ABSTRACT In 2023 Biosphere Expeditions concluded its 17th year of cetacean photo-identification and distribution studies in the Azores. The expedition was based in Horta on the island of Faial and work was conducted around the three islands of Faial, Pico and São Jorge. The expedition ran from 20 March to 20 April 2023. 172 sightings of ten different species of cetacean and eight loggerhead turtles were recorded during the expedition period. Baleen whale photo-ID Blue Whale: The expedition recorded six blue whales in four encounters. Photos of individuals were shared with catalogues in Spain, Iceland and Canada. One blue whale matched to Pico, 2009, another to Pico, 2008. There were no international matches. Matches were made by Richard Sears of Mingan Island Cetacean Society. Fin whale: Three fin whales were recorded in two encounters. Identification photos were shared with catalogues in Spain, Iceland & Canada. No matches were found. Sei whale: Fourteen sei whales were recorded in eight encounters. There is no coordinated sei whale catalogue to share ID photos with, so photos were shared with sei whale researchers. Humpback whale: Three humpback whales were recorded during the expedition in seven encounters. One whale was seen four times on three different days. Another whale was seen twice on the same day. No international matches were found. The North Atlantic Humpback Whale Catalogue currently holds over 11,000 individuals and plays an important role in discovering long-range matches. Since 2004 the expedition has contributed 28 ID photos, helping to elucidate movements of the eastern Atlantic humpback whales, about which little is known. Summary: While still not as abundant as in previous years (2014-2017), more baleen whales were seen during the 2023 expedition than in 2022. There were further blue, fin, sei and humpback whales seen after the expedition. It is thought that this is connected to chlorophyll density in the water and therefore food availability. Sperm whale photo-ID Sperm whales were seen multiple times during the expedition. Sperm whale photo-identification, ongoing since 1987 in the Azores, continued. Forty-six identifiable individuals were photographed from 87 encounters, including 16 animals seen in previous years in the Azores, 27 new individuals and three flukes that were unidentifiable. There were no long-range matches. Photo-ID now indicates that most of the males we observe migrate to Norway and that females spend their whole lives together, and undertake at least a limited migration. In addition, sperm whale groups observed in the Azores are more stable and associations between individuals last for a much longer period of time than they do in the Pacific. This is most likely due to food availability in the different oceans. Dolphins Dolphin photo-identification, which began in 1987, also continued. Two of our main dolphin photo-ID target species were encountered: Two groups of Risso’s dolphin and ten groups of bottlenose dolphin were recorded. In addition, a group of false killer whales, which are encountered rarely, was observed. Both the bottlenose and Risso’s dolphin groups had some known individuals from resident groups. The false killer whale group also had several known individuals. Common and striped dolphin were also recorded, although they not photographed as they are not target species for photo-identification. Europhlukes & Happywhale Sperm whale fluke shape extractions were made from the photos taken during the expedition and compared with those of sperm whales sighted in previous years and in other areas of the Atlantic. No matches were found to any other regions. POPA Data for the Department of Oceanography and Fisheries (DOP) of the University of the Azores, for the Tuna Boat Observer programme, POPA, was successfully collected for an 18th year. The expedition vessel “Physeter” is the only non-fishing vessel in the programme. Information was collected for random cetacean sightings along transects, as well as designated turtle and bird count attempts and marine debris sightings. Turtles Loggerhead turtle data have been collected and animals tagged in the Azores since 1988 for a joint venture between the University of Florida and the University of the Azores. During this expedition eight loggerhead turtles were seen, but none were caught and tagged due to weather conditions, other research priorities or the turtles diving. RESUMO Em 2023, a Biosphere Expeditions, concluiu o seu 17º ano de recolha de dados sobre a distribuição de cetáceos nos Açores. A cidade da Horta, na ilha do Faial, foi a base