Movement paths reveal scale-dependent habitat decisions by Canada lynx

摘要: We documented the relative grain at which Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) perceive habitat heterogeneity using fractal dimension of foraging paths. evaluated whether expended greater effort (i.e., movement paths) in patches with highest density snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus), or intermediate densities prey where lower stem and visibility promote increased mobility access to prey. Lynx foraged within high hare cover for hares, thus, attempted maximize rather than exposure habitats but optimal escape cover. Fractal paths was preferred nonpreferred corresponded higher success habitats. Movement were more tortuous broader finer scales, suggesting that exhibiting stronger coarse-grained fine-grained preferences. Higher reduced number transitions between quality, resulting individual patterns matching scale interpatch variation abundance accessibility home ranges. made their strongest decisions when higher-order resource selection, so focusing conservation efforts alter within-patch structure may be less effective creating patch- landscape-scale conditions enhance success. Coarse-grained selection by wide-ranging carnivores reduce importance fine-scale emphasizes these species on factors influencing home-range quality maintenance viable landscapes. DOI: 10.1644/10-MAMM-A-005.1.