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Journal Publications
McLoughlin
P.D., Cluff H.D., and Messier F. 2002 Denning Ecology Of
Barren-Ground Grizzly Bears In The Central Arctic. Journal of Mammalogy, 83(1):188–198
(PDF = 155KB)
Abstract
Between May 1995 and June 1999,
we studied denning ecology of 81 barren-ground grizzly
bears (Ursus arctos) equipped with satellite radio-collars within a study
area of 235,000
km2, centered 400 km northeast of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories,
Canada. All dens
were located on well-drained slopes (X
= 25.3°,
SE = 1.20, n= 55). Choice
of den aspect
was nonrandom (
C2
= 12.4, d.f. = 3, P < 0.01, n = 56); the majority of dens
faced south
(25), followed by west (13), east (10), and north (8). Most dens were
constructed under
cover of tall (>.0.5 m) shrubs (Betula glandulosa and Salix), the root
structures of which
supported ceilings of dens. Selection of denning habitat by bears was
significantly different
from random (G = 127.67, d.f. = 6, P < 0.0001). Bonferroni confidence
intervals indicated
that esker habitat was selected more than expected by chance (P < 0.10). Den
entrance
occurred primarily in last 2 weeks of October. The majority of bears emerged
from dens
in the 1st week of May. |