da expedição e o trabalho foi conduzido em redor das ilhas do Faial, Pico e São Jorge. Esta expedição decorreu entre 20 de Março e 20 de Abril de 2023. Foram registados 172 avistamentos de 10 espécies diferentes de cetáceos e 8 tartarugas-careta durante o período da expedição. Baleias de barbas photo-ID: Baleia-azul: A expedição registou oito baleias-azuis em quatro encontros. Fotos dos indivíduos foram partilhadas com catálogos em Espanha, Islândia e Canadá. Uma baleia-azul foi identificada como sendo do Pico, 2009, outra do Pico, 2008. Não houve correspondências internacionais. As identificações foram feitas por Richard Sears da Sociedade Cetácea da Ilha Mingan. Baleia comum: Três baleias comuns foram registadas em dois encontros. Fotos da identificação foram partilhadas com catálogos em Espanha, Islândia e Canadá. Não foram encontradas correspondências. Sardinheiras: Catorze sardinheiras foram registadas em oito encontros. Não existe um catálogo coordenado de baleias-sardinheiras para partilhar fotos de identificação, por isso as fotos foram partilhadas com investigadores de sardinheiras. Baleia-de-bossa: Três baleias-de-bossa foram registadas durante a expedição em sete encontros. Uma baleia foi vista quatro vezes em três dias diferentes. Outra baleia foi vista duas vezes no mesmo dia. Não foram encontradas correspondências internacionais. O Catálogo de Baleias-de-bossa do Atlântico Norte atualmente possui mais de 11.000 indivíduos e desempenha um papel importante na descoberta de correspondências a longa distância. Desde 2004, a expedição contribuiu com 28 fotos de identificação, ajudando a esclarecer os movimentos das baleias-de-bossa no leste do Atlântico, sobre as quais pouco se sabe. Resumo: Embora ainda não tão abundantes como em anos anteriores (2014-2017), foram avistadas mais baleias de barbas durante a expedição de 2023 do que em 2022. Houve mais avistamentos de baleias-azuis, de baleias comuns, de sardinheiras e de bossa após a expedição. Acredita-se que isso esteja relacionado com a densidade de clorofila na água e, portanto, a disponibilidade de comida. Cachalote: Cachalotes foram vistos várias vezes durante a expedição. Desde 1987 que está em curso nos Açores um programa de foto-identificação de cachalotes. Foram fotografados 46 indivíduos identificáveis em 87 encontros, incluindo reavistamentos de 16 animais vistos em anos anteriores e 27 novos animais. Não houve correspondências de longo alcance. As reavistamentos detectados agora indicam que a maioria dos machos que observamos migra para as águas da Noruega e as fêmeas passam a vida em grupos e efectuam migração/movimentações mais limitadas. Para além disso, os grupos de cachalotes observados nos Açores são mais estáveis e as associações entre indivíduos permanecem por períodos mais longos do que as que ocorrem no Pacífico. Este facto deve-se, provavelmente, à diferença de disponibilidade de alimento entre ambas as áreas. Golfinhos: A foto-identificação de golfinhos, que se iniciou em 1987, tem continuado. Duas das nossas principais espécies-alvo de identificação de golfinhos foram encontradas: foram registados 2 grupos de grampos e 10 grupos de roaz. Além disso, tínhamos um grupo de falsas orcas, que não são encontradas com tanta frequência. Embora os roaz e os grampos sejam grupos conhecidos. O grupo de falsas orcas também tinha alguns indivíduos conhecidos. Golfinhos comuns e riscados também foram avistados, mas eles não fazem parte da foto-identificação. Europhlukes & Happywhale: As extrações da forma da cauda de cachalote foram feitas a partir das fotografias tiradas durante a expedição e comparadas com as de cachalotes avistados em anos anteriores e em outras áreas do Atlântico. Nenhum dos cachalotes fotografados nos Açores foi reavistado noutras áreas. POPA: Pelo 18º ano foram recolhidos dados para o Programa de Observação das Pescas nos Açores (POPA) coordenado pelo Centro do Instituto do Mar da Universidade dos Açores. O “Physeter” é a única embarcação que não se dedica à pesca comercial e que contribui para o POPA. A informação foi recolhida aleatoriamente ao longo de trajetos de observação de cetáceos. Foram também efetuadas tentativas de contagem de tartarugas, aves marinhas e avistamentos de lixo marinho. Tartarugas: As tartarugas Caretta caretta são capturadas e marcadas nos Açores desde 1988, para um projecto conjunto entre a Universidade da Flórida e a Universidade dos Açores. Durante esta expedição, 8 tartarugas-boba foram avistadas, mas nenhuma foi capturada ou marcada devido às condições meteorológicas, outras prioridades ou mergulho das mesmas.

