Project AnthroBear PAN.BFB.S.BDN.617.022.2021: “Assessing population-level consequences of anthropogenic pressure: long-term stress and reproduction indices in brown bear populations in a gradient of human disturbances” has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 847639 and from the Ministry of Education and Science, within the frames of PASIFIC program. Project is hosted by the Institute of Nature Conservation of Polish Academy of Sciences in Krakow, led by Dr Gulam Nabi and supervised Dr Agnieszka Sergiel.
Project started on 01.03.2022 and will last till 28.02.2024.
Main project goals is to reveal the histophysiology of adrenal glands and gonads in free-ranging brown bears in relation to stress and reproductive hormones concentrations in the hairs and tissues and to investigate the impact of human settlements and anthropogenic activities on the physiological stress and reproductive hormones indices in free-ranging brown bear. We hope that AnthroBear project will develop a complementary approach to assess the basic vital physiological phenomenon and physiological responses to escalating anthropogenic activities. It will constitute a reference that may additionally inspire further research and be used in other species. This project will also provide valuable insights into long-term implications of altered physiological responses in management and conservations strategies.