{"id":2582,"date":"2024-07-15T14:44:51","date_gmt":"2024-07-15T14:44:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=2582"},"modified":"2024-10-17T17:30:48","modified_gmt":"2024-10-17T17:30:48","slug":"innovative-burr-on-fur-trackers-shed-light-on-polar-bear-behavior","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/innovative-burr-on-fur-trackers-shed-light-on-polar-bear-behavior\/","title":{"rendered":"Innovative &#8216;Burr on Fur&#8217; Trackers Shed Light on Polar Bear Behavior"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">A cutting-edge tracking innovation is set to revolutionize polar bear research. York University and its partners have developed &#8216;burr on fur&#8217; trackers, offering unprecedented insights into these majestic creatures&#8217; behavior and energy conservation strategies.<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0dfbf163 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px;\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>A groundbreaking advancement in wildlife tracking, <a href=\"https:\/\/animalbiotelemetry.biomedcentral.com\/articles\/10.1186\/s40317-024-00373-2\" title=\"\">published<\/a> in the journal Animal Biotelemetry,  is shedding new light on the elusive behavior of polar bears, thanks to a collaborative effort led by York University. Partnering with the University of Alberta, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Manitoba Sustainable Development, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, and Polar Bears International, the researchers have unveiled new &#8220;burr on fur&#8221; trackers designed to non-invasively study these Arctic giants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The innovative &#8220;burr on fur&#8221; technology involves small devices that adhere to the fur of the bears, much like traditional burrs from plants. These trackers confirmed longstanding hypotheses that subadult and adult male polar bears primarily spend their time on land, conserving energy by remaining relatively inactive until the sea ice returns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Such insights are critically important because they provide detailed knowledge about the energy conservation strategies polar bears employ during ice-free periods. This understanding is crucial for developing more effective conservation strategies, especially as climate change continues to reduce the number of ice-covered days each year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>York University&#8217;s multidisciplinary team tested three different tracker prototypes to assess their effectiveness. This rigorous approach ensures precise data collection and reliability, which is vital for ongoing research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSuccessfully attaching telemetry tags to polar bear fur has never been done before, and we\u2019re excited to share the results of this innovative work,\u201d Tyler Ross, the study&#8217;s lead author and a researcher at York University&#8217;s Faculty of Science, said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yorku.ca\/news\/2024\/07\/10\/breakthrough-wildlife-tracking-technology-that-adheres-to-fur-delivers-promising-results-from-trials-on-wild-polar-bears\/\" title=\"\">news release<\/a>. \u201cThe fur tags showed great promise and give researchers the ability to study the behaviors and movements of polar bears that we have very little data on, like subadult and adult male bears.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:21px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"297\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Polar-Bear-research-1024x297.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2604\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Polar-Bear-research-1024x297.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Polar-Bear-research-300x87.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Polar-Bear-research-768x223.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Polar-Bear-research.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>Credit:<\/em> York University researcher Tyler Ross, Polar Bear International<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:6px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Polar bears are increasingly threatened by climate change, with the shrinking ice caps limiting their ability to hunt seals, their primary food source. As a result, they are forced to spend more time on land, where food is scarce. By using these innovative trackers, scientists can gather data that aids in understanding how these animals are adapting to their rapidly changing environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The development of the &#8220;burr on fur&#8221; trackers marks a significant leap forward in wildlife research technology. It not only minimizes the stress and disturbance to the animals compared to traditional collar trackers but also offers a more detailed and accurate picture of their behavior and movement patterns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The collaborative nature of this project highlights the importance of interdisciplinary efforts in addressing global environmental challenges. The data collected through this new tracking method will be invaluable in informing policies and conservation strategies aimed at protecting polar bear populations, which are symbolically linked to the broader issues of climate change and environmental preservation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOur results are an important step in better understanding the movements and behavior of polar bears, especially adult male bears, which are difficult to track because they can\u2019t be fitted with satellite collars,\u201d Gregory Thiemann, the study&#8217;s co-author and associate professor of York University&#8217;s Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change, who is an expert in the ecology of polar bears and Arctic marine mammals, said in the news release. &#8220;Temporary, fur-mounted tags could also help track the movements of bears relocated after potentially coming into conflict with people, making these tags an important tool for conserving polar bears and keeping northern communities safe.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In conclusion, the introduction of &#8220;burr on fur&#8221; trackers represents a pivotal moment in polar bear research. This innovation could profoundly impact how scientists study and understand polar bear behavior, ultimately contributing to the species&#8217; conservation in an era of unprecedented environmental change.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A groundbreaking advancement in wildlife tracking, published in the journal Animal Biotelemetry, is shedding new light on the elusive behavior of polar bears, thanks to a collaborative effort led by York University. Partnering with the University of Alberta, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Manitoba Sustainable Development, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, and Polar [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2582","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tech"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"A groundbreaking advancement in wildlife tracking, published in the journal Animal Biotelemetry, is shedding new light on the elusive behavior of polar bears, thanks to a collaborative effort led by York University. Partnering with the University of Alberta, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Manitoba Sustainable Development, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, and Polar&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2582","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2582"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2582\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2617,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2582\/revisions\/2617"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2582"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2582"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2582"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}