Black Bear Mating Patterns from Genetic Analysis in Michigan

2422 black bear (Ursus americanus) individuals from the Northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan, USA, form the basis of this genetic dataset. Parentage analysis identified mated pairs to investigate nonrandom mating patterns. Logistic regression models quantified effects of spatial proximity, male age, coexistence time, local density, and relatedness on mating dynamics.

Use Cases

• Analyze the relationship between pairwise relatedness and mating outcomes to test for kin recognition in black bears.
• Model the influence of male age on mating success using logistic regression on identified mated pairs.
• Investigate how spatial proximity and local population density correlate with the formation of mated pairs.
• Examine the association between the time a pair had coexisted and their likelihood of mating.

Strengths

• Dataset includes genetic data from 2422 individual black bears, providing a substantial sample size for analysis.
• Research applies parentage analysis and controlled logistic regression models to quantify specific factors like male age and spatial proximity.
• Findings are grounded in a specific, well-defined geography: the Northern Lower Peninsula (NLP) of Michigan, USA.

Limitations

• The dataset's specific columns, file formats, and sample data are unavailable, limiting immediate assessment of structure and usability.
• Geographic scope is restricted to one region (Michigan's NLP), which may limit generalizability to other black bear populations.
• Temporal coverage and update frequency are not specified, potentially affecting the data's current relevance.

Provenance

Source

Dryad digital repository.

Collection Method

Genetic data collection and parentage analysis applied to identify mated pairs.

Time Range

null

Freshness

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Geography

Northern Lower Peninsula (NLP) of Michigan, USA.