Patterns of Weight Gain and Loss for Grizzly Bears in Northern Canada

Seasonal weight change in the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) in two populations in northern Canada was studied by fitting growth curves to spring and fall weights. The spring weight of females levels off soon after the average age of first reproduction; that of males continues to increase through matur...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Bears, their biology and management their biology and management, 1983-01, Vol.5, p.174-178
Main Authors: Kingsley, M. C. S., Nagy, J. A., Russell, R. H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bears
Grizzly bears
Polar bears
Population growth
Spring
Summer
Weight control
Weight gain
Weight loss
Winter
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Summary:Seasonal weight change in the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) in two populations in northern Canada was studied by fitting growth curves to spring and fall weights. The spring weight of females levels off soon after the average age of first reproduction; that of males continues to increase through maturity and eventually reaches nearly twice that of females. Males lost in winter 22% of their fall weight, the fraction changing very little with age. The weight change in females is much larger, and continues to increase with age, the oldest females gaining in summer 70% of their spring weight and losing in winter 40% of their fall weight. Mature females gain and lose not only relatively, but absolutely, more weight than males.
ISSN:1936-0614
DOI:10.2307/3872535