Longitudinal fecal hormone analysis for monitoring reproductive activity in the female polar bear (Ursus maritimus)  M.A. Stoops, K.M. MacKinnon, T.L. Roth  Theriogenology  Volume 78, Issue 9, Pages 1977-1986 (December 2012) DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2012.07.005 Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. Terms and Conditions

Fig. 1 Mean ± SEM fecal (A) androgen (T) and (B) progesterone (PdG) metabolites in parturient (•) and nonparturient (o) polar bears aligned from date of mating. * Difference between groups (P < 0.05). Theriogenology 2012 78, 1977-1986DOI: (10.1016/j.theriogenology.2012.07.005) Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. Terms and Conditions

Fig. 2 Fecal androgen (T, Δ) and progesterone (PdG, o) metabolites excretion profile for a polar bear that gave birth to two live female cubs. Solid arrows indicate observations of mating. Open triangle denotes presumed time of implantation and the closed triangle indicates parturition. Theriogenology 2012 78, 1977-1986DOI: (10.1016/j.theriogenology.2012.07.005) Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. Terms and Conditions

Fig. 3 Mean ± SEM fecal (A) progesterone (P4, filled box), progesterone metabolite (PdG, empty box) and (B) androgen metabolite (T) concentrations excreted by polar bears aligned from date of parturition. Within a hormone, means without a common superscript letter differed (P < 0.05). Theriogenology 2012 78, 1977-1986DOI: (10.1016/j.theriogenology.2012.07.005) Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. Terms and Conditions

Fig. 4 Fecal androgen (T, Δ) and progesterone (PdG, o) metabolite excretion profile for a pseudopregnant control bear. Breeding activity (double-headed solid arrow) was observed between the control and both a castrated male and female conspecific. Dashed arrow indicates sustained rise of PdG in the Fall. Theriogenology 2012 78, 1977-1986DOI: (10.1016/j.theriogenology.2012.07.005) Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. Terms and Conditions