10.5061/DRYAD.C61Q0
Moore, Jennifer A.
Grand Valley State University
Xu, Ran
Michigan State University
Frank, Kenneth
Michigan State University
Draheim, Hope
Michigan State University
Scribner, Kim T.
Michigan State University
Data from: Social network analysis of mating patterns in American black
bears (Ursus americanus)
Dryad
dataset
2015
Black bear
Animal Mating/Breeding Systems
Behavior/Social Evolution
Holocene
Wildlife Management
2015-06-24T14:55:53Z
2015-06-24T14:55:53Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.13290
411280 bytes
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CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Nonrandom mating can structure populations and has important implications
for population-level processes. Investigating how and why mating deviates
from random is important for understanding evolutionary processes as well
as informing conservation and management. Prior to the implementation of
parentage analyses, understanding mating patterns in solitary, elusive
species like bears was virtually impossible. Here, we capitalize on a
long-term genetic data set collected from black bears (Ursus americanus)
(N = 2422) in the Northern Lower Peninsula (NLP) of Michigan, USA. We
identified mated pairs using parentage analysis and applied logistic
regression (selection) models that controlled for features of the social
network, to quantify the effects of individual characteristics, and
spatial and population demographic factors on mating dynamics. Logistic
regression models revealed that black bear mating was associated with
spatial proximity of mates, male age, the time a pair had coexisted, local
population density and relatedness. Mated pairs were more likely to
contain older males. On average, bears tended to mate with nearby
individuals to whom they were related, which does not support the
existence of kin recognition in black bears. Pairwise relatedness was
especially high for mated pairs containing young males. Restricted
dispersal and high male turnover from intensive harvest mortality of NLP
black bears are probably the underlying factors associated with younger
male bears mating more often with female relatives. Our findings
illustrate how harvest has the potential to disrupt the social structure
of game species, which warrants further attention for conservation and
management.
Black bear data_Moore et alThis file contains information from black bear
samples collected via harvest from the Northern Lower Peninsula of
Michigan, USA. File includes bear ID, sex, estimated age at the time of
harvest, geographic coordinates of harvest locations (the centroid of the
township, range, and section reported by hunters), and the 12-locus
microsatellite genotypes. See associated manuscript for specific details
about sample collection, bear aging, sexing, geographic locations, and
genotyping.
USA
Michigan