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Pugesek G, Mumma MA, Mahoney SP, Waits LP. Molecular evaluation of American black bear prey consumption following diversionary feeding. URSUS 2021. [DOI: 10.2192/ursus-d-20-00027.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Genevieve Pugesek
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, College of Natural Resources, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
| | - Matthew A. Mumma
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, College of Natural Resources, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
| | - Shane P. Mahoney
- Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John's, Newfoundland A1B 4J6, Canada
| | - Lisette P. Waits
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, College of Natural Resources, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
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Tomiyasu J, Kayano M, Hazano K, Matsui M, Nemoto Y, Naganuma T, Koike S, Yamazaki K. Associations between plasma testosterone levels and season, nutritional status, age, and body size in free-ranging male Asian black bears (Ursus thibetanus) in central Honshu, Japan. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2021; 309:113794. [PMID: 33887270 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Testosterone is an important regulator of male reproduction in terms of spermatogenesis and physiological changes in the accessory reproductive organs. Despite the important role of the testosterone level in male reproduction, testosterone levels vary among male bears even during the breeding season, and the causative underlying factors remain unknown. We postulated that testosterone levels are higher during the breeding season than during other seasons in free-ranging male bears, and that testosterone levels increase with advancing age, larger body size, and better nutritional status. We assessed potential factors (season, time of sampling, body condition index, head circumference, and age) associated with the testosterone level in 80 blood samples collected from free-ranging Asian black bears (Ursus thibetanus) captured in barrel traps in the Ashio-Nikko Mountains and Okutama Mountains in central Honshu Island, Japan. The plasma testosterone level was higher during the breeding season (May-July) than during the non-breeding season (August-November). The body condition index was significantly and positively associated with the plasma testosterone level. None of the other factors were significantly associated with the plasma testosterone level. Therefore, the body condition index may be essential for maintaining high plasma testosterone levels. These findings imply that testosterone secretion might be activated in free-ranging males during the breeding season, and animals with good nutritional status may be able to maintain high plasma testosterone levels. This study uncovered an association between nutritional conditions and reproductive activity in male bears.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jumpei Tomiyasu
- Department of Biodiversity Protection, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn 10-748, Poland
| | - Mitsunori Kayano
- Research Center for Global Agromedicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Ken Hazano
- Department of Applied Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Motozumi Matsui
- Department of Applied Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Yui Nemoto
- Okutama Practice Forest, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Okutama Town, Tokyo 198-0212, Japan
| | - Tomoko Naganuma
- Institute of Global Innovation Research, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Koike
- Institute of Global Innovation Research, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan; Institute of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Koji Yamazaki
- Department of Forest Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Setagaya, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan.
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Cameron MD, Hilderbrand GV, Joly K, Schmidt JH, Gustine DD, Mangipane LS, Mangipane B, Sorum MS. Body size plasticity in North American black and brown bears. Ecosphere 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D. Cameron
- National Park Service Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve 4175 Geist Road Fairbanks Alaska99709USA
| | - Grant V. Hilderbrand
- National Park Service Alaska Regional Office 240 W. 5th Avenue Anchorage Alaska99501USA
| | - Kyle Joly
- National Park Service Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve 4175 Geist Road Fairbanks Alaska99709USA
| | - Joshua H. Schmidt
- National Park Service Central Alaska Network 4175 Geist Road Fairbanks Alaska99709USA
| | - David D. Gustine
- National Park Service Grand Teton National Park PO Box 170 Moose Wyoming83012USA
| | - Lindsey S. Mangipane
