 |
|
New study changes conditions for Spanish brown bears
March 19, 2008Brown bears from the Iberian Peninsula are not as genetically different from other brown bears in Europe as was previously thought. An international study being published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, PNAS, shows that, on the contrary, the Spanish bear was only recently isolated from other European strains. These findings shed new light on the discussion of how to save the population of Spanish bears.
The researchers extracted DNA and determined the gene sequence of bears from prehistoric material, primarily from the Iberian Peninsula. Some of the material was as much as 80,000 years old. When the data material was analyzed, what emerged was a totally unexpected pattern.
"We expected to be able to follow the Spanish brown bear far back in time, but we found to our amazement that it had genetic material from bears in other parts of Europe. In fact, it seems that the Spanish bear was isolated for the first time in our own time," says doctoral student Cristina Valdiosera, who performed most of the laboratory and analytical work.
"These bears have possibly been isolated in Spain for a few thousand years, which is a very short period in an evolutionary perspective. In other words, there has been a flow of genes to and from the Iberian Peninsula throughout most of the time brown bears have been there. This is extremely interesting data when we discuss transporting bears from other areas to Spain for the purpose of preservation," says Anders Götherstam, who directed the study.
The number of bears on the Iberian Peninsula is limited, with the population divided into two small groups in the north. In-breeding and genetic depletion constitutes a serious threat to the bears' survival in this area. For preservation purposes, the possibility of introducing bears from other areas to the Iberian Peninsula has been discussed, but it has been objected that this would entail the extinction of the genetically unique Iberian bear. It has also been feared that bears from other areas are not as well adapted to the living conditions on the Iberian Peninsula as the Spanish bears are.
"But since there has never been a genetically isolated brown bear on the Iberian Peninsula until very recently, these arguments can be questioned," says Anders Götherstam.
Uppsala University
"These bears have possibly been isolated in Spain for a few thousand years, which is a very short period in an evolutionary perspective. In other words, there has been a flow of genes to and from the Iberian Peninsula throughout most of the time brown bears have been there. This is extremely interesting data when we discuss transporting bears from other areas to Spain for the purpose of preservation," says Anders Götherstam, who directed the study.
The number of bears on the Iberian Peninsula is limited, with the population divided into two small groups in the north. In-breeding and genetic depletion constitutes a serious threat to the bears' survival in this area. For preservation purposes, the possibility of introducing bears from other areas to the Iberian Peninsula has been discussed, but it has been objected that this would entail the extinction of the genetically unique Iberian bear. It has also been feared that bears from other areas are not as well adapted to the living conditions on the Iberian Peninsula as the Spanish bears are.
"But since there has never been a genetically isolated brown bear on the Iberian Peninsula until very recently, these arguments can be questioned," says Anders Götherstam.
Uppsala University
Transhumance helps vulture conservation
Researchers from the University of Segovia and the University of León have shown for the first time the close space-time relationship between the presence of the griffon vulture and transhumant sheep farming in mountain passes.
Northern brown bears discovered feeding on whitefish runs
The discovery of brown (grizzly) bears feeding on migrating broad whitefish in a stream in Mackenzie Delta region of the Northwest Territories has researchers advising increased care in petroleum extraction and infrastructure development within the area.
