Family Breakup Dynamics in a Promiscuous Solitary Mammal
Rick W Heeres1, Wisse Boot2, Emile Delen2
1Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health University of South-Eastern Norway Bø Norway.
Ecology and Evolution
|September 5, 2025
Summary
Brown bear family breakups are influenced by male presence during mating season. Increased movement by mothers with yearlings may signal readiness for separation, potentially triggered by male detection.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Ecology
- Mammalian Reproduction
- Wildlife Movement Ecology
Background:
- Parental care termination involves balancing parental and offspring fitness.
- Male interference, particularly in species with sexual infanticide, can disrupt maternal care strategies.
- Understanding family breakup dynamics is crucial for species conservation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate family breakup dynamics in brown bears (Ursus arctos).
- To explore the influence of maternal age of offspring and male presence on family separation.
- To analyze movement patterns of mothers, offspring, and males preceding and during family breakup.
Main Methods:
- Utilized GPS relocation data from 144 brown bears (114 unique individuals) in southcentral Sweden.
- Analyzed movement data of mothers, offspring, and adjacent adult males.
- Correlated male association patterns with family breakup events.
Main Results:
- Females with 2-year-old offspring separated before the mating season.
- Females with yearlings experienced breakups during the mating season, with increased movement speeds preceding separation.
- Family groups that separated exhibited 2-3 times higher movement speeds than cohesive groups.
- Adult males were associated with family groups before and during the mating season, with some associations coinciding with family breakups.
Conclusions:
- Maternal care termination in brown bears is influenced by offspring age and male presence.
- Increased space use by family groups may enhance detection by males, promoting earlier separation.
- This study highlights the interplay between maternal strategies and male behavior in terminating care in a solitary carnivore.
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