DISTANCE‐DEPENDENT EFFECT OF THE NEAREST NEIGHBOR: SPATIOTEMPORAL PATTERNS IN BROWN BEAR REPRODUCTION

摘要: In mammals, reproductive synchrony and suppression usually are found in social, group-living species, which often display hierarchical relationships among related animals. Some individuals, particularly younger, philopatric females beyond the age of sexual maturity, may not raise offspring because they suppressed by other individuals. Although brown bears (Ursus arctos) a solitary existence socially induced delayed primiparity has been documented. Here we show further evidence for interactions population-regulatory nature that typically associated with social species. We an adult female's probability having cubs given year was influenced whether or her nearest neighboring female had cubs. At short distances (� 10 km) between home range centroids females, negative effect on their year. .10 km � 20 km, reversed, it disappeared km. argue is probably caused resource competition living close to each other. Previously, similar population regulation mechanisms have only mammals. Thus, behavior carnivores be more flexible than assumed.