Movements, Home-Range Size and Habitat Selection of Mallards during Autumn Migration

Abstract Background: Human settlement and agricultural activities restrict increasingly the range of large mammals in many cases contributing to declining numbers of ungulates. Here, we studied home range size and habitat selection of female mountain nyalas in the northern end of the Bale Mountains National Park (BMNP) (31 km2) surrounded by human settlement. We collected data on space use of seven adult female mountain nyalas equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) collars. Home range size was estimated using fixed kernel density and habitat selection was determined by resource selection functions.Results: We found that female mountain nyalas have much smaller (5.7 km2) home ranges than the 19 km2 home range size predicted for a 170 kg, group-living species living in mixed habitats. Home ranges were 30% larger in night time than daytime. We suggest that the night time extension beyond the park boundaries were caused by both push and pull effects. The presumably high livestock and other ungulates grazing pressure within the protected area may cause forage-driven excursions out of the park, in particular during agricultural crop seasons. In addition, mountain nyalas are probably attracted by humans as shields against hyena predation. Resource selection index indicates bush land and forest habitat are the most preferred habitat types while agriculture and human settlements are least preferred habitats.Conclusions: Given that mountain nyalas are found in high density (24 individuals/km2) and the size of the northern part of the Bale Mountain National Park, which is currently under protection by the park authorities for the mountain nyala conservation, is too small for the predicted home range size of large ungulates, we suggest protecting additional area may be needed for the long-term conservation of the endangered mountain nyala.

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Home Range and Habitat Selection of Long-Eared Owls (Asio Otus) in Mediterranean Agricultural Landscapes (Crete, Greece)

Avian Biology Research ◽

10.3184/175815618x15263010605630 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 204-218 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

D. Emin ◽

A.G. Toxopeus ◽

Ir.T.A. Groen ◽

I. Kontogeorgos ◽

E. Georgopoulou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Habitat Selection ◽

Home Range ◽

Model Performance ◽

Home Range Size ◽

Landscape Scale ◽

Agricultural Landscapes ◽

Range Size ◽

Nominal Scale ◽

Wide Range ◽

Selection Of

The Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) in Crete (Greece) is a common agricultural species affected by the recent changes in agro-forestry systems. Concrete studies of habitat selection are needed in order to improve our knowledge of its foraging behaviour in managed rural landscapes. In the present study, we analysed the home range size and habitat selection of 11 Long-eared Owls inside olive groves in the plain of central Crete using radio tracking data and remote sensing images. Six nominal scale and 11 landscape scale predictors were used for habitat selection analysis, using a maximum entropy approach. Home range size ranged between 337 and 969 ha while a 52% of home range overlap was observed suggesting that Long-eared Owls do not defend hunting territories. At the nominal scale, distance to potential roosts (trees) was the most important contributor to model performance, followed by vegetation heterogeneity. Furthermore, local heterogeneity of greenness was a better predictor than simply greenness at the presence location. At the landscape scale the amount of habitat openness significantly improved model performance. Incorporating landscape heterogeneity improved habitat selection prediction compared to using only discrete land cover classification. Results of our study pinpoint that although Long-eared Owls exhibit a wide range of habitat tolerance, they prefer mixed habitat conditions avoiding particularly open areas or dense olive plantations. The research has implications in the face of new reforms of European Common Agricultural policy which emphasised the importance of landscape structure in preserving biodiversity in agricultural areas of Europe.

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Home range size and habitat selection of Geoffroy’s cat (Leopardus geoffroyi, Felidae, Carnivora) in the pampas grassland

Mammalia ◽

10.1515/mammalia-2011-0039 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 76 (1) ◽

pp. 105-108 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Claudia Manfredi ◽

Estela Luengos Vidal ◽

Diego F. Castillo ◽

Mauro Lucherini ◽

Emma B. Casanave

Keyword(s):

Habitat Selection ◽

Home Range ◽

Home Range Size ◽

Range Size ◽

Selection Of

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Movement Patterns, Home Range Size and Habitat Selection of an Endangered Resource Tracking Species, the Black-Throated Finch (Poephila cincta cincta)

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0167254 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. e0167254 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Juliana Rechetelo ◽

Anthony Grice ◽

April Elizabeth Reside ◽

Britta Denise Hardesty ◽

James Moloney

Keyword(s):

Habitat Selection ◽

Home Range ◽

Movement Patterns ◽

Home Range Size ◽

Range Size ◽

Resource Tracking ◽

Selection Of

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Home range size and daytime habitat selection of leopards in Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand

Biological Conservation ◽

10.1016/j.biocon.2008.06.015 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 141 (9) ◽

pp. 2242-2250 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

Saksit Simcharoen ◽

Adam C.D. Barlow ◽

Achara Simcharoen ◽

James L.D. Smith

Keyword(s):

