The ecological and behavioral significance of short-term food caching in polar bears (Ursus maritimus)
The paucity of observations of wild polar bears (Ursus maritimus) caching of food (including hoarding, i.e., burying and remaining with a kill for up to a few days) has led to the conclusion that such behavior does not occur or is negligible in this species. We document 19 observations of short-term...
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Canadian Science Publishing
2020
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:9647ab4096794923a0aab9142154e8a1 2023-05-15T14:23:40+02:00 The ecological and behavioral significance of short-term food caching in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) Ian Stirling Kristin L. Laidre Andrew E. Derocher Rinie Van Meurs 2020-03-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2019-0008 https://doaj.org/article/9647ab4096794923a0aab9142154e8a1 EN FR eng fre Canadian Science Publishing https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2019-0008 https://doaj.org/toc/2368-7460 doi:10.1139/as-2019-0008 2368-7460 https://doaj.org/article/9647ab4096794923a0aab9142154e8a1 Arctic Science, Vol 6, Iss 1, Pp 41-52 (2020) polar bear caching hoarding predation feeding scavenging Environmental sciences GE1-350 Environmental engineering TA170-171 article 2020 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2019-0008 2022-12-31T06:04:10Z The paucity of observations of wild polar bears (Ursus maritimus) caching of food (including hoarding, i.e., burying and remaining with a kill for up to a few days) has led to the conclusion that such behavior does not occur or is negligible in this species. We document 19 observations of short-term hoarding by polar bears between 1973 and 2018 in Svalbard, Greenland, and Canada. Short-term hoarding appears to be influenced by size of the kill and its remaining energetic value after the first meal has been consumed. Fat and meat from smaller seals, such as pup or yearling ringed seals (Pusa hispida), are largely devoured immediately, leaving little to hoard. Carcasses of adult ringed seals, harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus), and bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) may be covered with snow to reduce the chance of kleptoparasitism by another bear or other scavengers visually detecting a dark spot on the ice, while the hoarding bear lies nearby. Hoarding of other species, such as beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) (calves or parts) or other polar bears, appears opportunistic. We review differences in caching, including short-term hoarding behavior between polar bears and brown bears (U. arctos), and hypothesize about factors that may have influenced their evolution. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Beluga Beluga* Delphinapterus leucas Erignathus barbatus Greenland Pagophilus groenlandicus Pusa hispida Svalbard Ursus maritimus Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Svalbard Canada Greenland Arctic Science 6 1 41 52 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English French |
topic |
polar bear caching hoarding predation feeding scavenging Environmental sciences GE1-350 Environmental engineering TA170-171 |
spellingShingle |
polar bear caching hoarding predation feeding scavenging Environmental sciences GE1-350 Environmental engineering TA170-171 Ian Stirling Kristin L. Laidre Andrew E. Derocher Rinie Van Meurs The ecological and behavioral significance of short-term food caching in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) |
topic_facet |
polar bear caching hoarding predation feeding scavenging Environmental sciences GE1-350 Environmental engineering TA170-171 |
description |
The paucity of observations of wild polar bears (Ursus maritimus) caching of food (including hoarding, i.e., burying and remaining with a kill for up to a few days) has led to the conclusion that such behavior does not occur or is negligible in this species. We document 19 observations of short-term hoarding by polar bears between 1973 and 2018 in Svalbard, Greenland, and Canada. Short-term hoarding appears to be influenced by size of the kill and its remaining energetic value after the first meal has been consumed. Fat and meat from smaller seals, such as pup or yearling ringed seals (Pusa hispida), are largely devoured immediately, leaving little to hoard. Carcasses of adult ringed seals, harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus), and bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) may be covered with snow to reduce the chance of kleptoparasitism by another bear or other scavengers visually detecting a dark spot on the ice, while the hoarding bear lies nearby. Hoarding of other species, such as beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) (calves or parts) or other polar bears, appears opportunistic. We review differences in caching, including short-term hoarding behavior between polar bears and brown bears (U. arctos), and hypothesize about factors that may have influenced their evolution. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Ian Stirling Kristin L. Laidre Andrew E. Derocher Rinie Van Meurs |
author_facet |
Ian Stirling Kristin L. Laidre Andrew E. Derocher Rinie Van Meurs |
author_sort |
Ian Stirling |
title |
The ecological and behavioral significance of short-term food caching in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) |
title_short |
The ecological and behavioral significance of short-term food caching in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) |
title_full |
The ecological and behavioral significance of short-term food caching in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) |
title_fullStr |
The ecological and behavioral significance of short-term food caching in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) |
title_full_unstemmed |
The ecological and behavioral significance of short-term food caching in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) |
title_sort |
ecological and behavioral significance of short-term food caching in polar bears (ursus maritimus) |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2019-0008 https://doaj.org/article/9647ab4096794923a0aab9142154e8a1 |
geographic |
Svalbard Canada Greenland |
geographic_facet |
Svalbard Canada Greenland |
genre |
Arctic Beluga Beluga* Delphinapterus leucas Erignathus barbatus Greenland Pagophilus groenlandicus Pusa hispida Svalbard Ursus maritimus |
genre_facet |
Arctic Beluga Beluga* Delphinapterus leucas Erignathus barbatus Greenland Pagophilus groenlandicus Pusa hispida Svalbard Ursus maritimus |
op_source |
Arctic Science, Vol 6, Iss 1, Pp 41-52 (2020) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2019-0008 https://doaj.org/toc/2368-7460 doi:10.1139/as-2019-0008 2368-7460 https://doaj.org/article/9647ab4096794923a0aab9142154e8a1 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2019-0008 |
container_title |
Arctic Science |
container_volume |
6 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
41 |
op_container_end_page |
52 |
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1766296154382794752 |