Scale and heterogeneity in habitat selection by elk in Yellowstone National Park

摘要: AbstractResource selection functions (RSF) can be used to explore the role of scale in determining patterns habitat use. We estimated RSFs for 93 radiocollared adult female elk (Cervus canadensis) with resource availability defined at four spatial scales and two seasons Yellowstone National Park. Habitat differed markedly among seasonal ranges. During winter moved ranges lower elevations where snow water equivalents were low selected landscapes a mix forest open vegetation all scales. Areas high diversity large during summer, whereas less diverse areas on range. summer forests that burned 12-14 y earlier, but they these burns than expected by chance winter. occurred multiple scales; thus, we cannot prescribe single as being best modelling use elk. Instead, an appropriate...