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Genetic studies confirm that American black bears are closely related to brown bears, having diverged from a common ancestor relatively recently.
Answer: False
Explanation: Genetic studies indicate that American black bears are not closely related to brown bears; instead, they are considered sister taxa to Asian black bears, having diverged approximately 4.08 million years ago.
American black bears are reproductively isolated and cannot produce hybrid offspring with other bear species.
Answer: False
Explanation: American black bears are reproductively compatible with several other bear species and have produced hybrid offspring, both in captivity and, in some suspected cases, in the wild.
The Kermode bear is unique because approximately 10% of its population has white or cream-colored coats due to a dominant gene.
Answer: False
Explanation: Approximately 10% of the Kermode bear population has white or cream-colored coats, but this is due to a recessive gene, not a dominant one.
The East Mexican black bear is considered critically endangered with very low numbers in Mexico.
Answer: True
Explanation: The East Mexican black bear is indeed classified as critically endangered, with its population in Mexico presumed to be very low.
The Newfoundland black bear is generally smaller than its mainland relatives and has one of the shortest hibernation periods in North America.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Newfoundland black bear is generally larger than its mainland relatives and is noted for having one of the longest, not shortest, hibernation periods in North America.
The Cinnamon bear (*Ursus americanus cinnamomum*) is distinguished by its brown or reddish-brown fur.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Cinnamon bear subspecies is indeed characterized by its distinctive brown or reddish-brown fur coloration.
The Eastern black bear (*Ursus americanus americanus*) is a small-bodied subspecies with a high percentage of cinnamon-colored fur.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Eastern black bear is a large-bodied subspecies, and almost all specimens have black fur, not a high percentage of cinnamon-colored fur.
The Glacier bear (*Ursus americanus emmonsii*) is known for its fur being silvery-gray with a blue luster, particularly on its flanks.
Answer: True
Explanation: The Glacier bear is uniquely identified by its distinctive silvery-gray fur with a blue luster, especially noticeable on its flanks.
The Louisiana black bear (*Ursus americanus luteolus*) primarily inhabits mountainous regions and its subspecies validity is widely accepted.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Louisiana black bear prefers hardwood bottom forests and bayous, not mountainous regions, and the validity of this subspecies has been repeatedly disputed.
The Dall Island black bear (*Ursus americanus pugnax*) is found across several islands in the Alexander Archipelago.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Dall Island black bear is exclusively found on Dall Island, not across several islands, within the Alexander Archipelago.
What is the scientific name for the American black bear?
Answer: *Ursus americanus*
Explanation: The scientific name for the American black bear is *Ursus americanus*, distinguishing it from other bear species.
Genetic studies indicate that American black bears are considered sister taxa to which other bear species?
Answer: Asian black bears
Explanation: Genetic research has established that American black bears are sister taxa to Asian black bears, indicating a closer evolutionary relationship than with other bear species in North America.
Approximately how long ago did the American black bear split from the Asian black bear?
Answer: 4.08 million years ago
Explanation: The American black bear diverged from the Asian black bear approximately 4.08 million years ago, according to genetic and fossil evidence.
Which of the following is a documented instance of American black bears producing hybrid offspring?
Answer: With Asian black bears in captivity
Explanation: American black bears have been documented to produce hybrid offspring with Asian black bears in captive environments, demonstrating their reproductive compatibility.
How many subspecies of American black bears are traditionally recognized?
Answer: Sixteen
Explanation: Traditionally, sixteen subspecies of American black bears are recognized, although genetic studies have questioned the distinctness of some.
What is a distinguishing characteristic of the Haida Gwaii black bear subspecies?
Answer: It is found exclusively in a black color phase.
Explanation: The Haida Gwaii black bear subspecies is notably found exclusively in a black color phase, distinguishing it from other subspecies that exhibit varied coat colors.
What percentage of the Kermode bear population typically has white or cream-colored coats?
Answer: Approximately 10%
Explanation: Approximately 10% of the Kermode bear population exhibits white or cream-colored coats, a unique trait caused by a recessive gene.
Where is the East Mexican black bear primarily found?
Answer: Northeastern Mexico and the U.S. borderlands with Texas
Explanation: The critically endangered East Mexican black bear is primarily found in northeastern Mexico and the U.S. borderlands with Texas, including areas like Big Bend National Park.
What is a distinguishing feature of the Cinnamon bear (*Ursus americanus cinnamomum*)?
Answer: Its brown or reddish-brown fur
Explanation: The Cinnamon bear subspecies is readily identified by its characteristic brown or reddish-brown fur, which gives it its common name.
