Using presence of sign to measure habitats used by Roosevelt elk

摘要: Radiotelemetry and pellet-group surveys are methods used commonly to measure habitat use by large ungulates. However, telemetry can be expensive analysis of data collected from is restricted rank analysis. We explored the feasibility recording presence Roosevelt elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti) sign identify habitats elk. surveyed stations (1-ha circular plots) about 0.72 km apart for 0to 4-day-old (tracks feces) October April 1994-1997 at 2 sites in northwestern California. Our objectives were to: 1) errors detecting classifying sign, 2) determine autocorrelation assess what an independent point, 3) examine effect station sizes on rate detections, 4) sample needed detect use. detected 96.6% time (n=68) when observed within 0-4 days. Elk was misclassified only 3 times (n= 70). No autocorrelations detections across or space because similar generated randomly stations. The proportion 1-ha (0.12) 2-ha (0.13) with similar. Sample >400 have power >0.8 relationships among variables frequency Recording appears a reliable feasible technique