Most African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) populations are in decline and, due to habitat fragmentation and conflict rates in areas of higher anthropogenic land-use, are primarily restricted to protected areas. As a species that occurs at low densities, with a strict reproductive social structure, wild dogs rely on long-range dispersal to facilitate colonization, reproduction, and pack formation. In Malawi, large carnivores have been subject to widespread population decline and several protected areas have a reduced large carnivore guild, including the loss of resident wild dog populations. Here, during a biodiversity monitoring camera trap survey, we captured a novel record of wild dogs in Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve (Vwaza), Malawi. The 11 photographic captures of potentially three individual wild dogs represent the first documented evidence of the species in Vwaza and the first record since an unconfirmed report in 2011. We hypothesize that this group of wild dogs moved into Vwaza through the Malawi-Zambia Transfrontier Conservation Area (MZTFCA), with the MZTFCA linking protected areas in Malawi with the Luangwa Valley, Zambia. The evidence provided here, and similar documentation in Kasungu National Park, Malawi, show that large carnivores can potentially move through the MZTFCA into protected areas in Malawi. We argue that the MZTFCA provides an important dispersal corridor that could help facilitate the recolonization of wild dogs, and other large carnivores, in Malawian protected areas. However, further research is needed to assess the permeability and status of the MZTFCA corridor into Malawi. We show that camera traps can be useful to document novel records of rare species and can be used to inform conservation management planning.

ABSTRACT This report details wolf Canis lupus lupus active monitoring fieldwork by Biosphere Expeditions in collaboration with the State Wolf Bureau of the German state of Lower Saxony and local wolf commissioners. Field work was conducted from 19 to 23 July 2020 in a small group of six people due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2022, field work was conducted in three groups from 25 June – 1 July (10 citizen scientists), 2 – 8 July (10 citizen scientists) and 16 – 22 July (7 citizen scientists). The aim of the expeditions was to collect samples for DNA and dietary analyses. This was done by sending small groups into the field to search for scat samples. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the expedition team in 2020 consisted of six citizen scientists only (all from Germany, except one person from Belgium). In 2022, 24 citizen scientists took part in the expedition, 12 from Germany or its immediate neighbour states (50%), six people from the United Kingdom (25%), and one person each came from USA, Australia, the Netherlands, Ireland and Belgium (4% respectively). Before commencement of field work, which was exclusively conducted on public paths and bridleways, citizen scientists were trained for 1.5 days in sample detection, sampling and data collection techniques. The study area covered various priority areas in Lower Saxony as advised or requested by the State Wolf Bureau, wolf commissioners, hunters and the State Forestry Authority. Thirty-one 10 km x 10 km grid cells of the European Environment Agency (EEA) reference grid system and almost 1087 km were surveyed on foot. Some grid cells were surveyed multiple times so that they were covered a total of 52 times. 