Interactions between free-ranging, adult male polar bears (Ursus maritimus Phipps): a case of adult social play

1981 ◽  
Vol 59 (9) ◽  
pp. 1775-1783 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul B. Latour
Keyword(s):  
Social Interaction ◽  
Adult Male ◽  
Annual Cycle ◽  
Intraspecific Competition ◽  
Social Play ◽  
Polar Bears ◽  
Dyadic Interactions ◽  
Socialization Process ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Motor Acts

I observed 73 dyadic interactions (bouts) between adult male polar bears (> 6 years) at Cape Churchill, Manitoba, from 4 October to 9 November 1978. All bouts involved at least one marked bear. I classified these bouts as social play and in this paper I discuss the criteria used for this classification. Social play bouts were composed of discrete motor acts and showed some predictability and structure. Two bouting bears respond to one another in a predictable manner as indicated by the mutuality of initiator-receiver acts. Structuring was suggested by a major three-act sequence for both initiators and receivers. Aggressive acts were found to be characteristic of initiators; the less aggressive, withdrawing acts were characteristic of receivers. The results are interpreted from both the structuralist and functionalist approaches to social play. I hypothesize that social play between adult male polar bears during the noncompetitive period of their annual cycle serves as a socialization process facilitating both opponent assessment and the refinement of social interaction. Both of these are probably important at times of the year when intraspecific competition is more intense.

scholarly journals Friendship or Competition? Symmetry in Social Play within the Two Packs of German Shepherd Puppies

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1627
Author(s):  
Jana Kottferová ◽  
Lenka Skurková ◽  
Lýdia Mesarčová ◽  
Lenka Lešková ◽  
Alena Demeová ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Social Play ◽  
Domestic Dogs ◽  
Chest Circumference ◽  
Dyadic Interactions ◽  
German Shepherd ◽  
Play Interactions ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Competition Symmetry

The symmetry of social play in Canids has been previously studied, especially in wolves, free-ranging dogs, and within mixed-aged groups, however our study focused on symmetry and asymmetry within play interactions in two litters (14 puppies) of German Shepherd dogs (GSDs). At the age of 7 weeks, we evaluated 1287 dyadic interactions (litter 1: n = 339 interactions, litter 2: n = 948 interactions), and at the age of 9 weeks we evaluated 1255 dyadic interactions (litter 1: n = 433 interactions, litter 2: n = 822 interactions). Dyadic interactions were observed and the winning indexes were calculated for 43 pairs (dyads). The groups of puppies studied were all the same age, therefore we focused on the aspects of sex and body size as primary variables. The weight and chest circumference of all puppies were measured. The distribution of interactions showed a slight inclination to mixed-sex dyads, but we did not obtain any statistically significant results concerning the impact of body size on play interactions. Symmetry in play was observed within litter 1 at the age of 7 weeks and at the age of 9 weeks, and within litter 2 at the age of 7 weeks. Since the number of puppies in this study was too small, these results should be interpreted regarding this limitation, and cannot be generalized to a larger population of domestic dogs nor the GSD breed. In further studies, it would be interesting to compare larger samples of different breeds, under different breeding conditions, and the effect of the environment on the style of social play.

Some Normative Data on Preschool Children's Social Behaviours

1986 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-47
Author(s):  
Keith D. Ballard ◽  
Terence J. Crooks
Keyword(s):  
Social Interaction ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Normative Data ◽  
Social Validity ◽  
Social Play ◽  
Social Involvement ◽  
Repeated Observation ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Behaviours

Data on rate and qualitative features of social interactions and on peer social involvement in play were obtained from repeated observation measures taken across 14 to 23 weeks on two children randomly selected from each of 6 kindergartens. Session-by-session variability was found to be a feature of the social interaction and social play data, and there was evidence that social behaviours may vary systematically across different kindergarten settings. A case is made for obtaining normative data in each setting of interest in order to identify atypical behaviour and to evaluate the social validity of intervention outcomes.

Age and seasonal variability of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in free-ranging East Greenland polar bears (Ursus maritimus)

2007 ◽  
Vol 146 (1) ◽  
pp. 166-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rune Dietz ◽  
Frank F. Rigét ◽  
Christian Sonne ◽  
Robert J. Letcher ◽  
Sean Backus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers ◽  
Seasonal Variability ◽  
Ursus Maritimus ◽  
Polar Bears ◽  
East Greenland ◽  
Diphenyl Ethers ◽  
Free Ranging

Long-Term Effects of Drugging and Handling Free-Ranging Polar Bears

1986 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malcolm A. Ramsay ◽  
Ian Stirling
Keyword(s):  
Polar Bears ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Free Ranging

An observation of possible cannibalism by polar bears (Ursus maritimus)

1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (6) ◽  
pp. 1516-1517 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. J. Lunn ◽  
G. B. Stenhouse
Keyword(s):  
Adult Female ◽  
Adult Male ◽  
Physical Condition ◽  
Polar Bear ◽  
Ursus Maritimus ◽  
Polar Bears ◽  
Ecological Significance ◽  
Natural Conditions ◽  
Old Adult

We observed a case of cannibalism by a 23-year-old adult male polar bear in very poor physical condition on Southampton Island, N.W.T. It had apparently killed an adult female and was feeding on the carcass. Cannibalism among polar bears does occur under natural conditions. It is difficult to document how often this occurs and of what ecological significance it might be.

scholarly journals Social interaction with an alcohol-intoxicated or cocaine-injected peer selectively alters social behaviors and drinking in adolescent male and female rats

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle M. Gamble ◽  
Chloe C. Josefson ◽  
Mary K. Hennessey ◽  
Ashley M. Davis ◽  
Renee C. Waters ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Interaction ◽  
Alcohol Drinking ◽  
Social Play ◽  
Social Behaviors ◽  
Ethanol Intake ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Adolescent Male ◽  
Saccharin Consumption ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Male And Female Rats

AbstractBackgroundDrinking alcohol is facilitated by social interactions with peers, especially during adolescence. The importance of peer social influences during adolescence on alcohol and substance use have recently received more attention. We have shown that social interaction with an alcohol-intoxicated peer influences adolescent alcohol drinking differently in male and female rats using the demonstrator-observer paradigm. The present set of experiments analyzed the social interaction session to determine behaviors that influence alcohol drinking in adolescent male and female rats.MethodsSpecifically, in experiment one we determined which behaviors were altered during social interaction with an alcohol-intoxicated demonstrator and assessed changes in ethanol intake in adolescent observers. Experiment two examined changes in voluntary saccharin consumption to determine if social interaction with an alcohol-intoxicated demonstrator altered consumption of a palatable solution. In experiment three, we administered a low (5 mg/kg) or high (20 mg/kg) dose of cocaine to the demonstrator and assessed changes in the adolescent observers to determine if social interaction with a ‘drugged’ peer altered social behaviors and voluntary ethanol intake.ResultsWe showed that social interaction with an alcohol-intoxicated demonstrator (1) decreased social play and increased social investigation and social contact in adolescent male and female observers, (2) did not alter non-social behaviors, (3) did not alter saccharin consumption and (4) increased voluntary ethanol intake in adolescent female but not male observers. When the peer was injected with cocaine (1) social play was dose-dependently decreased, (2) there were no changes in other social or non-social behaviors, and (3) voluntary ethanol intake in adolescent male and female observers was unaffected.ConclusionsThe present results are consistent and extend our previous work showing that social interaction with an alcohol-intoxicated peer selectively alters social behaviors and alcohol-drinking in adolescent rats. Females appear to be more sensitive to elevating effects of social interaction on voluntary ethanol consumption.

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