Factors Influencing Annual Fecal Testosterone Metabolite Profiles in Captive Male Polar Bears ( Ursus maritimus)

• Published in: Reproduction in Domestic Animals
• Main Authors: Curry, E, Roth, TL, MacKinnon, KM, Stoops, MA
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2012
• Subjects: Ursus maritimus
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/rda.12012; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Frda.12012; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/rda.12012

Contents The objectives of this study were to assess the effects of season, breeding activity, age and latitude on fecal testosterone metabolite concentrations in captive, adult male polar bears ( U rsus maritimus ). Fourteen polar bears from 13 N orth A merican zoos were monitored for 12–36 months, producing 25‐year‐long testosterone profiles. Results indicated that testosterone was significantly higher during the breeding season (early J anuary through the end of M ay) compared with the non‐breeding season with the highest concentrations excreted from early J anuary through late M arch. Variations in excretion patterns were observed among individuals and also between years within an individual, with testosterone peaks closely associated with breeding activity. Results indicate that fecal testosterone concentrations are influenced by season, breeding activity and age, but not by latitude. This is the first report describing longitudinal fecal testosterone metabolite concentrations in individual adult male polar bears.