Article
Biology
Anthony M. Carnahan, Frank T. van Manen, Mark A. Haroldson, Gordon B. Stenhouse, Charles T. Robbins
Summary: Studies show that the cost of uphill movement for grizzly bears increases with speed and slope angle linearly, while uphill travel at slower speeds is more costly than horizontal travel. The most efficient walking speed for grizzly bears is 1.19 m/s, yet bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem move at an average velocity of 0.61 m/s and prefer near-horizontal slopes. Grizzly bears choose paths across slopes that are 54% less steep and costly than the maximum available slope when traveling uphill or downhill.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Savannah A. Rogers, Charles T. Robbins, Paul D. Mathewson, Anthony M. Carnahan, Frank T. van Manen, Mark A. Haroldson, Warren P. Porter, Taylor R. Rogers, Terence Soule, Ryan A. Long
Summary: The heat dissipation limit theory suggests that the energy available for growth and reproduction in endotherms is constrained by their ability to dissipate heat. Research found that environmental temperature has a significant impact on the behavior and ecological performance of female mammals.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Abbey E. Wilson, Dan Wismer, Gordon Stenhouse, Nicholas C. Coops, David M. Janz
Summary: This study investigated the impact of landscape condition on protein expression in grizzly bears, finding that food resources and movement positively influenced energetic and reproductive proteins, while stress-related proteins were influenced by conifer cover.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Douglas Clark, Kyle Artelle, Chris Darimont, William Housty, Clyde Tallio, Douglas Neasloss, Aimee Schmidt, Andrew Wiget, Nancy Turner
Summary: Both grizzly bears and polar bears play important roles as cultural keystone species in Indigenous communities, even when they are not consumed directly. The expanded definition of cultural keystone species now includes species that are disproportionately significant to well-being and identity, beyond just those with a consumptive relationship. This broader recognition highlights the importance of Indigenous sovereignty and the need for increased cross-cultural understanding critical to reconciliation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ludovick Brown, Boris Fuchs, Jon M. Arnemo, Jonas Kindberg, Ilia Rodushkin, Andreas Zedrosser, Fanie Pelletier
Summary: Brown bears in Sweden have higher blood lead levels compared to other populations, and this study found that the consumption of slaughter remains discarded by moose hunters is a likely significant pathway of lead exposure in female brown bears.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Marc Cattet, David M. Janz, Luciene Kapronczai, Joy A. Erlenbach, Heiko T. Jansen, O. Lynne Nelson, Charles T. Robbins, Gordon B. Stenhouse
Summary: The study showed that injecting cosyntropin into captive grizzly bears caused a significant increase in blood cortisol levels within a short period, but did not have a noticeable effect on hair cortisol concentration. This suggests that the spike in cortisol induced by cosyntropin may not be sufficient to explain the stress response of free-ranging bears when captured. Further research with a larger sample of captive bears is recommended to better simulate the adrenocortical response in these animals.
VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Neda Bogdanovic, Anne G. Hertel, Andreas Zedrosser, Milan Paunovic, Milan Plecas, Disko Cirovic
Summary: The study evaluated how seasonality and reproductive class affected diel movement patterns of brown bears in Serbia and found that different reproductive classes showed variations in movement distances and probability. Adult males, solitary females, and subadult males exhibited a crepuscular movement pattern, while females with offspring showed differences in movement between mating and hyperphagia seasons.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Flavio Augusto da Silva Coelho, Stephanie Gill, Crystal M. Tomlin, Marilena Papavassiliou, Sean D. Farley, Joseph A. Cook, Sarah A. Sonsthagen, George K. Sage, Timothy H. Heaton, Sandra L. Talbot, Charlotte Lindqvist
Summary: During the Late Pleistocene, there were ice sheets covering parts of North America. However, it is unclear whether ice-free refugia existed in the Alexander Archipelago along the SE Alaska coast during the last glacial maximum (LGM). Genetic analyses of black and brown bears in SE Alaska show that there were two subclades of black bears, one preglacial and one postglacial, that diverged over 100,000 years ago. Ancient brown bears are closely related to modern brown bears in the archipelago, suggesting colonization after the LGM. These findings suggest that there were no refugia in SE Alaska during the LGM, but vegetation quickly expanded after deglaciation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Boris Fuchs, Alexandra Thiel, Andreas Zedrosser, Ludovick Brown, Helle B. Hydeskov, Ilia Rodushkin, Alina L. Evans, Amanda H. Boesen, Anne Randi Graesli, Jonas Kindberg, Jon M. Arnemo
Summary: Exposure to lead remains a problem for wildlife species despite the overall reduction of Pb entering the environment, with Scandinavian brown bears showing high blood Pb concentrations that may have adverse effects on both individual and population levels. Lactating females have higher Pb blood concentrations compared to younger, non-lactating females.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Michael F. Proctor, Clayton. T. Lamb, John Boulanger, A. Grant Machutchon, Wayne F. Kasworm, David Paetkau, Cori L. Lausen, Eric C. Palm, Mark S. Boyce, Christopher Servheen
Summary: The demographic trajectory of grizzly bear populations in southeastern British Columbia is influenced by bottom-up food resources and top-down mortality risk. Understanding the factors driving population dynamics is crucial for effective management and conservation. This study integrated analyses of bottom-up and top-down factors to inform grizzly bear management. Black huckleberry was found to be the most influential bottom-up factor, while secure habitat was the most consistent top-down variable. Both bottom-up and top-down influences are necessary for mitigating the expanding human footprint on carnivore species. The study highlights the importance of considering both types of influences and the need for comprehensive assessments in population management.
