The Development and Calibration of Techniques to Measure Energy Expenditure and Activity in Grizzly Bears

Project ID: G18AC00127

Federal Agency: U.S. Geological Survey

Partner Institution: Washington State University

Fiscal Year: 2018

Initial Funding: $19,196

Total Funding: $28,794

Project Type: Research

Project Disciplines: Biological

Principal Investigator: Robbins, Charles

Agreement Technical Representative: van Manen, Frank

Abstract: The goal of this research is to: 1) measure the energetics and heart rate of captive grizzly bears while resting, walking, and running, 2) 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, 3) develop an energetics model based on the cost of each activity, the heart rate associated with that activity, and the ability to predict discrete activities based on activity/accelerometer sensors, 4) test the model using 24-hr energy expenditures of captive grizzly bears measured using doubly labeled water, and if available 5) conduct a field study to further develop and apply the knowledge and insight obtained while working with the captive bears. The captive bear study will form the basis for developing field studies to address a wide of range of issues, such as 1) evaluating energy costs or stress in wild grizzly bears relative to human activities and 2) determining seasonal energy costs, net value when different food resources are exploited, and therefore the energetic value of different habitats and landscapes to understand bear distribution and productivity.