- U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Marine Mammals Management 1011 E. Tudor Road Anchorage Alaska99503USA
| | - Buck Mangipane
- National Park Service Lake Clark National Park and Preserve Port Alsworth Alaska99653USA
| | - Mathew S. Sorum
- National Park Service Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve 4175 Geist Road Fairbanks Alaska99709USA
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Mesa-Cruz JB, Olfenbuttel C, Vaughan MR, Sajecki JL, Kelly MJ. Litter size and cub age influence weight gain and development in American black bears (Ursus americanus). J Mammal 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyaa009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
We assessed the effects of cub age, litter size, and sex, on body mass (BM), absolute and relative growth rates (AGR, RGR), opening of ears and eyes, and deciduous teeth eruption from 129 cubs of American black bears (Ursus americanus) born at Virginia Tech’s Black Bear Research Center. Specific ages, related to maternal food consumption, and litter size, best described BM, AGR, RGR, and ear and eye development. Overall, newborns weighed ~0.44 kg at birth and increased ~9-fold by ~14 weeks. Twins were greater in BM than single cubs and triplets. Single and triplet cubs had higher AGR and RGR than twins after mothers resumed food consumption post-hibernation. Newborns displayed RGR > 3.5% that decreased until den emergence (RGR < 3.5% after emergence). RGR differed among litter sizes, particularly after den emergence. Ear and eye opening occurred concurrently at ~44 days of age, while teeth erupted ~10 days later. Single cubs experienced delayed development of these organs compared to other litter sizes. Postnatal developmental differences between black bears and other carnivores likely stem from strategies allowing black bears to minimize energy expenditure during the gestational period when hibernating.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Bernardo Mesa-Cruz
- Department of Biology, Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, PA, USA
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Colleen Olfenbuttel
- Wildlife Management Division, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Pittsboro, NC, USA
| | - Michael R Vaughan
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Jaime L Sajecki
- Wildlife Resources Division, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Henrico, VA, USA
| | - Marcella J Kelly
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
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Growth Rate and Body Size at Maturity of Florida Black Bears. JOURNAL OF FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 2019. [DOI: 10.3996/082018-jfwm-076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Growth rate and body size at maturity are important life-history traits of interest because they represent a potential source of fitness variance within a species and provide information for understanding the nutritional condition, fecundity, and dynamics of populations. My objective here was to examine the growth rate and body size at maturity of Florida black bears Ursus americanus floridanus using body length, chest girth, and body weight measurements fitted to the nonlinear von Bertalanffy, Gompertz, and logistic size-at-age growth functions. The von Bertalanffy model had the largest Akaike weight, indicating the best fit for all measurements of both sexes. Growth models showed that females grew more slowly, with a younger age at maximum growth, faster rate at which maturity was reached, and attained significantly smaller asymptotic body length, chest girth, and weight than males. A more conservative growth strategy by females to invest available energy resources to costs of reproduction, together with intrasexual selection among males for larger body size to enhance intimidating and fighting ability to increase reproductive and survival success, are implicated as determinants of the male-biased direction and degree of sexual size dimorphism. In both sexes, the presence of human food in the diet increased the asymptotic body weight from the estimate for bears consuming a natural diet, but differences were insignificant. Females consuming human food had a slightly younger age at maximum growth and continued growth in body weight for a somewhat longer duration than did conspecifics that consumed a natural diet. In contrast, males that consumed human food had a slightly older age at maximum growth and decreased body weight growth somewhat earlier than did conspecifics consuming a natural diet. Florida black bears exhibited a larger asymptotic body size, faster growth rate, and younger age at maximum growth and maturity when compared with conspecifics in other mainland populations. Recognition of Florida black bear growth rate and adult body size provides wildlife managers a foundation for implementing measurable criteria to assess trends in population health.