Eighteen Bear Cubs Leave For Adult Life
This year the brown bear population inhabiting the forests in the vicinity of the town of Tver has been increased by eighteen more bears. The bear population grows up annually thanks to the effort undertaken by Valentin Pazhetnov, Doctor of Biology, and his family. Since 1990 they have been returning back to the natural environment the bears which remained orphans as their mothers had killed in hunting or due to some other sorrowful circumstances. In most cases tiny bear cubs are brought to Valentin Pazhetnov by native inhabitants. The bear `kindergarten` was opened by Valentin Pazhetnov at home (village of Bubonitsy, Tver Region) where he, his wife Svetlana and son Sergey work. They return
More Brown Bear Current Events and Brown Bear News Articles
 |
Brown Bear & Friends Board Book Gift Set by Bill Martin Jr. (Author), Eric Carle (Author) With more than 6.5 million copies sold in board book alone, Bill Martin Jr and Eric Carle’s classic Bear books have been a hit with young children for many generations. Now, for the first time, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?; Polar Bear, Polar Bear,What Do You Hear?; and Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? are available together in a boxed board book gift set—perfect for every baby’s first library. |
 |
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?: 40th Anniversary Edition (Brown Bear and Friends) by Bill Martin Jr. (Author), Eric Carle (Illustrator) With more than two million copies sold, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? has opened up a world of learning to a generation of children. For this edition, created for the twenty-fifth anniversay in 1992, Bill Martin, Jr., restored his text to its original wording. And Eric Carle created all new pictures--based on the originals, but clearer, brighter, and truer to the colors they represent. |
 |
University Games Brown Bear-Panda Bear, What Do You See? Game by University Games Based on Eric Carle's children's books, "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" and "Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?," this game introduces children to the magic of story creation, while helping memory and sequencing skills. After players find all the animal cards needed for their sequence, they recite the popular Eric Carle stories they created. Includes a colorful game board, 4 bear cards, 32 animal cards and instructions. For 2 to 4 players. |
 |
Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See? (Brown Bear and Friends) by Bill Martin Jr. (Author), Eric Carle (Illustrator) Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See? is the final collaboration from this bestselling author-illustrator team. Young readers will enjoy Baby Bear’s quest to find Mama, and they’ll revel in identifying each of the native North American animals that appear along the way. The central focus on the special bond between mother and child makes a fitting finale to a beloved series. These groundbreaking picture books have been teaching children to read for over forty years, and their consistently strong sales prove their staying power and continued applicability for today’s kids. A Children’s Book-of-the-Month Club Main Selection |
 |
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? (Brown Bear and Friends) by Bill Martin Jr. (Author), Eric Carle (Illustrator) Children are encouraged to guess what the big, fluffy, white polar bear is hearing in a colorful successor to Brown Bear that is complemented by artwork by an award-winning illustrator. |
 |
Brown Bear & Friends CD by Bill Martin Jr. (Author), Eric Carle (Author), Gwyneth Paltrow (Reader) Bill Martin Jr and Eric Carle’s classic Bear books have been a hit with children for many generations, and have sold more than eleven million copies. This wonderful compilation CD brings together the beloved first three Bear books—Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?; Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?; and Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?—and includes the newest addition, Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See? The stories are read with warmth and humor by Academy Award-winning actress and mother Gwyneth Paltrow. |
 |
Eric Carle Brown Bear Touch 'N Read Block by Small World Toys Whimsical Eric Carle Illustrations and interactive technology combine to create his huggable, touch-activated teaching toy - the Brown Bear Touch 'N Read Block. With one gentle press of the images from the Brown Bear, Brown Bear book, children will be delighted to learn about the animal they see. Ages 2+ |
 |
Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? (Brown Bear and Friends) by Bill Martin Jr. (Author), Eric Carle (Illustrator) New big books to share with a group! Big books are ideal for use with a large group—they are oversized at 14-1/2 x 18 inches. A perfect way to enjoy Holt favorites with many children at once! A collection of endangered animals appear in Bill Martin Jr’s rhythmic text with Eric Carle’s vibrant images, and all are watched over by our best hope for the future—a dreaming child. Also available in big book format: The Colors of UsBy Karen Katz Here are My HandsBy Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault, illustrated by Ted Rand In the Small, Small PondBy Denise... |
 |
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill/ Carle, Eric (ILT) Martin (Author) |
 |
My Very First Library by Eric Carle (Author), Eric Carle (Illustrator) Here is the perfect gift for young children learning their colors, shapes, and numbers. All four of Eric Carle’s popular new split-page board books are now packaged together in a slipcased library. A game as well as a learning experience, these early concept books are both fun and smart. Children can turn the top pages independently from the bottom pages, creating a matching game that offers all the charm of Eric Carle’s bright collage illustrations. Collected here are My Very First Book of Colors, My Very First Book of Shapes, My Very First Book of Numbers, and My Very First Book of Words. Irresistible fun for young hands and minds! |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |