Photo: Daniel J. Cox / Natural Exposures

Building a Polar Bear Pedigree

A detailed polar bear family tree tells us how genes flow and how genetic diversity may contribute to the species’ long-term survival.

Why it Matters

Understanding polar bears’ genetic diversity tells us about their chances for survival over time.

We can also gain insights into behaviours, for example if undesirable actions like approaching human settlements are learned from their mothers or inherited (or both).

This work is the first of its kind for polar bears, offering incredible insights into what the future indeed looks like for this species in different areas of the Arctic.

The Impact

As a result of long-term research in Western Hudson Bay led by Environment and Climate Change Canada, researchers have been able to develop a pedigree containing over 4,300 individuals spanning six generations of bears.

Some findings from this ground-breaking research include:

Insights into mating: males between 10-18 years old do most of the mating, and cubs in the same litter may have different fathers
The first evidence of identical twins in any bear species
Cases of polar bear mothers adopting cubs that are unrelated

Project Partners

Environment and Climate Change Canada, the University of Manitoba, and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.