349 wolf scat samples were identified during the field work in 2020 and 2022, 196 of which were included into the official wolf monitoring programme. 145 samples were frozen for dietary analysis and 22 of those were fresh enough for DNA analysis. A number of possible wolf paw prints and scats were also found, but did not pass quality assessment procedures directly after field work. One team in 2022 actually spotted an adult wolf coming towards them on a forest trail for a few seconds just before he recognized the team members. In 2022, a longer wolf track in direct registered trot as well as a wildlife carcass (mouse) were recorded additionally to the found scat and assigned to the species wolf by the official wolf monitoring. Twenty (5.7%) of the 349 scat samples collected were classified as C1 pieces of hard evidence on the SCALP classification system, 34 (9.7%) as C2 confirmed observation and 144 (41.3%) as C3 unconfirmed observations. The sighting in 2022 was assessed as C1 confirmed hint, based on the sighting video on hand, the wildlife carcass (mouse) was also assessed as a confirmed hint, as the species wolf could be detected based on the carcass sample. The DNA analysis of the 22 genetic scat samples showed that 19 originated from wolf. 15 samples could be assigned to individual wolves. All in all, five male wolves and eight female wolves were identified, of which one male and two females could be confirmed twice. Just like the 2017 and 2018 expeditions, the quantity and quality of samples collected by the active monitoring effort of the expeditions in 2020 and 2022 is remarkable. Official monitoring efforts in 2020 and 2022 yielded 1,201 scat samples of which 212 (18%) samples were found by the 2020 and 2022 expeditions. The expeditions also produced a considerable proportion of high-quality C1 and C2 records (22% in 2020 and 42% in 2022); this was roughly equivalent to, or higher than, records collected via the official monitoring programme separate from the expeditions (18% in 2020 and 15% in 2022). All of this shows again that with 1.5 days of training, contributions of citizen scientists towards wolf research, monitoring and conservation can be both high quality and high quantity. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Dieser Bericht beschreibt die Geländearbeit von Biosphere Expeditions in Form eines aktiven Monitorings des großen Beutegreifers Wolf (Canis lupus lupus) in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Wolfsbüro des Landes Niedersachsen und einigen Wolfsberatern. Im Jahr 2020 wurde die Expedition aufgrund der Coronapandemie in einem begrenzten Rahmen umgesetzt: Die Geländearbeit fand vom 19. - 23. Juli, in einer kleinen Gruppe von sechs Personen, statt. 2022 wurde die Geländearbeit durch drei Gruppen umgesetzt: vom 25. Juni - 1. Juli (10 Bürgerwissenschaftler/innen), 2. - 8 Juli (10 Bürgerwissenschaftler/innen) und vom 16. – 28. Juli (7 Bürgerwissenschaftler/innen). Ziel war es, Hinweise auf Wolfspräsenz, insbesondere Losungen, für genetische Untersuchungen und Nahrungsanalysen, zu finden. Von den im Jahr 2020 teilnehmenden Bürgerwissenschaftler/innen stammten alle bis auf eine Person aus Deutschland. 