Behaviour-Related Scalar Habitat Use by Cape Buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer)

摘要: Studies of habitat use by animals must consider behavioural resource requirements at different scales, which could influence the functional value sites. Using Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer) in Okavango Delta, Botswana, we tested hypotheses that behaviour affected between and within habitats, hereafter referred to as macro- microhabitats, respectively. We fitted GPS-enabled collars fifteen used distances turning angles consecutive fixes cluster resulting data into resting, grazing, walking relocating behaviours. Distance water six vegetation characteristic variables were recorded sites for each behaviour, except relocating, occurred too infrequently. multilevel binomial multinomial logistic regressions identify characterised seasonally-preferred macrohabitats microhabitats Our results showed macrohabitat was linked although this least apparent during rainy season, when resources most abundant. Behaviour-related microhabitat less significant, but variation forage characteristics predict some all macrohabitats. The predicting not consistent, resting grazing more readily identifiable than These highlight significance well foraging, site availability spatial processes. emphasise importance considering several behaviours scales studies understand links environmental animal ecology.