First evidence of a brown bear on Wrangel Island, Russia

Babiy, Ulyana V.; Salomashkina, V. V.; Kulemeev, Pavel S.; Холодова, М. В.; Gruzdev, A R; Regehr, Eric V.

doi:10.2192/ursus-d-20-00024.1

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…We assume that the brown bear arrived on the Bolshoy Lyakhovsky Island, which is located ~50 km from the mainland, during early spring, across the ice. At least, this is indicated by its winter fur coat and the recently recorded description of a brown bear on Wrangel Island (Chukotka, Russia), which is located approximately 145 km north of the mainland [ 31 ]. It seems that the North American and Eurasian Arctic can become a place of hybridization of polar and brown bears in a changing climate, as was described previously for Canadian bears [ 32 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ancient DNA Reveals Maternal Philopatry of the Northeast Eurasian Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) Population during the Holocene

Boulygina

Sharko

Cheprasov

et al. 2022

Genes

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Significant palaeoecological and paleoclimatic changes that took place during Late Pleistocene—Early Holocene transition are considered important factors that led to megafauna extinctions. Unlike many other species, the brown bear (Ursus arctos) has survived this geological time. Despite the fact that several mitochondrial DNA clades of brown bears became extinct at the end of the Pleistocene, this species is still widely distributed in Northeast Eurasia. Here, using the ancient DNA analysis of a brown bear individual that inhabited Northeast Asia in the Middle Holocene (3460 ± 40 years BP) and comparative phylogenetic analysis, we show a significant mitochondrial DNA similarity of the studied specimen with modern brown bears inhabiting Yakutia and Chukotka. In this study, we clearly demonstrate the maternal philopatry of the Northeastern Eurasian U. arctos population during the several thousand years of the Holocene.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ancient DNA Reveals Maternal Philopatry of the Northeast Eurasian Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) Population during the Holocene

Boulygina

Sharko

Cheprasov

et al. 2022

Genes

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…There are also abundant anecdotal accounts of Inuit sightings of grizzly bears in Nunavat as early as 1949–1950 (Joint Secretariat, 2015). Thousands of kilometers distant, a grizzly bear was recently spotted on Wrangell Island, Russia (Bably et al, 2022).…”

Section: Unprecedented Sighting Of Grizzly Bears To the North East An...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Contribution of hybridization between polar bears and grizzly bears to polar bear extinction

Shafer

2023

Wildlife Letters

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This review explores whether recent hybridization events between polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) will eventually contribute to the extinction of the modern polar bear. In April 2006, genetic analysis of an odd‐looking bear killed in the Northwest Territories, Canada, revealed this specimen to be a polar bear–grizzly bear hybrid, and additional hybrid bears were harvested beginning in April 2010. These events have been sensationalized by some in the media, who have speculated that the modern polar bear may become extinct due to crossbreeding with grizzly bears. Although studies support the introgression of brown bear genes into the polar bear genome during the Pleistocene, no evidence supports the occurrence of a similar event today. Even if such an introgression event occurred, hybrids evolving rapidly enough to adapt to ongoing sea ice depletion is not scientifically plausible. The loss of genetic integrity and modified morphology due to inbreeding between polar bears and grizzly bears are not considered threats to polar bear survival. As many scientists have stressed for decades, the greatest threat to the survival of the modern polar bear is sea ice depletion due to climate change.

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First evidence of a brown bear on Wrangel Island, Russia

Cited by 2 publications

References 36 publications

Ancient DNA Reveals Maternal Philopatry of the Northeast Eurasian Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) Population during the Holocene

Ancient DNA Reveals Maternal Philopatry of the Northeast Eurasian Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) Population during the Holocene

Contribution of hybridization between polar bears and grizzly bears to polar bear extinction

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