"The landscape of love": sex-specific habitat-use during the mating season in a solitary large carnivore.

ABSTRACT:

Context

In mammals, reproductive strategies and movement behavior can differ between sexes, influenced by biological and environmental factors. Whereas males typically adopt a "roam-to-mate" strategy, increasing movement to locate females, females may also adjust their behavior to enhance mating opportunities. Habitat and human disturbance can further shape the spatial structure of mating encounters.

Objectives

This study investigates sex-specific habitat use during mating in brown bears. We test (1) which habitats facilitate initial male-female encounters, and (2) how habitat use differs between solitary and consorting individuals, focusing on sex-based differences and responses to anthropogenic features.

Methods

We used GPS data from 70 unique adult brown bears (44

SUBMITTER: Zarzo-Arias A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12642813 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature