FIXED-TIME FOOD SCHEDULES AND THEIR EFFECTS ON ACTIVITY PATTERNS IN TWO ADULT POLAR BEARS (Ursus maritimus).

• Main Authors: Eduardo J. Fern, William Timberlake
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ursus maritimus
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.555.8638; http://www.indiana.edu/~bsl/PolarBearWordedit.pdf

Stereotypies have been defined as repetitive, invariant behavior patterns with no obvious goal or function (Mason, 1991; Ödberg, 1978). While this may seem an appropriate definition, the last characteristic may be misleading: Even if an immediate goal is not obvious, repeated behavior often appears to reflect natural selection relevant to a goal and potential local function. A number of persons have described stereotypic behavior as being caused by “boredom”. However, several problems exist with this supposed cause. First, it’s anthropomorphic. You’re assuming what would make a human bored would make another species or individual animal bored. Second, it’s circular: If the animal paces because it’s bored, how do you know it’s bored? Because it’s pacing. Finally, the resultant sense of understanding can decrease the impetus to track down environmental and physiological causes. Others have described stereotypic activity as a “coping ” response. However, this entails a number of difficulties as well. In many instances, this analysis is in the least incomplete. Saying that an animal paces to “cope ” with its environment says little, if