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Kin-related spatial structure in brown bears Ursus arctos

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Abstract

Kin-related social structure may influence reproductive success and survival and, hence, the dynamics of populations. It has been documented in many gregarious animal populations, but few solitary species. Using molecular methods and field data we tested: (1) whether kin-related spatial structure exists in the brown bear (Ursus arctos), which is a solitary carnivore, (2) whether home ranges of adult female kin overlap more than those of nonkin, and (3) whether multigenerational matrilinear assemblages, i.e., aggregated related females, are formed. Pairwise genetic relatedness between adult (5 years and older) female dyads declined significantly with geographic distance, whereas this was not the case for male–male dyads or opposite sex dyads. The amount of overlap of multiannual home ranges was positively associated with relatedness among adult females. This structure within matrilines is probably due to kin recognition. Plotting of multiannual home-range centers of adult females revealed formation of two types of matrilines, matrilinear assemblages exclusively using an area and dispersed matrilines spread over larger geographic areas. The variation in matrilinear structure might be due to differences in competitive abilities among females and habitat limitations. The influence of kin-related spatial structure on inclusive fitness needs to be clarified in solitary mammals.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, the Swedish Association for Hunting and Wildlife Management, the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, WWF Sweden and the Research Council of Norway. We thank the personnel in the Scandinavian Brown Bear Research Project for their assistance in the field and Orsa Communal Forest for field support. We also thank Pierre Taberlet, Shyamala Ratnayeke, Per Wegge, Andreas Zedrosser, Bjørn Dahle and Andres Ordiz for commenting on earlier drafts of the manuscript, and Torbjørn Nielssen for help with the graphics. All capture and handling of bears reported in this paper complied with the contemporary laws regulating the treatment of animals in Sweden and Norway and was approved by the appropriate management agencies and ethical committees in both countries

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432, Ås, Norway

    Ole-Gunnar Støen & Jon E. Swenson

  2. Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine (LECA), Génomique des Populations et Biodiversité, Université Joseph Fourier, CNRS UMR 5553, BP 53, F-38041, Grenoble Cedex 9, France

    Eva Bellemain

  3. Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432, Ås, Norway

    Solve Sæbø

  4. Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Tungasletta 2, N-7485, Trondheim, Norway

    Jon E. Swenson

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  1. Ole-Gunnar Støen
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  2. Eva Bellemain
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  3. Solve Sæbø
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  4. Jon E. Swenson
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Correspondence to Ole-Gunnar Støen.

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Communicated by C. Nunn

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Støen, OG., Bellemain, E., Sæbø, S. et al. Kin-related spatial structure in brown bears Ursus arctos . Behav Ecol Sociobiol 59, 191–197 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-005-0024-9

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