Where is the Olympic black bear (*Ursus americanus altifrontalis*) distributed?
Answer: Along the Pacific Northwest coast from central British Columbia through northern California
Explanation: The Olympic black bear subspecies is distributed along the Pacific Northwest coast, extending from central British Columbia down through northern California, and inland to parts of Idaho and British Columbia.
What is a key characteristic of the Eastern black bear (*Ursus americanus americanus*)?
Answer: Almost all specimens have black fur.
Explanation: The Eastern black bear is a large-bodied subspecies, and nearly all individuals within this subspecies exhibit black fur.
What is the distinguishing feature of the Glacier bear (*Ursus americanus emmonsii*)?
Answer: Its fur being silvery-gray with a blue luster
Explanation: The Glacier bear is uniquely characterized by its fur, which displays a distinctive silvery-gray coloration with a blue luster, particularly on its flanks.
Where is the Dall Island black bear (*Ursus americanus pugnax*) exclusively found?
Answer: On Dall Island in the Alexander Archipelago
Explanation: The Dall Island black bear subspecies is endemic to Dall Island, located within the Alexander Archipelago of Alaska.
American black bears can be distinguished from brown bears by their prominent shoulder hump and longer claws.
Answer: False
Explanation: American black bears lack the prominent shoulder hump and have shorter claws compared to brown bears, which are distinguishing features of the latter.
A 54 kg American black bear was observed flipping flat rocks weighing over 140 kg with a single foreleg, demonstrating their physical strength.
Answer: True
Explanation: This observation highlights the remarkable physical strength of American black bears, as documented in the source material.
American black bears have poor eyesight but can run at speeds up to 60 km/h.
Answer: False
Explanation: American black bears possess good eyesight and can run at speeds of 40 to 48 km/h (25 to 30 mph), not up to 60 km/h.
The weight of American black bears can increase by 30% in autumn compared to spring due to hyperphagia before denning.
Answer: True
Explanation: American black bears undergo hyperphagia in autumn, leading to a significant increase in their body weight, up to 30% more than their spring weight, in preparation for hibernation.
All American black bears have jet black fur, which is why they are named 'black bears.'
Answer: False
Explanation: Despite their name, American black bears exhibit a wide range of coat colors, including white, blonde, cinnamon, and various shades of brown, in addition to black.
The American black bear's sense of smell is approximately seven times less sensitive than that of a domestic dog.
Answer: False
Explanation: The American black bear's sense of smell is exceptionally keen, being about seven times more sensitive than that of a domestic dog.
What is the average weight of an adult male Florida black bear?
Answer: 136 kg (300 lb)
Explanation: An adult male Florida black bear typically weighs an average of 136 kg (300 lb).
Which of the following is a key physical difference distinguishing American black bears from brown bears?
Answer: American black bears are smaller in size.
Explanation: American black bears are generally smaller than brown bears and lack the prominent shoulder hump characteristic of brown bears.
What is the typical range for an adult American black bear's head-and-body length?
Answer: 120 to 200 cm (47 to 79 in)
Explanation: Adult American black bears typically have a head-and-body length ranging from 120 to 200 cm (47 to 79 in).
How much less do adult female American black bears typically weigh compared to adult males?
Answer: About 33% less
Explanation: Adult female American black bears typically weigh approximately 33% less than adult males.
Which of the following is a characteristic that distinguishes American black bear fur from Asian black bear fur?
Answer: American black bear skins lack a white blaze on the chest.
Explanation: American black bear skins can be distinguished from Asian black bear skins by the absence of a prominent white blaze on the chest, which is often present in Asian black bears.
In which regions do black coats typically predominate among American black bears?
Answer: Humid areas like Maine and New York
Explanation: Black coats are more prevalent among American black bears in humid regions such as Maine, New England, New York, Tennessee, Michigan, and western Washington.
How much more sensitive is the American black bear's sense of smell compared to a domestic dog's?
Answer: Seven times as sensitive
Explanation: The American black bear possesses an exceptionally acute sense of smell, estimated to be about seven times more sensitive than that of a domestic dog.
The American black bear is classified by the IUCN as an endangered species due to its restricted distribution.
Answer: False
Explanation: The IUCN classifies the American black bear as a 'least-concern species' due to its widespread distribution and large population, not as endangered.
The American black bear's ability to exploit a wide variety of foods, known as generalist behavior, was crucial for its survival during the last Ice Age.
Answer: True
Explanation: The American black bear's generalist behavior, which allowed it to adapt to diverse food sources, is recognized as a key factor in its survival through the last Ice Age.
