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Dissertation
Social Behavior of the American Black Bear (Ursus americanus)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Drexel University
Dec 2015
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-7195
Abstract
Black bears are generally described as a solitary species, that is, the primary contact they have with their own species is between sows and cubs and with mates during the breeding season. My data contradict the idea that bears are solitary and suggest that black bears have a well-developed social behavior that has developed such that they can access a high quality food supply. Female home ranges are evenly distributed on the landscape, but food is generally available in patches unevenly distributed on the landscape. I describe matri-linear hierarchies among female relatives and reciprocal altruism as a possible explanation for the reciprocity and cooperation that I have observed between related and unrelated females that provide access to food. I also describe the complex communication systems that have evolved between bears that allow them to manage this form of social behavior. (Note: there are supplemental videos attached.)
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Details
- Title
- Social Behavior of the American Black Bear (Ursus americanus)
- Creators
- Benjamin Kilham - DU
- Contributors
- James Robert Spotila (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science (BEES); College of Arts and Sciences; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 7195; 991014632668404721