Syngery between the world's two most productive bear research projects

The Scandinavian Brown Bear Research Project (SBBRP) is the world's most projective bear project (perhaps the most productive large carnivore project) (155 scientific publications in refereed international journals and 18 completed PhD degrees). It has b een active since 1984 and has captured more than 750 bears, many of which have been followed from birth to death, creating many generations of pedigrees. I have been invited to spend my sabbatical year from UMB with researchers at the Interagency Grizzly Bear Research Project at Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA and have decided to spend 6 months there. This project has been active since 1975, has captured 650 bears, and has produced 89 scientific publications in refereed international jou rnals and 1 PhD degree. Both projects are management-oriented and provide the scientific basis for the management of brown bears in Scandinavia and grizzly bears (same species) in the Yellowstone Ecosystem, respectively. However, both projects also cond uct basic research that is important for understanding the ecology, life history, and behavior of bears specifically and large carnivores generally. Thus, we have so much in common that we can benefit from close cooperation and by establishing cooperativ e research projects. My primary objective is to start long-term research cooperation based on our existing data bases. My time with this project also will help me ensure that the SBBRP remains at the international cutting edge of research on large car nivores. My secondary objective is to work on a scientific book entitled "The Scandinavian brown bear; ecology, life history, behavior, and management of a hunted species". This book will summarize and synthesize the results from the first 30 years of o ur research project. I will edit the book and coauthor many chapters in with our cooperating researchers and former PhD students. I will propose the book to Island Press, Washington, DC.