American black bears living near human habitations tend to be more diurnal to avoid human interaction.
Answer: False
Explanation: American black bears living near human habitations tend to be more nocturnal, likely as an adaptation to avoid human interaction.
The average annual survival rate for American black bears in Florida is higher than in Virginia and North Carolina.
Answer: True
Explanation: Data indicates that the average annual survival rate for American black bears in Florida is 86%, which is indeed higher than the 73% reported for Virginia and North Carolina.
According to the IUCN, what is the conservation status of the American black bear?
Answer: Least-concern species
Explanation: The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the American black bear as a 'least-concern species' due to its robust population and wide distribution.
What characteristic of the American black bear is cited as a reason for its survival through the last Ice Age?
Answer: Its generalist behavior
Explanation: The American black bear's generalist behavior, allowing it to adapt to a wide range of food sources and environmental changes, was crucial for its survival during the last Ice Age.
What happens to an American black bear's arboreal abilities as it ages?
Answer: They tend to diminish.
Explanation: While American black bears are adept climbers, their arboreal abilities generally diminish as they age.
Up to 85% of the American black bear's diet consists of vegetation, and they tend to dig more for roots and tubers than brown bears.
Answer: False
Explanation: While up to 85% of their diet is vegetation, American black bears tend to dig significantly less for roots and tubers compared to brown bears.
In autumn, hard mast like hazelnuts, oak acorns, and whitebark pine nuts become crucial food sources for American black bears.
Answer: True
Explanation: During autumn, hard mast, including hazelnuts, oak acorns, and whitebark pine nuts, are vital food sources for American black bears as they prepare for hibernation.
White-furred Kermode bears have a 30% greater success rate in catching salmon than their black-furred counterparts.
Answer: True
Explanation: Studies have shown that the white fur of Kermode bears provides a significant advantage in salmon fishing, leading to a 30% higher success rate compared to black-furred individuals.
American black bears are frequent active predators of large adult animals throughout the year, often hunting adult deer and moose.
Answer: False
Explanation: American black bears are not frequent active predators of large adult animals throughout the year; predation on adult deer is rare, though they may occasionally hunt adult female moose.
In Labrador, American black bears are primarily herbivorous, subsisting mainly on available plant life due to a lack of large carnivore competition.
Answer: False
Explanation: American black bears in Labrador are exceptionally carnivorous, primarily preying on caribou and rodents, a dietary adaptation attributed to scarce plant life and a lack of competing large carnivores in the sub-Arctic region.
What type of diet does the American black bear primarily have?
Answer: Omnivore
Explanation: The American black bear is an omnivore, meaning its diet consists of both plant and animal matter, varying significantly with season and location.
What constitutes the majority of the American black bear's diet?
Answer: Vegetation
Explanation: Up to 85% of the American black bear's diet consists of various forms of vegetation, making it a predominantly herbivorous omnivore.
What is a crucial food source for American black bears during autumn hyperphagia?
Answer: Hard mast like oak acorns and hazelnuts
Explanation: During autumn, American black bears engage in hyperphagia, consuming hundreds of hard mast items daily, such as oak acorns, hazelnuts, and whitebark pine nuts, to build fat reserves for winter.
How do American black bears typically handle the remains of their kills?
Answer: They often drag prey to cover and strip back the skin, leaving the skeleton largely intact.
Explanation: American black bears typically drag their prey to secluded locations, where they strip back the skin and consume the viscera, often leaving the skeleton largely intact.
American black bear cubs are born with fully developed hindquarters and open their eyes within a few days.
Answer: False
Explanation: American black bear cubs are born with underdeveloped hindquarters and typically open their eyes only after 28-40 days.
What is the typical gestation period for American black bears after delayed development of fertilized eggs?
Answer: 235 days
Explanation: Following delayed implantation, the gestation period for American black bears typically lasts 235 days, with cubs born in late winter.
At what age do American black bear cubs typically achieve independence from their mother?
Answer: 16-18 months
Explanation: American black bear cubs typically remain dependent on their mother for milk for about 30 weeks and achieve full independence between 16 and 18 months of age.
What is the record age for an American black bear in the wild?
Answer: 39 years
Explanation: While the average lifespan in the wild is 18 years, the oldest recorded American black bear in the wild lived to be 39 years old.
During hibernation, an American black bear's body temperature drops significantly to near freezing, and they enter a deep, unresponsive sleep.
Answer: False
Explanation: During hibernation, an American black bear's body temperature does not drop significantly, remaining around 35 °C (95 °F), and they remain somewhat alert rather than entering a deep, unresponsive sleep.
