Research methodology

To learn about brown bears behavior, how they move through and use the landscape and habitat, what they eat and if their diet changed over last centuries, where they rest, how long they sleep during the winter or maybe why some of them stay active, how far they move and disperse, how they respond to human activities and pressure on the environment, we need to use various research techniques, including radio- and GPS-telemetry, stable isotope analyses, hormonal analyses. We will also try to study human-bear relations using methods used in social sciences and economy.

GPS telemetry

Telemetry requires capturing and immobilizing bears so they can be equipped with a collar which allows to take bear’s position. Captures are done from helicopter and using box and Aldrich traps with an alarm system. During immobilization we take measures and samples according to established protocols to assess the bear’s condition. We use GPS-GSM-VHF collars with a drop-off […]

Stable isotope analyses

Some elements on Earth occur in more than one stable form, called isotopes. Stable isotopes are distinct from radioactive isotopes in that they do not decay over time. Stable isotopes are atoms of a particular chemical element which differ in the number of neutrons, while maintaining the same number of protons. For example, carbon occurs in […]

Hormonal analyses of short- and long-term stress

Stress is a measure of an animal response (behavioral and physiological) to changes in its environment. It can be measured directly by looking at changes in concentrations of glucocorticoids (GC, e.g. cortisol). This is the focus of recently wide developed and successfully used endocrinology methods in conservation-related field research. […]

Socio-economic analyses of human-bear relations

Stated preference methods have long been an invaluable research tool in understanding consumer behaviour, and their popularity has increased further in recent years. Stated preference methods identify behavioural responses in hypothetical settings which are not revealed in the market, or where the attribute levels offered by existing choices are modified to such an […]