2022 nahmen insgesamt 24 Bürgerwissenschaftler/innen teil, wovon 12 aus Deutschland oder den angrenzenden Ländern kamen (50%) und sechs aus Großbritannien (25%). Jeweils eine Person kam aus den USA, Niederlanden, Irland und Belgien (jeweils 4,1%). Vor Beginn der Geländearbeit, die ausschließlich auf öffentlich begehbaren Wegen umgesetzt wurde, wurden die Teilnehmer/innen 1,5 Tage im Erkennen von Wolfshinweisen, der Probenahme und Datenerfassung im Gelände geschult. Das Untersuchungsgebiet umfasste verschiedene Gebiete in Niedersachsen, die im Voraus in Zusammenarbeit mit dem staatlichen Wolfsbüro, örtlichen Wolfsberatern und Jägern sowie den Niedersächsichen Landesforsten festgelegt worden waren. In den beiden Jahren 2020 und 2022 wurden 31 der 10 km x 10 km großen Rasterzellen des EU-Gitternetzes und fast 1.087 km zu Fuß abgesucht. Einige Gitterzellen wurden mehrfach begangen, so dass sie insgesamt 52 Mal abgedeckt wurden. Im Rahmen der Expeditionen konnten insgesamt 349 Wolfslosungen im Gelände identifiziert werden, von denen 196 Proben in das offizielle Wolfsmonitoring aufgenommen wurden. 145 Proben wurden für die Nahrungsanalyse eingefroren, 22 Proben davon waren geeignet für genetische Untersuchungen. Darüber hinaus wurden einzelne Trittsiegeln sowie weitere, vermeintliche Wolfslosungen gefunden, konnten aber aufgrund der strengen Datenqualitätsvorgaben nicht als Wolfshinweise genutzt werden. 2022 wurden zusätzlich zu den Kotproben ein Wildtierkadaver (Maus) sowie eine Spur im geschnürten Trab gefunden, dokumentiert und anschließend in das offizielle Monitoring aufgenommen. 2022 gab es außerdem eine Wolfssichtung: Ein Team sah einen Wolf auf einem Forstweg näherkommen, bevor dieser die Bürgerwissenschaftler/innen entdeckte und flüchtete. Zwanzig (5,7%) der 349 gesammelten Losungsproben wurden im SCALP-Klassifizierungsverfahren als C1-Nachweise eingestuft, 34 (9,7%) als C2-bestätigte Hinweise und 144 (41,2%) als C3-unbestätigte Hinweise. Die Sichtung im Jahr 2022 floss auf Grundlage des vorliegenden Beobachtungsvideos als C1-Nachweis in das offizielle Monitoring ein, ebenso die Maus, an der im Nachgang, durch die genetische Untersuchung, Wolfs-DNA festgestellt werden konnte. Die genetischen Untersuchungen der 22 eingesendeten Proben ergab, dass 19 Losungen von Wölfen stammten. 15 dieser Proben konnten bestimmten Wolfsindividuen zugeordnet werden. Insgesamt wurden fünf männliche und acht weibliche Wölfe identifiziert, von denen ein männlicher und zwei weibliche zweimal bestätigt werden konnten. Wie bereits im Rahmen der Expeditionen 2017 und 2018, ist die Anzahl und die Qualität der gesammelten Losungsproben bemerkenswert. In den Jahren 2020 und 2022 wurden im Rahmen des offiziellen Monitorings in Niedersachsen insgesamt 1201 Losungen dokumentiert. 212 (18%) dieser Losungen wurden im Rahmen der Biosphere Expeditionen gefunden. Losungsproben, die im Rahmen der Expeditionen gefunden und als eindeutige C1-Nachweise bzw. als bestätigte Hinweise (C2) bewertet wurden, machten 22% (2020), bzw. 42% (2022) der Gesamtanzahl an Losungen, die im Rahmen der Expeditionen gefunden wurden, aus. Zum Vergleich: Der Anteil der C1- und C2-Losungen, die im Rahmen des offiziellen Monitorings gesammelt wurden, lag bei 18% (2020), bzw. 15% (2022). Die Ergebnisse der beiden Expeditionen in den Jahren 2020 und 2022 belegen wiederholt, dass Bürgerwissenschaftler/innen mit eineinhalb Tagen Schulung einen quantitativ und qualitativ hochwertigen Beitrag zum Wolfsmonitoring sowie zur Forschung und letztlich zum Schutz der Tierart leisten können.

