Modeling Carnivore Habitat-use, Travel Patterns, and Human Activity Around the Town of Canmore, Alberta

摘要: This research provides a decision framework to government regulatory agencies, parks, town managers, developers, and private landowners that can facilitate better informed decisions regarding wildlife corridors. The spatial modeling approach developed herein is an objective method of integrating ecology, sociology, and economics for environmental decision-making. This multi disciplinary approach uses an adaptive decision framework that can help maintain, improve, and restore landscape connectivity for large carnivores, in regions where habitat fragmentation and land-use conflicts threaten species. The primary objective of this research was to synthesize existing local ecological research findings in a decision support model to analyze how different landscape configurations may alter habitat connectivity for gray wolves (Canis lupus) and cougars (Puma concolor) around the town of Canmore, Alberta.