Growth and reproduction of European brown bears: do life history strategies differ between Europe and North America
Abstract
Bears are controversial in regard to their conservation and management. Wise management can only be built on sound biological knowledge of the species. Most of today's management of European brown bears is built on North American experiences and examples. But life-history parameters may show substantial differences between Europe and North America. Eurasian brown bear populations have generally higher population growth rates and higher mean litter sizes than North American interior populations and European bears mature earlier, separate earlier, but stay smaller than North American brown bears. Centuries of heavy hunting pressure on brown bears by man may have affected the selection of certain more r-strategic life-history traits in Europe. In this project we evaluate the influence of maternal size on a female's and her offsprings' long term reproductive success, the factors influencing paternal long term mating success, and litter survival in relation to litter size, infanticide and different reproducitive strategies. The important topic of dispersal will be evaluated concerning female dispersal in relation to life history. The project aims at providing results that break new scientific ground for large mammals as well as improve the basis for sound management and conservation decisions.
- brown bear
- Europe
- North America
- conservation biology
- life history strategy
Project staff
Hartmut Gossow
Em.Univ.Prof. Dr.rer.nat. Hartmut Gossow
hartmut.gossow@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-83216
Project Leader
02.03.2003 - 31.12.2006
BOKU partners
External partners
Agricultural University of Norway
Prof. Dr. Jon Swenson
partner