Hibernating American black bears experience significant muscle and bone atrophy, similar to other inactive animals.
Answer: False
Explanation: Unlike many inactive animals, hibernating American black bears exhibit remarkable muscle and bone conservation, losing only about half the muscular strength of an inactive human and showing no change in bone mass or composition.
Leptin is released into a hibernating bear's system to suppress its appetite, allowing it to fast for months.
Answer: True
Explanation: Leptin plays a crucial role in regulating the appetite of hibernating bears, enabling them to endure prolonged periods without food.
What physiological change occurs in American black bears during hibernation regarding their heart rate?
Answer: It drops from 40-50 to 8 beats per minute.
Explanation: During hibernation, an American black bear's heart rate significantly decreases from a resting rate of 40-50 beats per minute to as low as 8 beats per minute.
What is the primary role of leptin in hibernating American black bears?
Answer: To suppress their appetite.
Explanation: Leptin is a hormone released into a hibernating bear's system that acts to suppress its appetite, enabling it to fast for extended periods.
Which group of bears typically emerges first from hibernation?
Answer: Mature males
Explanation: Mature male American black bears are typically the first to emerge from hibernation, followed by immature males and females, and then mothers with cubs.
The primary cause of mortality for adult American black bears is predation by large carnivores like brown bears and gray wolf packs.
Answer: False
Explanation: Adult American black bears are rarely subject to natural predation; their primary causes of mortality are human activities such as legal hunting, poaching, and auto collisions.
American black bears are typically dominant over grizzly bears and gray wolf packs in disputes over carcasses.
Answer: False
Explanation: American black bears are subordinate to larger grizzly bears and frequently lose disputes over kills to gray wolf packs.
Female American black bears are highly protective of their cubs and are more likely to attack humans near them than female brown bears.
Answer: False
Explanation: Unlike female brown bears, female American black bears are less protective of their cubs and rarely attack humans near them.
The closure of open garbage dumps and cessation of human food handouts in national parks have been effective in reducing aggressive encounters between American black bears and humans.
Answer: True
Explanation: These measures have proven effective in mitigating human-bear conflicts by reducing the bears' reliance on human-provided food sources.
In interactions over carcasses, how do American black bears typically fare against grizzly bears?
Answer: They are subordinate to larger grizzly bears.
Explanation: American black bears are generally subordinate to larger grizzly bears in disputes over carcasses and often avoid direct competition by utilizing different habitats or activity patterns.
What is a common motivation for American black bear attacks on humans?
Answer: Hunger
Explanation: Most American black bear attacks on humans are motivated by hunger, particularly when bears are habituated to human food sources or are in poor physical condition.
What was a significant factor in reducing aggressive encounters between American black bears and humans in national parks?
Answer: Closure of open garbage dumps
Explanation: The closure of open garbage dumps, which previously attracted bears to human areas, significantly reduced aggressive encounters between American black bears and humans in national parks.
Bear fat was historically valued as a cosmetic article, believed to promote hair growth, but its use has declined due to animal rights activism.
Answer: True
Explanation: Historically, bear fat was prized for its perceived cosmetic benefits, particularly for hair, but its use has diminished due to the influence of animal rights movements.
The fictional character Winnie-the-Pooh was named after a male American black bear cub named Pooh, who lived in a Canadian zoo.
Answer: False
Explanation: Winnie-the-Pooh was named after Winnipeg, a female American black bear cub that resided at the London Zoo.
The American black bear serves as the mascot for both the University of Maine and Baylor University.
Answer: True
Explanation: Both the University of Maine and Baylor University have adopted the American black bear as their official mascot, with Baylor notably housing live bears on campus.
What was the historical use of bear fat that has declined due to animal rights activism?
Answer: As a cosmetic article for hair growth
Explanation: Historically, bear fat was valued as a cosmetic, particularly for promoting hair growth, but its use has diminished due to increased awareness and animal rights activism.
Which famous fictional character was named after a real-life American black bear cub?
Answer: Winnie-the-Pooh
Explanation: The beloved fictional character Winnie-the-Pooh was named after Winnipeg, a real-life female American black bear cub that resided at the London Zoo.
What was the role of a cub from the Capitan Gap Fire in 1950?
Answer: It became the living representative of Smokey Bear.
Explanation: A cub rescued from the Capitan Gap Fire in 1950 became the living embodiment of Smokey Bear, the enduring symbol of forest fire prevention.
Which university notably houses two live American black bears on its campus as mascots?
Answer: Baylor University
Explanation: Baylor University is notable for housing two live American black bears on its campus, serving as its official mascots.