Abstract This study formed part of an ongoing annual citizen science expedition to the Tien Shan mountains in Kyrgyzstan. The expedition, organised by Biosphere Expeditions and NABU since 2014, takes place during the summer months, typically in July and August. Its main objective is to conduct surveys on the snow leopard (Panthera uncia) and its prey species. The methodology used involves volunteers and has been developed specifically for this purpose. The 2022 survey area consisted of 76 cells, each measuring 2x2 km, at an average survey elevation of 3600 m (maximum 4000 m). Fifty-five percent of cells were sampled once, 45% of the cells were resampled twice or more, and 156 records of animals of interest were made in 62 cells. Previous expeditions had provided evidence suggesting the presence of snow leopards in the survey area. In 2022, as in previous years, nine purported signs of snow leopard presence were discovered (one camera trap photo, five scats and three tracks). Of the five scats, DNA analysis showed that only one was of snow leopard, three of red fox and one of a rodent. This shows how difficult it is to identify scats correctly. The other three purported signs were tracks and should be treated with extreme caution. In total two confirmed signs (one photo, one scat) were recorded during the expedition. Two main groups of prey species were considered, i.e. primary (Siberian ibex Capra sibirica and argali Ovis ammon) and secondary (long-tailed or red marmot Marmota caudata, pika Ochotona sp., roe deer Capreolus capreolus, hare Lepus tolai and Himalayan snowcock Tetraogallus himalayensis. Siberian ibex comprised 38% of these records (including camera traps). Marmots were common at lower elevations (59%), whereas signs of Himalayan snowcock presence appeared at higher altitudes (mainly droppings left over from the winter season). Evidence of other carnivores sharing snow leopard habitat was also recorded. This included wolf (scats) and red fox (camera trap pictures). Foxes were found in several valleys; the wolf scat evidence was corroborated by herder testimony. Also captured on camera trap were badgers Meles meles twice, one stone marten Martes foina and one stoat Mustela erminea. It is noteworthy that, unlike in previous years, no signs of argali were found. An analysis of the data of the past four years has revealed a consistent and concerning decline in their population. Finally, following on previous interview work, eleven local shepherds and their families were interviewed about eco-tourism and its potential for generating further income for local people. It is clear that snow leopards are present in the Karakol river valley between the Karakol pass and Suusamyr. It is interesting to note that captures are increasing year-by-year, but there is insufficient data to tell whether this is a positive sign connected to snow leopard presence increasing in the study area. It is also not known whether the animals recorded are one or more individuals, nor is anything else about their density, distribution and ecology known. This is because the expeditions have concentrated on a presence/absence study so far. Previous prey-distribution modelling and the results of this expedition have shown that there is also a stable and healthy prey base that can and does support snow leopards in the study site. This does not include argali, however, who are in decline and were not recorded by the expedition in 2022 in a worrying trend. Overgrazing is the most significant threat to snow leopards and other wildlife in the study area and this report details income sources other than livestock husbandry (ecotourism, community-based conservation, wildlife corridors) that could mitigate this threat. Interviews have shown that local herders are supportive of the idea. However, most herders are employed by larger livestock or land owners and it is unknown whether - and perhaps highly unlikely that - they would support a decrease in livestock numbers in the valley in favour of increased ecotourism and other activities. Further studies by a social science NGO are needed for this. Eight years of expedition have shown there seems to be little appetite amongst them to prioritise the Karakol river valley between the Karakol pass and Suusamyr for any kind of action in terms of protected area creation or community-based conservation initiatives through local tourism. This project in particular has attempted to create awareness and action for eight years and will do so for another year, in 2023, before considering moving elsewhere, where the limited resources of this citizen science endeavour are better placed and have higher chances of succeeding.

