A hypothetico-deductive approach to assessing the social function of chemical signalling in a non-territorial solitary carnivore
The function of chemical signalling in non-territorial solitary carnivores is still relatively unclear. Studies on territorial solitary and social carnivores have highlighted odour capability and utility, however the social function of chemical signalling in wild carnivore populations operating domi...
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Public Library of Science
2012
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Online Access: | http://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/2661/ https://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/2661/1/Clapham_AHypotheticoDeductiveApproach.pdf https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0035404 |
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ftunivcumbria:oai:insight.cumbria.ac.uk:2661 2023-05-15T18:42:10+02:00 A hypothetico-deductive approach to assessing the social function of chemical signalling in a non-territorial solitary carnivore Renou, Michel Clapham, Melanie Nevin, Owen Ramsey, Andrew D. Rosell, Frank 2012-04-18 application/pdf http://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/2661/ https://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/2661/1/Clapham_AHypotheticoDeductiveApproach.pdf https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0035404 en eng Public Library of Science https://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/2661/1/Clapham_AHypotheticoDeductiveApproach.pdf Renou, Michel, Clapham, Melanie, Nevin, Owen, Ramsey, Andrew D. and Rosell, Frank (2012) A hypothetico-deductive approach to assessing the social function of chemical signalling in a non-territorial solitary carnivore. PLoS ONE, 7 (4). e35404. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0035404 cc_by_nc_4 CC-BY-NC 599 Mammals 639 Hunting fishing & conservation Article PeerReviewed 2012 ftunivcumbria https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0035404 2022-02-22T08:18:50Z The function of chemical signalling in non-territorial solitary carnivores is still relatively unclear. Studies on territorial solitary and social carnivores have highlighted odour capability and utility, however the social function of chemical signalling in wild carnivore populations operating dominance hierarchy social systems has received little attention. We monitored scent marking and investigatory behaviour of wild brown bears Ursus arctos, to test multiple hypotheses relating to the social function of chemical signalling. Camera traps were stationed facing bear ‘marking trees’ to document behaviour by different age sex classes in different seasons. We found evidence to support the hypothesis that adult males utilise chemical signalling to communicate dominance to other males throughout the non-denning period. Adult females did not appear to utilise marking trees to advertise oestrous state during the breeding season. The function of marking by subadult bears is somewhat unclear, but may be related to the behaviour of adult males. Subadults investigated trees more often than they scent marked during the breeding season, which could be a result of an increased risk from adult males. Females with young showed an increase in marking and investigation of trees outside of the breeding season. We propose the hypothesis that females engage their dependent young with marking trees from a young age, at a relatively ‘safe’ time of year. Memory, experience, and learning at a young age, may all contribute towards odour capabilities in adult bears. Article in Journal/Newspaper Ursus arctos University of Cumbria: Insight PLoS ONE 7 4 e35404 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of Cumbria: Insight |
op_collection_id |
ftunivcumbria |
language |
English |
topic |
599 Mammals 639 Hunting fishing & conservation |
spellingShingle |
599 Mammals 639 Hunting fishing & conservation Renou, Michel Clapham, Melanie Nevin, Owen Ramsey, Andrew D. Rosell, Frank A hypothetico-deductive approach to assessing the social function of chemical signalling in a non-territorial solitary carnivore |
topic_facet |
599 Mammals 639 Hunting fishing & conservation |
description |
The function of chemical signalling in non-territorial solitary carnivores is still relatively unclear. Studies on territorial solitary and social carnivores have highlighted odour capability and utility, however the social function of chemical signalling in wild carnivore populations operating dominance hierarchy social systems has received little attention. We monitored scent marking and investigatory behaviour of wild brown bears Ursus arctos, to test multiple hypotheses relating to the social function of chemical signalling. Camera traps were stationed facing bear ‘marking trees’ to document behaviour by different age sex classes in different seasons. We found evidence to support the hypothesis that adult males utilise chemical signalling to communicate dominance to other males throughout the non-denning period. Adult females did not appear to utilise marking trees to advertise oestrous state during the breeding season. The function of marking by subadult bears is somewhat unclear, but may be related to the behaviour of adult males. Subadults investigated trees more often than they scent marked during the breeding season, which could be a result of an increased risk from adult males. Females with young showed an increase in marking and investigation of trees outside of the breeding season. We propose the hypothesis that females engage their dependent young with marking trees from a young age, at a relatively ‘safe’ time of year. Memory, experience, and learning at a young age, may all contribute towards odour capabilities in adult bears. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Renou, Michel Clapham, Melanie Nevin, Owen Ramsey, Andrew D. Rosell, Frank |
author_facet |
Renou, Michel Clapham, Melanie Nevin, Owen Ramsey, Andrew D. Rosell, Frank |
author_sort |
Renou, Michel |
title |
A hypothetico-deductive approach to assessing the social function of chemical signalling in a non-territorial solitary carnivore |
title_short |
A hypothetico-deductive approach to assessing the social function of chemical signalling in a non-territorial solitary carnivore |
title_full |
A hypothetico-deductive approach to assessing the social function of chemical signalling in a non-territorial solitary carnivore |
title_fullStr |
A hypothetico-deductive approach to assessing the social function of chemical signalling in a non-territorial solitary carnivore |
title_full_unstemmed |
A hypothetico-deductive approach to assessing the social function of chemical signalling in a non-territorial solitary carnivore |
title_sort |
hypothetico-deductive approach to assessing the social function of chemical signalling in a non-territorial solitary carnivore |
publisher |
Public Library of Science |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
http://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/2661/ https://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/2661/1/Clapham_AHypotheticoDeductiveApproach.pdf https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0035404 |
genre |
Ursus arctos |
genre_facet |
Ursus arctos |
op_relation |
https://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/2661/1/Clapham_AHypotheticoDeductiveApproach.pdf Renou, Michel, Clapham, Melanie, Nevin, Owen, Ramsey, Andrew D. and Rosell, Frank (2012) A hypothetico-deductive approach to assessing the social function of chemical signalling in a non-territorial solitary carnivore. PLoS ONE, 7 (4). e35404. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0035404 |
op_rights |
cc_by_nc_4 |
op_rightsnorm |
CC-BY-NC |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0035404 |
container_title |
PLoS ONE |
container_volume |
7 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
e35404 |
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1766231790060568576 |