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1999.11--79-86.pdf | Download |
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Between May 1995 and September 1997, we equipped 64 barren-ground grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) with satellite radiocollars within a study area of 200,000 km2, centered 400 km northeast of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. We estimated annual ranges of radiotracked animals (≥38 locations/year) using the 95% fixed kernel technique with least squares cross-validating to determine bandwidths. The mean annual range for adult males was 6,685 km2 (SE = 1,351, n = 19) and was larger (P < 0.001) than for females (x̄ = 2,074 km2, SE = 335, n = 35). There was no difference (P = 0.42) in the annual ranges among females of differing family status. Seasonal rates of movement, calculated from straight-line distances between successive locations, were higher for males than for females (P < 0.001). Both sexes decreased movement rates from their highest rates in spring (males) and summer (females) to lowest rates in autumn, which likely results from increased food availability as the year progresses. Annual ranges presented here are the largest ranges reported for grizzly bears in North America. Low primary productivity on the barrens may explain why the annual ranges of barren-ground grizzly bears are larger than the ranges of other grizzly bear populations.