Reference no: EM132842909

In this question, we will be discussing a study done with grizzly bears. In this study, researchers monitored the number of young males and the number of young females that left their mothers' and natal territories. The researchers found that overwhelmingly a higher number of male bears left the territories compared with female bears - in fact, 94% of males (15 of 16 animals) vs 41% of females (13 of 32). Additionally, researchers observed that the females that were older and also heavier were not as apt to disperse. This behaviour, where males disperse while females remain on or near natal territories, is shared with Belding's ground squirrels, amongst other mammals. Given all this information, do the explanations given for the pattern of ground squirrel dispersal also apply to brown bears? What is an explanation for why the mothers may assist their daughters in securing territory while not supporting male bears? What does it say about why the younger and lighter females leave their mothers? What other information would be useful in order to evaluate these hypotheses?