The function of strategic tree selectivity in the chemical signalling of brown bears
Large mammals select conspicuous objects on which to deposit their scent marks, which may function to supplement the olfactory signal, visually and/or chemically. Analysing marking sites is paramount to understanding whether signallers could mitigate potential fitness costs by placing scents strateg...
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ftcquniv:oai:acquire.cqu.edu.au:cqu:9534 2023-05-15T18:41:59+02:00 The function of strategic tree selectivity in the chemical signalling of brown bears Clapham, Melanie. Nevin, Owen. Ramsey, Andrew D. Rosell, Frank. 2013. http://hdl.cqu.edu.au/10018/937377 en-aus eng United Kingdom : Elsevier Animal behaviour. United Kingdom : Elsevier, 2013. Vol. 85, issue 6 (June 2013), p. 1351-1357 7 pages Refereed 0003-3472 1095-8282 (online) ACQUIRE [electronic resource] : Central Queensland University Institutional Repository. cqu:9534 http://hdl.cqu.edu.au/10018/937377 Copyright © 2013 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Clapham, M, Nevin, OT, Ramsey, AD & Rosell, F 2013, 'The function of strategic tree selectivity in the chemical signalling of brown bears', Animal Behaviour, vol. 85, issue 6, pp. 1351-1357, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2013.03.026 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS NEEDED Applied research 960899 Flora Fauna and Biodiversity of Environments not elsewhere classified 050202 Conservation and Biodiversity 050211 Wildlife and Habitat Management 060201 Behavioural Ecology Behavioural plasticity -- Brown bear -- Chemical communication -- Conspicuous object -- Energetic investment -- Rub tree -- Scent marking -- Ursus arctos Journal Article. Refereed Scholarly Journal Journal Article. 2013 ftcquniv 2019-04-18T06:56:34Z Large mammals select conspicuous objects on which to deposit their scent marks, which may function to supplement the olfactory signal, visually and/or chemically. Analysing marking sites is paramount to understanding whether signallers could mitigate potential fitness costs by placing scents strategically to reduce time and energy investment. The defining characteristics of marking sites are unclear across species, and variation in the literature concerning selectivity may be explained by behavioural plasticity. We took an evolutionary perspective on the selection and spatial distribution of marking trees by brown bears, Ursus arctos, to account for such variation. Our hypothesis, that brown bears would be selective in the trees used for scent marking, was supported; the trees chosen were located in regularly visited areas, where the defence of a resource is needed. The criteria of a marking tree appear to be primarily location and then about properties that facilitate their use as a conspicuous object; bears selected rarer species and trees of larger size than the average available. Other features, such as aromatic properties of the species, bark texture and the ability of the bark to hold scent, may act additionally to determine a tree’s marking potential. The energetic investment in manufacturing pungent volatile odours could be reduced if signallers utilize tree properties to attract receivers. Across mammalian taxa, whether a tree is selected for marking appears to vary based on environmental context; the principal function is to limit the energetic costs of producing scent marks by placing marks strategically to increase the likelihood of attracting potential receivers. Article in Journal/Newspaper Ursus arctos Central Queensland University: aCQUIRe |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Central Queensland University: aCQUIRe |
op_collection_id |
ftcquniv |
language |
English |
topic |
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS NEEDED Applied research 960899 Flora Fauna and Biodiversity of Environments not elsewhere classified 050202 Conservation and Biodiversity 050211 Wildlife and Habitat Management 060201 Behavioural Ecology Behavioural plasticity -- Brown bear -- Chemical communication -- Conspicuous object -- Energetic investment -- Rub tree -- Scent marking -- Ursus arctos Journal Article. Refereed Scholarly Journal |
spellingShingle |
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS NEEDED Applied research 960899 Flora Fauna and Biodiversity of Environments not elsewhere classified 050202 Conservation and Biodiversity 050211 Wildlife and Habitat Management 060201 Behavioural Ecology Behavioural plasticity -- Brown bear -- Chemical communication -- Conspicuous object -- Energetic investment -- Rub tree -- Scent marking -- Ursus arctos Journal Article. Refereed Scholarly Journal Clapham, Melanie. Nevin, Owen. Ramsey, Andrew D. Rosell, Frank. The function of strategic tree selectivity in the chemical signalling of brown bears |
topic_facet |
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS NEEDED Applied research 960899 Flora Fauna and Biodiversity of Environments not elsewhere classified 050202 Conservation and Biodiversity 050211 Wildlife and Habitat Management 060201 Behavioural Ecology Behavioural plasticity -- Brown bear -- Chemical communication -- Conspicuous object -- Energetic investment -- Rub tree -- Scent marking -- Ursus arctos Journal Article. Refereed Scholarly Journal |
description |
Large mammals select conspicuous objects on which to deposit their scent marks, which may function to supplement the olfactory signal, visually and/or chemically. Analysing marking sites is paramount to understanding whether signallers could mitigate potential fitness costs by placing scents strategically to reduce time and energy investment. The defining characteristics of marking sites are unclear across species, and variation in the literature concerning selectivity may be explained by behavioural plasticity. We took an evolutionary perspective on the selection and spatial distribution of marking trees by brown bears, Ursus arctos, to account for such variation. Our hypothesis, that brown bears would be selective in the trees used for scent marking, was supported; the trees chosen were located in regularly visited areas, where the defence of a resource is needed. The criteria of a marking tree appear to be primarily location and then about properties that facilitate their use as a conspicuous object; bears selected rarer species and trees of larger size than the average available. Other features, such as aromatic properties of the species, bark texture and the ability of the bark to hold scent, may act additionally to determine a tree’s marking potential. The energetic investment in manufacturing pungent volatile odours could be reduced if signallers utilize tree properties to attract receivers. Across mammalian taxa, whether a tree is selected for marking appears to vary based on environmental context; the principal function is to limit the energetic costs of producing scent marks by placing marks strategically to increase the likelihood of attracting potential receivers. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Clapham, Melanie. Nevin, Owen. Ramsey, Andrew D. Rosell, Frank. |
author_facet |
Clapham, Melanie. Nevin, Owen. Ramsey, Andrew D. Rosell, Frank. |
author_sort |
Clapham, Melanie. |
title |
The function of strategic tree selectivity in the chemical signalling of brown bears |
title_short |
The function of strategic tree selectivity in the chemical signalling of brown bears |
title_full |
The function of strategic tree selectivity in the chemical signalling of brown bears |
title_fullStr |
The function of strategic tree selectivity in the chemical signalling of brown bears |
title_full_unstemmed |
The function of strategic tree selectivity in the chemical signalling of brown bears |
title_sort |
function of strategic tree selectivity in the chemical signalling of brown bears |
publisher |
United Kingdom : Elsevier |
publishDate |
2013 |
url |
http://hdl.cqu.edu.au/10018/937377 |
genre |
Ursus arctos |
genre_facet |
Ursus arctos |
op_source |
Clapham, M, Nevin, OT, Ramsey, AD & Rosell, F 2013, 'The function of strategic tree selectivity in the chemical signalling of brown bears', Animal Behaviour, vol. 85, issue 6, pp. 1351-1357, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2013.03.026 |
op_relation |
Animal behaviour. United Kingdom : Elsevier, 2013. Vol. 85, issue 6 (June 2013), p. 1351-1357 7 pages Refereed 0003-3472 1095-8282 (online) ACQUIRE [electronic resource] : Central Queensland University Institutional Repository. cqu:9534 http://hdl.cqu.edu.au/10018/937377 |
op_rights |
Copyright © 2013 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
_version_ |
1766231572282867712 |