Habitat selection by black bears in an intensively logged boreal forest

2008 ◽  
Vol 86 (11) ◽  
pp. 1307-1316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent Brodeur ◽  
Jean-Pierre Ouellet ◽  
Réhaume Courtois ◽  
Daniel Fortin
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Space Use ◽  
Black Bear ◽  
Black Bears ◽  
Ground Vegetation ◽  
Use Patterns

Extensive logging of the boreal forest rejuvenates landscapes once dominated by old-growth stands. As black bear ( Ursus americanus Pallas, 1780) fitness and behavior are known to be primarily related to the abundance of shade-intolerant soft mast species in northern forests, we hypothesized that logging will influence habitat and space use patterns of black bears. We used VHF telemetry on 12 female black bears in the Réserve faunique des Laurentides (Quebec, Canada) to investigate seasonal patterns of habitat selection in an exploited heterogeneous boreal landscape at different spatial scales. Habitat characterization based on seven forest cover types allowed us to compare the productivity of key forage species in various post-logging age classes. Regenerating stands (6–20 years old) had the uppermost ground vegetation cover, providing both the highest density and a high biomass of berries. Black bears preferred regenerating stands (6–20 years old) and avoided mature coniferous forests inside their home range. Home-range size was inversely related to the proportion of regenerating stands (6–20 years old). Intensive logging influenced black bear habitat and space use patterns, and presumably their population dynamics. An increase in the habitat quality of an opportunistic predator poses great concern for conservation, especially for forest-dwelling woodland caribou ( Rangifer tarandus caribou (Gmelin, 1788)).

scholarly journals Brown hyena habitat selection varies among sites in a semi-arid region of southern Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 97 (2) ◽  
pp. 473-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca J. Welch ◽  
Craig J. Tambling ◽  
Charlene Bissett ◽  
Angela Gaylard ◽  
Konrad Müller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Resource Selection ◽  
Space Use ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Habitat Features ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Brown Hyena ◽  
Semi Arid Region

Abstract Human/carnivore conflicts are common across the globe, and with a growing human population, this conflict is likely to increase as the space available to large carnivores is reduced. In South Africa, many small (< 400 km 2 ), fenced protected areas have reintroduced persecuted carnivores, such as brown hyenas ( Hyaena brunnea ). These reserves have great potential to conserve brown hyena populations; consequently, understanding the limitations that small, fenced reserves impose on space use patterns is needed. We investigated the home range (95% fixed kernel utilization distributions) and landscape determinants of habitat selection using resource selection functions for 10 brown hyenas in 3 separate fenced reserves. Home range sizes were consistently smaller in 2 of the reserves when compared to the third. Considerable variation in the selection of habitat features exists among individual brown hyenas and reserves. The most important landscape determinant driving brown hyena space use was distance to roads, with brown hyenas observed closer to roads when compared to random locations within their ranges. If this relationship with roads holds outside of protected areas, it could represent a considerable threat to the species. Thus, obtaining a better understanding of the influence of roads on brown hyenas represents an important focus for future research.

scholarly journals The home-range concept: are traditional estimators still relevant with modern telemetry technology?

2010 ◽  
Vol 365 (1550) ◽  
pp. 2221-2231 ◽  
Author(s):  
John G. Kie ◽  
Jason Matthiopoulos ◽  
John Fieberg ◽  
Roger A. Powell ◽  
Francesca Cagnacci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Animal Movement ◽  
Space Use ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Data Intensive ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Location Data ◽  
Utilization Distributions

Recent advances in animal tracking and telemetry technology have allowed the collection of location data at an ever-increasing rate and accuracy, and these advances have been accompanied by the development of new methods of data analysis for portraying space use, home ranges and utilization distributions. New statistical approaches include data-intensive techniques such as kriging and nonlinear generalized regression models for habitat use. In addition, mechanistic home-range models, derived from models of animal movement behaviour, promise to offer new insights into how home ranges emerge as the result of specific patterns of movements by individuals in response to their environment. Traditional methods such as kernel density estimators are likely to remain popular because of their ease of use. Large datasets make it possible to apply these methods over relatively short periods of time such as weeks or months, and these estimates may be analysed using mixed effects models, offering another approach to studying temporal variation in space-use patterns. Although new technologies open new avenues in ecological research, our knowledge of why animals use space in the ways we observe will only advance by researchers using these new technologies and asking new and innovative questions about the empirical patterns they observe.

