monitoring the wild black bears reaction to human and environmental stressors监测野生黑熊对人类和环境压力的反应.pdfVIP

Monitoring the wild black bears reaction to human and environmental stressors Laske et al. Laske et al. BMC Physiology 2011, 11:13 /1472-6793/11/13 (17 August 2011) Laske et al. BMC Physiology 2011, 11:13 /1472-6793/11/13 RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access Monitoring the wild black bear’s reaction to human and environmental stressors Timothy G Laske 1*, David L Garshelis2† and Paul A Iaizzo3† Abstract Background: Bears are among the most physiologically remarkable mammals. They spend half their life in an active state and the other half in a state of dormancy without food or water, and without urinating, defecating, or physical activity, yet can rouse and defend themselves when disturbed. Although important data have been obtained in both captive and wild bears, long-term physiological monitoring of bears has not been possible until the recent advancement of implantable devices. Results: Insertable cardiac monitors that were developed for use in human heart patients (Reveal® XT, Medtronic, Inc) were implanted in 15 hibernating bears. Data were recovered from 8, including 2 that were legally shot by hunters. Devices recorded low heart rates (pauses of over 14 seconds) and low respiration rates (1.5 breaths/min) during hibernation, dramatic respiratory sinus arrhythmias in the fall and winter months, and elevated heart rates in summer (up to 214 beats/min (bpm)) and during interactions with hunters (exceeding 250 bpm). The devices documented the first and last day of denning, a period of quiescence in two parturient females after birthing, and extraordinary variation in the amount of activity/day, ranging from 0 (winter) to 1084 minutes (summer). Data showed a transition toward greate