Physiological Studies of Arctic Carnivores.

• Main Author: Follmann,Erich H
• Other Authors: ALASKA UNIV FAIRBANKS INST OF ARCTIC BIOLOGY AND MUSEUM
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1982
• Subjects: Anatomy and Physiology; *CARNIVORA; MEASUREMENT; MONITORING; ALASKA; METABOLISM; REDUCTION; PHYSIOLOGY; HEART RATE; RADIO TRANSMITTERS; BODY TEMPERATURE; BIOINSTRUMENTATION; *Bears; PE61153N; WUNR207287; Arctic; Brooks Range; Alaska
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA127789; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA127789

During 1977-81, 8 individual bears were instrumented with radio-transmitters to monitor either body temperature and/or heart rate in the Brooks Range, Alaska. Body temperature during summer averaged 37.7 C in the abdomen and 36.3 C below the skin, whereas in the winter they averaged 34.5 C and 32.4 C, respectively. Lowered temperature in the winter reflected the reduced metabolism that has been reported for bears during this period. Heart rates were significantly reduced in winter dens compared with summer sleep. Heart rates recorded for 9 behavior categories during the summer active period reflected the amount of motor activity associated with the behavior, except for standing and sitting alert which were associated with relatively high rates. These probably reflected emotional of other physiological state, factors which are known to affect heart rate independent of motor activity.