Grizzly Bear Den-Site Selection and Infanticide Risk
Author Information
Author(s): Nathan S. Libal, Jerrold L. Belant, Bruce D. Leopold, Guiming Wang, Patricia A. Owen
Primary Institution: Mississippi State University
Hypothesis
Adult female grizzly bears will avoid areas occupied by adult males to reduce the risk of infanticide.
Conclusion
Adult female grizzly bears select den sites at higher elevations and steeper slopes than adult males, supporting the hypothesis that they avoid males to reduce infanticide risk.
Supporting Evidence
- Adult females denned at higher elevations (1,412 m) than adult males (1,209 m).
- Adult females also selected den sites on steeper slopes (21.9°) compared to adult males (15.6°).
- Juveniles did not avoid areas occupied by adult males.
Takeaway
Female grizzly bears try to stay away from male bears when choosing where to hibernate, so they can keep their babies safe.
Methodology
The study compared den locations of adult female, adult male, and juvenile grizzly bears using maximum entropy modeling to predict den site selection based on elevation, slope, and land cover.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in juvenile den site selection due to small sample size.
Limitations
The sample size for juvenile den locations was small, limiting the ability to rigorously test differences between juvenile males and females.
Participant Demographics
142 adult females, 36 adult males, and 35 juveniles (20 male, 15 female).
Statistical Information
P-Value
p=0.075 for elevation difference between adult females and males; p=0.011 for slope difference.
Statistical Significance
p<0.10
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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