A Case of Offspring Adoption in Free-ranging Polar Bears (<i>Ursus Maritimus</i>)

Авторы

  • S.N. Atkinson
  • M.R.L. Cattet
  • S.C. Polischuk
  • M.A. Ramsay

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic1187

Ключевые слова:

polar bear, Ursus maritimus, litter adoption, maternal fitness

Аннотация

During a study of the reproductive ecology of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in western Hudson Bay (Canada), we documented a case of litter adoption. In an eight-month period, a ten-year-old adult female lost a litter of two cubs-of-the-year and adopted three other cubs-of-the-year. This is the first reported case of natural offspring adoption in polar bears, and its significance as a reproductive strategy is unknown. Nevertheless, the observation raised questions regarding the social circumstances under which adoption may occur and the benefits or costs to maternal fitness in a solitary mammal such as the polar bear.

Загрузки

Опубликован

1996-01-01

Выпуск

Раздел

Notes