WILDLIFE MONOGRAPHS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Lauren H. Henson, Niko Balkenhol, Robert Gustas, Megan Adams, Jennifer Walkus, William G. Housty, Astrid Stronen, Jason Moody, Christina Service, Donald Reece, Bridgett M. VonHoldt, Iain McKechnie, Ben F. Koop, Chris T. Darimont
Summary: Landscape genetic analyses of grizzly bear populations in coastal British Columbia, Canada, revealed the possible effects of complex landscape and human influences on genetic structure. The study found spatial alignment between Indigenous language families and grizzly bear genetic groups, suggesting that people and wildlife populations may have been shaped by the landscape in similar ways. This research provides new genetic evidence to support locally led management of grizzly bears in the future.
ECOLOGY AND SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sarah N. Sells, Cecily M. Costello, Paul M. Lukacs, Lori L. Roberts, Milan A. Vinks
Summary: Habitat and corridor mapping are crucial for conservation programs. This study used integrated step selection functions (iSSFs) developed from GPS-collared grizzly bears to predict areas of connectivity and evaluate conservation goals in the US.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ansley S. Petherick, Joshua D. Reuther, Scott J. Shirar, Shelby L. Anderson, Larisa R. G. DeSantis
Summary: Arctic climate change poses a threat to polar bears due to reduced sea ice affecting their prey availability. Research suggests that polar bears traditionally prefer soft foods, but some bears in the 21st century may be shifting towards consuming harder foods. The specialized diet and cranial morphology of polar bears may severely limit their ability to adapt to a warming Arctic.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Frank T. van Manen, Michael R. Ebinger, Cecily M. Costello, Daniel D. Bjornlie, Justin G. Clapp, Daniel J. Thompson, Mark A. Haroldson, Kevin L. Frey, Curtis Hendricks, Jeremy M. Nicholson, Kerry A. Gunther, Katharine R. Wilmot, Hilary S. Cooley, Jennifer K. Fortin-Noreus, Pat Hnilicka, Daniel B. Tyers
Summary: This study addresses two limitations in the monitoring approach of grizzly bear populations by improving the distance criteria and using generalized additive models. Results show that a distance criterion of 12-16 km maximizes classification performance and minimizes estimation bias. The GAM approach allows detection of directional changes in population trends and provides early warning metrics and information about stability.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kate Twynham, Andres Ordiz, Ole-Gunnar Stoen, Geir-Rune Rauset, Jonas Kindberg, Peter Segerstrom, Jens Frank, Antonio Uzal
Summary: In this study in northern Sweden, researchers investigated the habitat selection of brown bears following resource pulses and how these selections varied based on different degrees of predatory behavior. Through GPS collars on bears and UHF transmitters on reindeer, they found that habitat selection differed across periods and between bears with high and low predatory behavior, providing evidence that specialization in foraging behavior influences individual variation in bear habitat selection.
Article
Ecology
Michelle L. McLellan, Robert Serrouya, Bruce N. McLellan, Kelsey Furk, Doug C. Heard, Heiko U. Wittmer
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Michelle L. McLellan, Bruce N. McLellan, Rahel Sollmann, Clayton T. Lamb, Clayton D. Apps, Heiko U. Wittmer
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2019)
Article
Ecology
Michelle L. McLellan, Bruce N. McLellan, Rahel Sollmann, Heiko U. Wittmer
Summary: This study estimated vital rates and trends in two threatened brown bear populations in British Columbia, Canada, and found that the larger connected population was increasing while the smaller isolated population was decreasing. The low female survival in the smaller population may be attributed to both human-caused mortality and unusually high natural mortality rates.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Melanie Dickie, Caroline Bampfylde, Thomas J. Habib, Michael Cody, Kendal Benesh, Mandy Kellner, Michelle McLellan, Stan Boutin, Robert Serrouya
Summary: Habitat loss is a major threat to species at risk, and habitat restoration is essential for the recovery of woodland caribou populations in Western Canada. An algorithm was developed to prioritize restoration efforts and monitor progress. The algorithm ranked landscape units into five zones of restoration priority based on maximizing gain in unaltered caribou habitat per unit cost. Ambitious and coordinated restoration efforts are needed to meet habitat management targets and minimize alteration within caribou range.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Michelle L. McLellan, Melanie Dickie, Stan Boutin, Marcus Becker, Bevan Ernst, Darcy Peel, Kathryn L. Zimmerman, Robert Serrouya
Summary: For wide-ranging species, it is often difficult to implement effective conservation action due to cost or political challenges. To address this, a prioritization approach is needed to focus on areas where conservation efforts are more likely to succeed. Using Southern Mountain Caribou as an example, a simple algorithm is developed to rank subpopulations based on habitat quality and population characteristics, weighted according to expert opinion. Sensitivity analyses are used to measure the impact of criteria variance and expert weighting. This transparent framework allows for discussions on conservation, subpopulation comparisons, and adaptive management. The algorithm can be adapted for other species and used by conservation scientists and managers to prioritize populations for recovery actions.
CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
(2023)
