Observations of aggregating behaviour in adult male polar bears ( Ursus maritimus )
Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are usually considered a solitary species, but between 50 and 60% of the adult male polar bears captured on land during the ice-free period in western Hudson Bay were sighted in aggregations with a mean size of 4 and a range of 2–14 individuals. The mean weight of aggre...
Published in: | Canadian Journal of Zoology |
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Language: | English |
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Canadian Science Publishing
1990
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z90-207 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z90-207 |
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crcansciencepubl:10.1139/z90-207 2024-03-03T08:45:14+00:00 Observations of aggregating behaviour in adult male polar bears ( Ursus maritimus ) Derocher, Andrew E. Stirling, Ian 1990 http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z90-207 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z90-207 en eng Canadian Science Publishing http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 68, issue 7, page 1390-1394 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics journal-article 1990 crcansciencepubl https://doi.org/10.1139/z90-207 2024-02-07T10:53:38Z Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are usually considered a solitary species, but between 50 and 60% of the adult male polar bears captured on land during the ice-free period in western Hudson Bay were sighted in aggregations with a mean size of 4 and a range of 2–14 individuals. The mean weight of aggregating adult males was significantly greater (approximately 60 kg) than the mean weight of nonaggregating adult males, but there were no significant differences in the mean age. Aggregations occurred throughout the ice-free period (August–October) and were most common at prominent points along the coast or nearby islands. Some locations were used over several years. The lack of competition for food and the absence of breeding activity during the ice-free period produce conditions that may facilitate aggregating. Familiarity with conspecifics may yield benefits by reducing the severity and frequency of competition for resources on the sea ice. Article in Journal/Newspaper Hudson Bay Sea ice Ursus maritimus Canadian Science Publishing Hudson Bay Hudson Canadian Journal of Zoology 68 7 1390 1394 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Canadian Science Publishing |
op_collection_id |
crcansciencepubl |
language |
English |
topic |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
spellingShingle |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Derocher, Andrew E. Stirling, Ian Observations of aggregating behaviour in adult male polar bears ( Ursus maritimus ) |
topic_facet |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
description |
Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are usually considered a solitary species, but between 50 and 60% of the adult male polar bears captured on land during the ice-free period in western Hudson Bay were sighted in aggregations with a mean size of 4 and a range of 2–14 individuals. The mean weight of aggregating adult males was significantly greater (approximately 60 kg) than the mean weight of nonaggregating adult males, but there were no significant differences in the mean age. Aggregations occurred throughout the ice-free period (August–October) and were most common at prominent points along the coast or nearby islands. Some locations were used over several years. The lack of competition for food and the absence of breeding activity during the ice-free period produce conditions that may facilitate aggregating. Familiarity with conspecifics may yield benefits by reducing the severity and frequency of competition for resources on the sea ice. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Derocher, Andrew E. Stirling, Ian |
author_facet |
Derocher, Andrew E. Stirling, Ian |
author_sort |
Derocher, Andrew E. |
title |
Observations of aggregating behaviour in adult male polar bears ( Ursus maritimus ) |
title_short |
Observations of aggregating behaviour in adult male polar bears ( Ursus maritimus ) |
title_full |
Observations of aggregating behaviour in adult male polar bears ( Ursus maritimus ) |
title_fullStr |
Observations of aggregating behaviour in adult male polar bears ( Ursus maritimus ) |
title_full_unstemmed |
Observations of aggregating behaviour in adult male polar bears ( Ursus maritimus ) |
title_sort |
observations of aggregating behaviour in adult male polar bears ( ursus maritimus ) |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
1990 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z90-207 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z90-207 |
geographic |
Hudson Bay Hudson |
geographic_facet |
Hudson Bay Hudson |
genre |
Hudson Bay Sea ice Ursus maritimus |
genre_facet |
Hudson Bay Sea ice Ursus maritimus |
op_source |
Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 68, issue 7, page 1390-1394 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 |
op_rights |
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/z90-207 |
container_title |
Canadian Journal of Zoology |
container_volume |
68 |
container_issue |
7 |
container_start_page |
1390 |
op_container_end_page |
1394 |
_version_ |
1792500759106945024 |