scholarly journals Does the punishment fit the crime? Consequences and diagnosis of misspecified detection functions in Bayesian spatial capture-recapture modelling

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soumen Dey ◽  
Richard Bischof ◽  
Pierre P. A. Dupont ◽  
Cyril Milleret
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Space Use ◽  
Relative Bias ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
List Type ◽  
Detection Function ◽  
Density Estimates ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Capture Recapture

AbstractSpatial capture-recapture (SCR) is now used widely to estimate wildlife densities. At the core of SCR models lies the detection function, linking individual detection probability to the distance from its latent activity center. The most common function (half-normal) assumes a bivariate normal space use and consequently detection pattern. This is likely an oversimplification and misrepresentation of real-life animal space use patterns, but studies have reported that density estimates are relatively robust to misspecified detection functions. However, information about consequences of such misspecification on space use parameters (e.g. home range area), as well as diagnostic tools to reveal it are lacking.We simulated SCR data under six different detection functions, including the half-normal, to represent a wide range of space use patterns. We then fit three different SCR models, with the three simplest detection functions (half-normal, exponential and half-normal plateau) to each simulated data set. We evaluated the consequences of misspecification in terms of bias, precision and coverage probability of density and home range area estimates. We also calculated Bayesian p-values with respect to different discrepancy metrics to assess whether these can help identify misspecifications of the detection function.We corroborate previous findings that density estimates are robust to misspecifications of the detection function. However, estimates of home range area are prone to bias when the detection function is misspecified. When fitted with the half-normal model, average relative bias of 95% kernel home range area estimates ranged between −25% and 26% depending on the misspecification. In contrast, the half-normal plateau model (an extension of the half-normal) returned average relative bias that ranged between −26% and −4%. Additionally, we found useful heuristic patterns in Bayesian p-values to diagnose the misspecification in detection function.Our analytical framework and diagnostic tools may help users select a detection function when analyzing empirical data, especially when space use parameters (such as home range area) are of interest. We urge development of additional custom goodness of fit diagnostics for Bayesian SCR models to help practitioners identify a wider range of model misspecifications.

scholarly journals Mechanistic home range analysis reveals drivers of space use patterns for a non‐territorial passerine

2020 ◽  
Vol 89 (12) ◽  
pp. 2763-2776 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natasha Ellison ◽  
Ben J. Hatchwell ◽  
Sarah J. Biddiscombe ◽  
Clare J. Napper ◽  
Jonathan R. Potts
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Space Use ◽  
Range Analysis ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Home Range Analysis

Space use and the social system of muskrats

1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (5) ◽  
pp. 869-875 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lui Marinelli ◽  
François Messier
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Social System ◽  
Space Use ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Social Unit ◽  
Canadian Prairies ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Adult Sex Ratio ◽  
Range Overlap

We investigated the space-use patterns of adult muskrats in a small (77 ha) marsh on the Canadian Prairies during two breeding seasons. During the study, population size was relatively low and the adult sex ratio was biased towards females. Adult muskrats were territorial with little intrasexual home-range overlap. The exclusivity of home ranges was maintained throughout the breeding season, and appeared to decrease at the end of the season. Male movements often extended over the territory of more than one female, but the overlap was more extensive with primary than with secondary females. Lactation appeared to reduce the space use and mobility of female muskrats. Male muskrats tended to range over smaller areas when weaned young were present within their home range. The results suggest that the sexual pair is the basic social unit of muskrats but that polygyny was common. A female-biased sex ratio appeared to be responsible for the tendency of males to mate polygynously during this study, thus illustrating the plasticity of this social system.

