Indirect effect and habitat creation through bear shelves formation by Japanese black bears

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Ridges were significantly dominant over slopes and valleys in terms of total bear-created canopy gaps. The annual rate of bear-created canopy gap formation reached 141.3 m2 ha〓1 yr〓1 on ridges, which were hot spots in terms of black bear activity. This rate was approximately 6.6 times that of tree-fall gap formation on ridges at this study site. Canopy disturbance created by black bears in the middle‐top canopy layers were key for improving light conditions and accelerating fruiting by fleshy-fruited plants. Camera-trap data showed that birds and mammals used bear shelves as habitats for foraging, hoarding, resting, and reproducing.