Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Pacific Northwest CESU

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US Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK), is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner for research to use implantable sensors to measure energy expenditure, stress and other physiological processes in real time of captive grizzly bears. The intent is to measure the energetics and heart rate of captive grizzly bears while resting, walking and running; evaluate currently available activity sensors and heart rate monitors either separately or in combination to predict energy expenditure and specific bear behaviors (including lying, feeding, foraging, digging, walking, and running); develop an energetics model based on the cost of such activities, the heart rate associated with that activity, and the ability to predict activities based on sensors; and test the model using 24-hour energy expenditures using doubly labeled water. Ultimately, this study will form the basis for developing field studies to address a wide range of issues, such as evaluation of energy costs or stress of wild grizzly bears in relation to human activities and determining seasonal energy costs, net value when different food sources are utilized thereby determining the energetic value of different habitats and landscapes to better understand bear distribution and productivity.

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