Spatial-use patterns, movements, and interactions among adult coyotes in central Mississippi

2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (12) ◽  
pp. 2087-2095 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J Chamberlain ◽  
Charles D Lovell ◽  
Bruce D Leopold
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Core Area ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Movement Rates ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Pair Bonds ◽  
Northern Regions ◽  
Range Overlap

Recently, coyotes (Canis latrans) have expanded their range to include most areas of the southeastern United States. However, most research on coyotes has been conducted in western and northern regions of North America. We radio-monitored 38 adult coyotes from 1993 to 1997 in central Mississippi. Home-range sizes (P = 0.681) and core-area (area of concentrated use) sizes (P = 0.736) were similar across seasons, but females maintained larger home ranges (P = 0.006) and core areas (P < 0.001) than males. Male-male, female-female, and male-female home-range overlap was greatest during whelping and pup rearing. Except for mated pairs, core-area overlap was negligible across all seasons for adults maintaining neighboring home ranges. Coyote habitat selection varied across spatial scales, though selection was similar between males and females at all scales. Coyote movement rates differed (P < 0.001) temporally, being highest during nocturnal periods. Overall, the highest movement rates for the monitored population were observed for females during summer. Two males and 2 females were suspected of forming pair bonds and frequently traveled together within shared home ranges, as did 2 adult males. Our data indicate that interactions among individual adults are influenced by sex, as most confirmed instances of direct contact occurred between pairs or suspected social groups. In our study area, neighboring adult coyotes exhibited territoriality at the core-area level.

scholarly journals Space-Use Patterns of the Asiatic Wild Ass (Equus hemionus): Complementary Insights from Displacement, Recursion Movement and Habitat Selection Analyses

PLoS ONE ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. e0143279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Giotto ◽  
Jean-François Gerard ◽  
Alon Ziv ◽  
Amos Bouskila ◽  
Shirli Bar-David
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Space Use ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Equus Hemionus ◽  
Wild Ass ◽  
Asiatic Wild Ass

scholarly journals Using Mountain Lion Habitat Selection in Management

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
JA Dellinger ◽  
B Cristescu ◽  
J Ewanyk ◽  
DJ Gammons ◽  
D Garcelon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Endangered Species ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Multiple Scales ◽  
Puma Concolor ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Mountain Lions ◽  
Mountain Lion ◽  
Management And Conservation

© 2019 The Wildlife Society Wildlife agencies are generally tasked with managing and conserving species at state and local levels simultaneously. Thus, it is necessary for wildlife agencies to understand basic ecological processes of a given species at multiple scales to aid decision making at commensurately varied spatial and behavioral scales. Mountain lions (Puma concolor) occur throughout California, USA, and are at the center of a variety of management and conservation issues. For example, they are genetically and demographically at risk in 1 region yet apparently stable and negatively affecting endangered species in another. Currently, no formal plan exists for mountain lions in California to deal with these diverse scenarios involving issues of local mountain lion population viability and problems related to predation of endangered species. To facilitate development of a state-wide management and conservation plan, we quantified habitat selection by mountain lions at 2 spatial scales across the range of environmental conditions in which the species is found in California. Our analyses used location data from individuals (n = 263) collared across the state from 2001–2019. At the home range scale, mountain lions selected habitat to prioritize meeting energetic demands. At the within home range scale, mountain lions avoided areas of human activity. Further, our analyses revealed 165,350–170,085 km2, depending on season, of suitable mountain lion habitat in California. Fifty percent of the suitable habitat was on unprotected lands and thus vulnerable to development. These habitat selection models will help in the development of a state-wide conservation and management plan for mountain lions in California by guiding mountain lion population monitoring through time, prioritization of habitat to be conserved for maintaining demographic connectivity and gene flow, and efforts to mediate mountain lion-prey interactions. Our work and application area will help with wildlife policy and management decisions related to depredation problems at the local scale and issues of habitat connectivity at the statewide scale. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.

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