Abstract This is a report about the second year of collaboration between Biosphere Expeditions and Björn & Vildmark with the overall purpose of researching the behaviour of free ranging brown bears (Ursus arctos) in central Sweden for the Scandinavian Brown Bear Research Project (SBBRP). This collaboration investigates, amongst other topics, how climate change as well as human activities affect the brown bear behaviour and population, and provides managers in Sweden with solid, science-based knowledge to manage brown bears. From 28 May to 4 June 2022, six citizen scientists collected data on bear denning behaviour and feeding ecology by investigating the 2021/2022 hibernation season den sites of GPS-marked brown bears and by collecting fresh scats from day bed sites. All field work was performed in the northern boreal forest zone in Dalarna and Gävleborg counties, south-central Sweden, which is the southern study area of the SBBRP. After two days of field work training, citizen scientists were divided into three to four sub-teams each day. All study positions were provided by the expedition scientist and only data and samples from radio-marked bears with a VHF or GPS transmitter were collected. Citizen scientists defined den types (anthill den, soil den, rock den, basket den or uprooted tree den), recorded bed material thickness, size and content, as well as all tracks and signs around the den sites to elucidate whether a female had given birth to cubs during hibernation. All first scats after hibernation and hair samples from the bed were collected, and the habitat type around the den and the visibility of the den site were described. Twenty-six winter positions of 21 different bears were investigated. Two bears shifted their dens at least once during the hibernation season. In total, the expedition found 23 dens; two soil dens, eight anthill dens, one anthill/soil den, one stone/rock den, four dens under uprooted trees and seven basket dens. Unusually, one pregnant female that gave birth to three cubs during winter, and four females that hibernated together with dependent offspring spent the winter in basket dens. Normally basket dens are mainly used by large males. Excavated bear dens had an average outer length of 2.0 m, an outer width of 2.2 m, and an outer height of 0.8 m. The entrance on average comprised 28% of the open area. The inner length of the den was on average 1.3 m and the inner width was 1.1 m. The inner height of the dens was on average 0.6 m. Bears that hibernated in covered dens used mainly mosses (47%), field layer shrubs (36%) and branches (14%) as nest material, which reflected the composition of the field layer and ground layer that was present at the den site. However, bears that hibernated in open dens such as basket dens, preferred branches (43%) followed by grass (26%); mosses (19%) and field shrubs (12%) as nest material. The expedition found two first post-hibernation bear scats at the den sites. Ten bears selected their den sites in older forests, and eleven bears in younger forests, only two bears hibernated in very young forest. The habitat around the dens was dominated by spruce (Picea abies) 37%, scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) 35% and birch (Betula pendula, Betula pubescens) 27%. As part of its intensive data collection activities, the expedition investigated about half of all winter den positions that the SBBRP recorded in 2021/2022 and collected 64 scats at cluster positions, which represents all scat samples that the SBBRP normally collects during a time period of 14 days. A detailed food item analysis will be performed in 2025 and the data will be published. It appears that climate change is altering bear denning behaviour and may reduce food resources that bears need for fat production. Overharvesting (hunting) of bears and habitat destruction are the major reasons why brown bear populations have declined or have become fragmented in much of their range. In Scandinavia, human activity around den sites has been suggested as the main reason why bears abandon their dens. This can reduce the reproductive success of pregnant female brown bears and increases the chance of human/bear conflict. Understanding denning behaviour is critical for effective bear conservation. Further research is needed to determine whether good denning strategies help bears avoid being disturbed. Additionally, enclosed dens offer protection and insulation from inclement weather. A continued fragmentation of present bear ranges, inhibiting dispersal, together with an increasing bear population, might lead to bears denning closer to human activities than at present, thereby increasing human/bear conflict. The dens that were investigated by the expedition were visible from 22 m on average. Cover opportunities and terrain types not preferred by humans are thereby presumably important for bears that are denning relatively close to human activities, but further research needs to be done to validate this theory. Through all of the above, the expedition made a very significant contribution