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Bando MKH, Nelson OL, Kogan C, Sellon R, Wiest M, Bacon HJ, Hunter-Ishikawa M, Leadbeater W, Yamazaki K, Jin Y, Komatsu T, McGeachy D. Metabolic derangements and reduced survival of bile-extracted Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus). BMC Vet Res 2019; 15:263. [PMID: 31352899 PMCID: PMC6661835 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-019-2006-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Across China and Southeast Asia, an estimated 17,000 bears are currently farmed for bile, primarily for traditional medicines. Depending on country, bile is extracted daily via transabdominal gallbladder fistulas, indwelling catheters, or needle aspiration. Despite claims that bears do not develop adverse effects from bile extraction, health issues identified in bears removed from bile farms include bile-extraction site infections, abdominal hernias, peritonitis, cholecystitis, hepatic neoplasia, cardiac disease, skeletal abnormalities, and abnormal behaviors. We present a comprehensive assessment of the effects of bile farming by comparing serum biochemical and hematological values of bears from farms that were bile-extracted (BE) and bears from farms not bile-extracted (FNE) with bears from non-farm captive (ZOO) and free-range (FR) environments. We hypothesized BE bears would have significant laboratory abnormalities compared to all non-extracted bear groups. We also hypothesized BE bears would have reduced long-term survival compared to FNE bears despite removal from farms. Results BE bears exhibited the highest values and greatest variation (on a population level) in laboratory parameters compared to all non-extracted bear groups particularly for alanine transaminase, gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), total bilirubin (TBIL), alkaline phosphatase (ALKP), blood urea nitrogen, creatinine (CREA), and total white blood cell count. Significant differences were detected between bear groups when accounting for season, sex, and/or age. BE bears exhibited greater mean serum GGT compared to all non-extracted bear groups, and the odds of having elevated TBIL were 7.3 times greater for BE bears, consistent with hepatobiliary disease. Biochemical parameter elevations in BE bears persisted up to 14 years post-rescue, consistent with long-term effects of bile-extraction. BE bears that arrived with elevated CREA and ALKP had median survival times of 1 and 4 years respectively, and regardless of laboratory abnormalities, BE bears had significantly shorter survival times compared to FNE bears. Conclusions Our results provide strong evidence that bile extraction practices not only represent a temporary constraint for bears’ welfare, but confer distinct long-term adverse health consequences. Routine laboratory panels may be insensitive to detect the extent of underlying illness in BE bears as these bears have significantly reduced survival regardless of biochemical assessment compared to FNE bears. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12917-019-2006-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Kaho Herkules Bando
- Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, P.O. Box 646610, 100 Grimes Way, ADBF, Pullman, Washington, 99164-6610, USA.
| | - O Lynne Nelson
- Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, P.O. Box 646610, 100 Grimes Way, ADBF, Pullman, Washington, 99164-6610, USA
| | - Clark Kogan
- Center for Interdisciplinary Statistical Education and Research (CISER), Washington State University, Abelson Suite 227, Office 221, Pullman, Washington, 99164, USA
| | - Rance Sellon
- Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, P.O. Box 646610, 100 Grimes Way, ADBF, Pullman, Washington, 99164-6610, USA
| | - Michelle Wiest
- Department of Statistical Science, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, MS 1104, Moscow, ID, 83844-1104, USA
| | - Heather J Bacon
- Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education, The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, Scotland
| | - Mandala Hunter-Ishikawa
- Ensessa Kotteh Wildlife Rescue, Born Free Foundation Ethiopia, PO Box 3138/1250, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Wendy Leadbeater
- Veterinary Specialty Hospital, Lucky Centre, 1/F, 165-171 Rd, Wan Chai Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
| | - Koji Yamazaki
- Forest Ecology Laboratory, Department of Forest Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 156-8502, Japan
| | - Yipeng Jin
- Clinical Department, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Haidian District, Yuanmingyuan Xi Lu #2, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Takeshi Komatsu
- Kumakuma-en Kitaakita, 1-39 Ani-utto-Jinba, Kitaakita, Akita, 018-4733, Japan
| | - David McGeachy
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, CW405, Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E9, Canada
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Hilderbrand GV, Gustine DD, Mangipane BA, Joly K, Leacock W, Mangipane LS, Erlenbach J, Sorum MS, Cameron MD, Belant JL, Cambier T. Body size and lean mass of brown bears across and within four diverse ecosystems. J Zool (1987) 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - D. D. Gustine
- Grand Teton National Park National Park Service Moose WY USA
| | - B. A. Mangipane
- Lake Clark National Park and Preserve National Park ServicePort Alsworth AK USA
| | - K. Joly
- Gates of the Arctic National Park and PreserveNational Park Service Fairbanks AK USA
| | - W. Leacock
- US Fish and Wildlife Service Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge KodiakAK USA
| | - L. S. Mangipane
- Carnivore Ecology Laboratory Forest and Wildlife Research Center Mississippi State University Mississippi State MS USA
| | - J. Erlenbach
