Regional assessment on influence of landscape configuration and connectivity on range size of white-tailed deer

Walter, W. David; VerCauteren, Kurt C.; Campa, Henry; Clark, William R.; Fischer, Justin W.; Hygnstrom, Scott E.; Mathews, Nancy E.; Nielsen, Clayton K.; Schauber, Eric M.; Deelen, Timothy R. Van; Winterstein, Scott R.

doi:10.1007/s10980-009-9374-4

Cited by 76 publications

(72 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…Because of their accessibility, home-range estimators are frequently used to compare space-use patterns for animals living in different landscapes (e.g., [8,9]) or along spatial gradients (e.g., [10]). With the increase of fine-scale spatio-temporal data afforded by Global Positioning Technology (GPS), short-term (weekly, monthly) estimates of home-range size are now also commonly used to explore changes in space-use patters over time (e.g., [3,11,12]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does estimator choice influence our ability to detect changes in home-range size?

et al. 2015

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Background: Estimates of home-range size are frequently used to compare areal requirements of animals over time or space. Comparative studies of home-range estimators have highlighted extreme differences among general classes of methods (e.g., polygon-based and kernel density-based estimators) and sensitivity to the choice of various tuning parameters (e.g., amount of smoothing). These studies, however, have largely failed to consider how estimates of home-range size are typically used in applied research. We illustrate simulation-based methods for comparing estimators, which focus on relative differences in home-range size (over time or space), rather than their absolute magnitude. We also consider Global Positioning Technology (GPS) location data from a black bear (Ursus americanus) from northwestern Minnesota, USA, to illustrate the relevance to real-world data applications. Results: In our examples, estimates of home-range size often differed considerably in absolute magnitude. Yet, for relative differences, the choice of home-range estimator was often negligible. Furthermore, choosing the right estimator was less important than other aspects of study design (e.g., number of animals followed). Conclusion: Many questions in ecology focus on changes in space-use patterns (over space or time). For these types of questions, home-range estimators should be evaluated in terms of their ability to detect these spatial and temporal patterns. More importantly, home-range estimation should be seen as a means to an end-i.e., estimators provide indices useful for addressing interesting biological questions or hypotheses-rather than as an end to itself.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does estimator choice influence our ability to detect changes in home-range size?

et al. 2015

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“…For example, although it is widely accepted that many birds enhance their flight capacities by making use of predictable sources of rising air [5] and that terrestrial animals expend more energy moving over soft substrate than hard [6], general consideration of the energetic costs of animals moving through their variable landscapes is minimal (but see [7]). Landscapes vary in character in both space and time with, for example, heterogeneous vegetation landscapes changing during succession [8,9] and over the growing season [10], becoming correspondingly more problematic for animals to move through [11]. Indeed, the degree of variation in the landscape (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Construction of energy landscapes can clarify the movement and distribution of foraging animals

2011

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Variation in the physical characteristics of the environment should impact the movement energetics of animals. Although cognizance of this may help interpret movement ecology, determination of the landscape-dependent energy expenditure of wild animals is problematic. We used accelerometers in animal-attached tags to derive energy expenditure in 54 free-living imperial cormorants Phalacrocorax atriceps and construct an energy landscape of the area around a breeding colony. Examination of the space use of a further 74 birds over 4 years showed that foraging areas selected varied considerably in distance from the colony and water depth, but were characterized by minimal power requirements compared with other areas in the available landscape. This accords with classic optimal foraging concepts, which state that animals should maximize net energy gain by minimizing costs where possible and show how deriving energy landscapes can help understand how and why animals distribute themselves in space.

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“…timber harvest, energy development). Home range size and fidelity have important implications for management and conservation of populations (McCoy et al 2005;Felix et al 2007;Webb et al 2007;Walter et al 2009;Tracz et al 2010) because of shifting distributions of animals within populations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of land development on home range use dynamics of female elk

Webb¹,

Dzialak²,

Harju³

et al. 2011

Wildl. Res.

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Context. Many ungulate species exhibit strong site fidelity to previously established areas, particularly females. However, development of the landscape may cause animals to shift their distribution to more secure areas.Aims. To determine range use dynamics (i.e. size and overlap of core areas and home ranges) of female elk (Cervus elaphus) relative to land development features (e.g. roads, well pads, buildings, developments, towns, etc.) after controlling for environmental features (i.e. forest cover).Methods. During the four-year study, we fitted elk (n = 165) with GPS collars annually and programmed collars to attempt one location fix every 3 h (eight locations per day) for one year. Females (n = 18) were subsequently recaptured and refitted with GPS collars to provide range use dynamics of individual elk over two to three years. We calculated sizes of core areas and home ranges using adaptive kernel estimators, overlap between annual ranges, and establishment of ranges relative to land development.Key results. Overlap of annual core areas (48.6%) and home ranges (67.9%) was high despite annual increases in land development. Sizes of core areas and home ranges and annual overlap (i.e. site fidelity) were negatively influenced by land development after controlling for forest cover.Conclusions. These data reveal that female elk show high levels of site fidelity even in the presence of increasing annual land development. Females did not appear to abandon previously established areas, but used ranges in a manner that minimised interaction with development within these areas based on reductions in range use size and fidelity as land development increased.Implications. To help mitigate impacts on elk, land development should be minimised and large areas of forest protected so elk can avoid areas associated with human activity.

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Regional assessment on influence of landscape configuration and connectivity on range size of white-tailed deer

Cited by 76 publications

References 50 publications

Does estimator choice influence our ability to detect changes in home-range size?

Does estimator choice influence our ability to detect changes in home-range size?

Construction of energy landscapes can clarify the movement and distribution of foraging animals

Influence of land development on home range use dynamics of female elk

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