to the SBBRP’s field work in a showcase of how citizen science can supplement existing research projects run by professional scientists. Sammandrag Detta är en rapport om det andra året av samarbete mellan Biosphere Expeditions och Björn & Vildmark med det övergripande syftet att forska om beteendet hos vild levande brunbjörnar (Ursus arctos) i mellansverige för det skandinaviska björnforskningsprojektet (SBBRP). Samarbetet undersöker bland annat hur klimatförändringar och mänsklig aktivitet påverkar brunbjörnens beteende och population, och ger myndigheter i Sverige gedigen, vetenskapligt baserad kunskap för att förvalta brunbjörnstammen. Från den 28 maj till den 4 juni 2022 samlade sju expeditionsdeltagare in data om björnens idesval och födoval. De undersökte idesplatserna där björnar har legat i vintersömnen under säsongen 2021-2022 och de samlade samla färsk spillning från daglegor från GPS-märkta brunbjörnar. Allt fältarbete utfördes i norra boreala skogszonen i Dalarna och Gävleborgs län, södra mellersta Sverige, som är SBBRP:s södra studieområde. Efter två dagars utbildning inom fältarbete delades expeditionsdeltagaren in i tre till fyra grupper. Alla studiepositioner tillhandahölls av expeditionsforskaren och endast data och prover från radiomärkta björnar med en VHF- eller GPS-sändare samlades in. Expeditionsdeltagaren definierade idestyper (myrstackide, jordiden, steniden, korgiden eller iden under en rotvälta), och undersökte bäddmaterialet i idet, samt alla spår och tecken runt iden för att ta reda på om en hona hade född ungar under vintern. Alla första spillningar samlades in samt och hårprover från bäddmaterialed. Dessutom beskrevs habitatet och hur dold idet var placerad i terrängen. 26 vinterpositioner för 21 olika björnar undersöktes. Två björnar flyttade från sina iden minst en gång under vintersömnen. Totalt hittade expeditionsdeltagaren 23 iden; två jordiden, åtta myrstackiden, ett myrstackide / jordide, ett steniden, fyra iden under en rotvälta och sju korgiden. Ovanligt nog övervintrade en dräktig björnhona ett korgide där hon födde sina ungar under vintern. Dessutom övervintrade fyra honor med ungar i olika korgiden. Vanligtvis är det framförallt hanbjörnar som använder korgiden. Utgrävda björniden hade en genomsnittlig yttre längd på 2,0 och yttre bredd på 2,2 m och en yttre höjd av 0,8 m. Ingången utgjorde i genomsnitt 28% av det öppna yta. Den inre längden på idet var i genomsnitt 1,3 m och den inre bredden 1,1 m. Den inre höjden på idena var i genomsnitt 0,6 m. Björnar använde främst grenar (43%), gräs (26%) bärris (12%) och mossor (19%) som bäddmaterial, vilket återspeglade sammansättningen av fältskiktet och jordskiktet som fanns vid idesplatsen. Expeditionsdeltagare hittade två första björnspillningar efter vintersömnen. Tio björnar valde bygga sina iden i äldre skogar, elva i yngre skogar och två björnar övervintrade i väldigt ung skog. Habitatet runt idesplatsen dominerades av tall (Pinus sylvestris) 35%, gran (Picea abies) 37%, och björk (Betula pendula, Betula pubescens) 27%. Expeditionen undersökte ungefär hälften av alla vinterpositioner som SBBRP registrerade under 2021/2022 och samlade in 63 spillningar på klusterpositioner, vilket motsvarar alla av de spillnings-prover som björnprojektet normalt samlar in under en tidsperiod på 14 dagar. En detaljerad spillnings analys kommer att genomföras under 2025 och uppgifterna kommer att publiceras efteråt. Genom allt ovanstående gav expeditionen ett mycket viktigt bidrag till SBBRP: s fältarbete som visade hur expeditionsdeltagare kan komplettera befintliga forskningsprojekt som drivs av professionella forskare. Klimatförändringar förändrar björnens beteende och kan minska födotillgången. Intensiv björnjakt och förstörelse av habitat är de främsta orsakerna till att populationer av brunbjörnar har minskat eller blivit fragmenterade i stora delar av världen. I Skandinavien är mänsklig aktivitet kring idesplatser troligtvis det främsta skälet varför björnar byta iden. Detta kan minska reproduktionen bland dräktiga björnhonor och ökar risken för konflikt mellan människor och björnar. Förståelse av vinterbeteende är avgörande för effektiv bevarande av björnen. Ytterligare forskning behövs för att avgöra om goda vinterstrategier hjälper björnar att undvika störningar. Dessutom erbjuder väl isolerade ide skydd från dåligt väder. En fortsatt fragmentering av nuvarande björnstammen, som hämmar spridning, tillsammans med en ökande björnpopulation, kan leda till att björnar kommer närmare mänsklig bebyggelse, vilket ökar konflikterna mellan människa och björnar. De iden som undersöktes av expeditionen var synliga från 22 m i genomsnitt. Täta terrängtyper som inte föredras av människor är därmed förmodligen viktiga för björnar som bygger sina iden relativt nära mänsklig bebyggelse, men ytterligare forskning måste göras för att validera denna teori.