Seasonal patterns in the physiology of the European brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos) in Finland

Abstract

The physiological indicators such as body temperature, blood chemistry and hematology of seven European brown bears (Ursus arctos arctos) were used in the present study. They were kept in either the Zoological Garden of University of Oulu (65 degrees N, 25 degrees 24'E) or the Ranua Zoological Garden approx. 150 km NE of Oulu. Transmitters with a temperature-dependent pulse rate were implanted subcutaneously or into the abdominal cavity under anesthesia. Our data indicate that the body temperature of the bear decreases during the winter sleep to 4-5 degrees C below the normal level (37.0-37.5 degrees C). The lowest values, 33.1-33.3 degrees C, were measured several times in midwinter. Hematocrit, hemoglobin and erythrocyte counts seem to be higher, and the leucocyte count lower during the denning period than in the awake bear. Plasma N-wastes were lower during the winter sleep than before or after it. The analysed blood parameters showed that plasma catecholamines and thyroid hormones decreased in the fall.