- Department of Zoology Washington State University Pullman WAUSA
| | - M. S. Sorum
- Gates of the Arctic National Park and PreserveNational Park Service Fairbanks AK USA
| | - M. D. Cameron
- Gates of the Arctic National Park and PreserveNational Park Service Fairbanks AK USA
| | - J. L. Belant
- Carnivore Ecology Laboratory Forest and Wildlife Research Center Mississippi State University Mississippi State MS USA
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Pope BM, Kennedy PK, Mech SG, Kennedy ML. Spatial variation in sexual size dimorphism of the American black bear ( Ursus americanus) in eastern North America. SOUTHWEST NAT 2017. [DOI: 10.1894/0038-4909-62.2.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Brittany M. Pope
- Edward J. Meeman Biological Station and Ecological Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152 (BMP, PKK, MLK)
- Department of Biology, Albright College, Reading, PA 19612-5234 (SGM)
| | - Phyllis K. Kennedy
- Edward J. Meeman Biological Station and Ecological Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152 (BMP, PKK, MLK)
- Department of Biology, Albright College, Reading, PA 19612-5234 (SGM)
| | - Stephen G. Mech
- Edward J. Meeman Biological Station and Ecological Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152 (BMP, PKK, MLK)
- Department of Biology, Albright College, Reading, PA 19612-5234 (SGM)
| | - Michael L. Kennedy
- Edward J. Meeman Biological Station and Ecological Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152 (BMP, PKK, MLK)
- Department of Biology, Albright College, Reading, PA 19612-5234 (SGM)
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Kioko J, Taylor K, Milne HJ, Hayes KZ, Kiffner C. Temporal gland secretion in African elephants (Loxodonta africana). Mamm Biol 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2016.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Estimating the Live Body Weight of American Black Bears in Florida. JOURNAL OF FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 2016. [DOI: 10.3996/012016-jfwm-003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Measuring the live body weight of large-bodied animals can be impractical when equipment needed to weigh individuals is inadequate or unavailable. My objective here was to develop a model to accurately estimate the live body weight of black bears Ursus americanus floridanus in Florida based on the relationship between scale weight and sex, morphometric measurements, and age predictor variables obtainable in the field. I used an information-theoretic approach to evaluate simple and multiple linear regression models with 70% of the data, and evaluated the best model in the set using the remaining 30%. A sex-specific model was sustained because the intercept and coefficient of age variable in female and male modeled relationships differed significantly. Chest girth2 was the best single predictor of body weight in each sex. A model including age, age2, and body length variables was better supported than chest girth2 alone. I also created a reduced model to estimate body weight when personnel may not have an opportunity to determine a bear's age. Even though there was decreasing support for the reduced model, differences between the observed and estimated body weight of all models applied to the validation data set were not significant. The 95% confidence interval on the bias of the best model ranged from −1.9 to 1.6 kg in females and −1.4 to 2.1 kg in males. The 95% confidence interval of the reduced model ranged from −1.8 to 2.3 kg in females and −2.5 to 0.5 kg in males. The body weight estimation models can be used to provide more live body weight data from handled black bears in Florida that are not weighed with a scale.
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Van Horn RC, Zug B, Appleton RD, Velez-Liendo X, Paisley S, LaCombe C. Photos provide information on age, but not kinship, of Andean bear. PeerJ 2015. [PMID: 26213647 PMCID: PMC4512767 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Using photos of captive Andean bears of known age and pedigree, and photos of wild Andean bear cubs <6 months old, we evaluated the degree to which visual information may be used to estimate bears' ages and assess their kinship. We demonstrate that the ages of Andean bear cubs ≤6 months old may be estimated from their size relative to their mothers with an average error of <0.01 ± 13.2 days (SD; n = 14), and that ages of adults ≥10 years old may be estimated from the proportion of their nose that is pink with an average error of <0.01 ± 3.5 years (n = 41). We also show that similarity among the bears' natural markings, as perceived by humans, is not associated with pedigree kinship among the bears (R (2) < 0.001, N = 1,043, p = 0.499). Thus, researchers may use photos of wild Andean bears to estimate the ages of young cubs and older adults, but not to infer their kinship. Given that camera trap photos are one of the most readily available sources of information on large cryptic mammals, we suggest that similar methods be tested for use in other poorly understood species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell C Van Horn
- Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global , San Diego, CA , USA
| | - Becky Zug
- Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison , WI , USA
| | - Robyn D Appleton
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia , BC , Canada ; Spectacled Bear Conservation Society , Squamish, BC , Canada
| | - Ximena Velez-Liendo
- Centro de Biodiversidad y Genética, Universidad Mayor de San Simon , Cochabamba , Bolivia
| | - Susanna Paisley
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent , Canterbury, Kent , UK
| | - Corrin LaCombe
- Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global , San Diego, CA , USA
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