INBREEDING DEPRESSION IN BROWN BEAR URSUS-ARCTOS

This note reports the occurrence of inbreeding depression in a captive brown bear Ursus arctos population. We analyzed studbook records of b rown bears bred in Nordic toes and found a significant reduction in li tter size following an increase of inbreeding. In addition, albinism i s associated with inbreeding in this population. The amount of depress ion is compared to that found in other species. Our results are in dis agreement with the contention that mammalian carnivores are adapted to close inbreeding.