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Variable intraspecific space use supports optimality in an apex predator.

S P Finnegan1, N J Svoboda2, N L Fowler3,4

  • 1Global Wildlife Conservation Center, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY, 13204, USA. shannonfinnegan8@yahoo.com.

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Brown bears on islands use space differently based on resource availability and biological needs, supporting both resource dispersion and temporal variability hypotheses. Strategies vary by season, scale, and individual factors like sex and reproductive status.

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Animal Behavior
  • Wildlife Management

Background:

  • Home range behavior in animals is driven by fitness, balancing resource acquisition for survival and reproduction against energetic costs.
  • Optimality theory suggests animals either maximize resource patches (Resource Dispersion Hypothesis [RDH]) or minimize space use to meet needs (Temporal Resource Variability Hypothesis [TRVH]).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether brown bears (Ursus arctos) on two islands adhere to RDH or TRVH at annual and seasonal scales.
  • To examine how intrinsic factors like age and reproductive status influence brown bear space-use strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of brown bear space use patterns in two island populations.
  • Assessment of home range strategies against RDH and TRVH predictions.
  • Evaluation of the influence of age, sex, and reproductive status on space-use decisions.

Main Results:

  • Brown bears exhibited dynamic space use patterns, with evidence supporting both RDH and TRVH at annual and seasonal scales.
  • Seasonal RDH support suggests bears maximize space for diverse nutritional resources, while annual RDH reflects food distribution in timber stands.
  • TRVH support indicates bears minimize space when food is temporally concentrated. Range size and strategy varied by sex and reproductive class, with males using larger ranges.

Conclusions:

  • Brown bear space-use strategies are scale-dependent, influenced by resource availability, temporal concentration, and intrinsic factors.
  • Understanding these scale-dependent optimal behavioral decisions is crucial for effective wildlife movement ecology and conservation.