swenson, J.E. & Wiesner, J. 1996. Die Haselhühner Bonasa bonasia und B. sewerzowi. - Die Neue Brehm-Bücherei Bd. 77, Westarp Wissenschaften, Magdeburg. 278 pp.
Some management-oriented reports:
Sandegren, F. & Swenson, J. 2000. Björnen som älgjägare. - Svensk Jakt 2000(2/3): 62-65.
Swenson, J.E., Gerstl, N., Dahle, B. & Zedrosser, A. 2000. Action plan for the conservation of the brown bear (Ursus arctos) in Europe. - Council of Europe, Report T-PVS (2000) 24.
Busk, H., Dahle, B., Jansson, A., Johansen, T., Norin, A., Opseth, O., Persson, I.-L., Riig, R., Stabell, L., Söderberg, A., Swenson, J., Sandegren, F., Wallin, K. & Cederlund, G. 1999. Bjørnen som predator på elg. - Elgen 1999: 12-15.
Swenson, J. & Sandegren, F. 1999. Den svenske bjørnebestandens levedyktighet. - Pp 85-90 in: Ebenhard, T. & Höggren, M. (eds.). Livskraftiga rovdjurstammar. - Centrum för biologisk mångfold, Skriftserie 1. Uppsala, Sweden.
Swenson, J. & Sandegren, F. 1999. Mistänkt illegal björnjakt i Sverige. - Pp 201-206 in: Bilagor till Sammanhållen rovdjurspolitik; Slutbetänkande av Rovdjursutredningen. - Statens offentliga utredningar 1999: 146. Stockholm, Sweden.
Linnell, J.D.C., Swenson, J.E., Landa, A. & Kvam, T. 1998. Metodikk for bestandsovervåking av store rovdyr - en litteraturgjennomgang. - Norwegian Inst. Nature Res., Oppdragsmelding 549.
Swenson, J., Sandegren, F., Wallin, K. & Cederlund, G. 1998. Karhun ja hirven yhteiselo Skandinaviassa. - Riistantutkimuksen tiedote 149: 3-4.
Swenson, J.E. 1997. How can research be an effective part of wildlife management? - Pp 4-9 in: Breitenmoser-Würsten, C. (ed.). Wirkungsfoller Naturschutz - Welche Rolle kann die SGW übernehmen? - Bundesamt für Umwelt, Wald und Landschaft, Sektion Jagd und Wildforschung, Bern, Switzerland.
Sæther, B.-E., Engen, S., Swenson, J.E., Bakke, Ø. & Sandegren, F. 1997. Levedyktighetsanslyser av skandinavisk brunbjørn. - Norwegian Inst. Nature Res., Fagrapport 25.
Linnell, J.D.C., Smith, M.E., Odden, J., Kaczensky, P. & Swenson, J.E. 1996. Rovvilt og sauenæring i Norge 5. Strategier for å redusere rovdyr-husdyr konflikter: en litteraturoversikt. - Norwegian Inst. Nature Res., Oppdragsmelding 444.
Mysterud, I., Swenson, J.E., Linnell, J.D.C., Gautestad, A.O., Mysterud, I., Odden, J., Smith, M.E., Aanes, R. & Kaczensky, P. 1996. Rovvilt og sauenæring i Norge: kunnskapsoversikt og evaluering av forebyggende tiltak. - Report, Biological Institute, University of Oslo, Norway.
Sagør, J.T. & Swenson, J. 1996. Sau i bjørneland - kilde til konflikt! - Pp 8-23 in: Brox, K.H. (ed.). Natur 96/97. - Tapir forlag, Trondheim, Norway.
Swenson, J.E., Heggberget, T.M., Sandström, P., Wabakken, P., Bjärvall, A., Söderberg, A., Franzén, R., Linnell, J.D.C. & Andersen, R. 1996. Brunbjørnens arealbruk i forhold til menneskelig aktivitet. En utredning foretatt i forbindelse med Forsvarets planer for Regionfelt Østlandet, del 5. - Norwegian Inst. Nature Res., Oppdragsmelding 416.
Swenson, J.E., Sandegren, F., Heim, M., Brunberg, S., Sørensen, O.J., Söderberg, A., Bjärvall, A., Franzén, R., Wikan, S., Wabakken, P. & Overskaug, K. 1996. Er den skandinaviske bjørnen farlig? - Norwegian Inst. Nature Res., Oppdragsmelding 404.
Sæther, B.E., Askenmo, C., Bergström, R., Ekström, S.E., Rülcker, J., Swenson, J., Wetterin, A. & Lundvall, A. 1996. Viltforskningen mot år 2000. - Naturvårdsverket, Rapport 4589.
Aanes, R., Swenson, J.E. & Linnell, J.D.C. 1996. Rovvilt og sauenæring i Norge. 1. Tap av sau til rovvilt: en presentasjon av tapets omfang basert på brukeropplysninger. - Norwegian Inst. Nature Res., Oppdragsmelding 434.
Brainerd, S. & Swenson, J. 1995. Lokkepipa - ingen trussel for jerpebestanden. - Jakt og Fiske 1995(10): 18-19.
Landa, A., Swenson, J. & Tømmerås, B.Å. 1995. Jerven - status, økologi og forskningsbehov. - Fauna 48: 162-171.
Sagør, J.T., Swenson, J.E. & Røskaft, E. 1995. Bjørn og sauehold: Er det mulig å nå Rovviltmeldingenes målsettingene? - Norwegian Inst. Nature Res., Fagrapport 14.
Swenson, J.E. 1994. Jerpe Bonasa bonasia. - Pp 138-138 in: Gjershaug,J.O., Thingstad, P.G., Eldøy, S. & Byrkjeland, S. (eds.). Norsk fugleatlas. - Norsk Ornitologisk Forening, Klæbu.
Swenson, J.E., Sandegren, F., Wabakken, P., Bjärvall, A., Söderberg, A. and Franzén, R. 1994. Bjørnens historiske og nåværende status og forvaltning i Skandinavia. - Norwegian Inst. Nature Res., Forskningsrapport 53.
Swenson, J.E. 1993. Järpe. - Pp 181 in: Bergström, R., Huldt, H. & Nilsson, U. (eds.). Sverige, jakten och EG. - Svenska Jägareförbund, Stockholm.
Swenson, J.E. 1977. Biology of a Norwegian pheasant population. - Meddr. Norsk Viltforsk. 3(5): 1-24.