Habitat Selection ◽

Home Range ◽

Home Range Size ◽

Range Size ◽

Wildlife Sanctuary ◽

Selection Of

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Home range, movement and habitat selection of dholes (Cuon alpinus) in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand

Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity ◽

10.13057/biodiv/d211257 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (12) ◽

Author(s):

Ronglarp - Sukmasuang ◽

WARONG SUKSAVATE ◽

NUCHARIN SONGSASEN ◽

NORASET KHIOWSREE ◽

KHWANRUTAI CHARASPET ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Habitat Selection ◽

Home Range ◽

High Activity ◽

National Park ◽

Home Range Size ◽

Range Size ◽

Habitat Types ◽

Cuon Alpinus ◽

Khao Yai National Park ◽

Selection Of

Abstract. Sukmasuang R, Suksavate W, Songsasen N, Khiowree N, Charaspet K, Pla-ard M, Chanachai Y, Thomas W, Srinopawan K. 2020. Home range, movement and habitat selection of dholes (Cuon alpinus) in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand. Biodiversitas 21: 5915-5926. This study aimed to examine the home range, movement and habitat selection of dholes (Cuon alpinus) in Khao Yai National Park from January 2017 to September 2019 with the objective of studying their movement, diel activity and habitat selection. Based on Autocorrelated Kernel density home range estimation, the results showed that the average home range size of the adult female dhole was 64.6 km2, while the adult male dhole had an average home range size of 132.9 km2. It was found from the monthly analysis that the home range size varied by animal gender and the period of their denning and parenting time. It was also found that the distance traveled by the female dhole was 10.2 km/day, while the male dhole traveled around 19.3 km/day. The overall analysis discovered that the dholes were most active during dawn and dusk. Further, the level of activity increased from May onwards. The grassland and mixed deciduous habitat types significantly affected the selection of the dholes. Case-control linear logistic regression analysis between the distance of the location and habitat types was extremely and positively significant with grassland, which signified the high activity of dhole in the grassland. However, the result was negative with mixed deciduous forest, which was the habitat of the dhole. Autocorrelation functions demonstrated high activity occurred during the early morning and after sunset, which showed that the dholes could adapt for survival in the area, even with recreational activities in the park. The results of this study could contribute to knowledge concerning the species’ movement for long-term species management and conservation.

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Home-range Size and Habitat Selection of Female Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in Arkansas

The American Midland Naturalist ◽

10.1674/0003-0031(2001)145[0247:hrsahs]2.0.co;2 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 145 (2) ◽

pp. 247-260 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

WAYNE E. THOGMARTIN

Keyword(s):

Habitat Selection ◽

Home Range ◽

Meleagris Gallopavo ◽

Home Range Size ◽

Range Size ◽

Wild Turkeys ◽

Selection Of

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Home range size and habitat selection of reintroducedSylvilagus bachmani riparius

Journal of Mammalogy ◽

10.1644/13-mamm-a-187 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 95 (3) ◽

pp. 516-524 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Douglas A. Kelt ◽

Patrick A. Kelly ◽

Scott E. Phillips ◽

Daniel F. Williams

Keyword(s):

Habitat Selection ◽

Home Range ◽

Home Range Size ◽

Range Size ◽

Selection Of

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AKDEC home range size and habitat selection of Sumatran elephants

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr16069 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 43 (7) ◽

pp. 566 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Alexander Markus Moßbrucker ◽

Christen H. Fleming ◽

Muhammad Ali Imron ◽

Satyawan Pudyatmoko ◽

Sumardi

Keyword(s):

Habitat Selection ◽

Home Range ◽

Home Range Size ◽

Range Size ◽

Special Focus ◽

Home Ranges ◽

Specific Information ◽

Forest Protection ◽

Conventional Methods ◽

Selection Of

Context Understanding ranging behaviour and habitat selection of threatened species is crucial for the development of conservation strategies and the design of conservation areas. Our understanding of the actual needs of the critically endangered Sumatran elephant in this context is insufficient. Aims Provide reliable subspecies-specific information on home range size and habitat selection of Sumatran elephants. Methods Using both the new area-corrected autocorrelated kernel density estimation (AKDEC) and two commonly applied conventional methods, the home range sizes of nine Sumatran elephants were estimated. Elephant habitat selection was studied using Manly’s selection ratios. Key results AKDEC home ranges of adults ranged from 275 km2 to 1352 km2. Estimates obtained using conventional KDE and minimum convex polygon (MCP) ranged between 156 km2 and 997 km2. Overall habitat selection was significant for both slope and land-cover type, whereas individual preferences varied to some extent. On the basis of global selection ratios, we found natural forest, pulpwood plantations and gentle slopes (≤4°) to be significantly selected, whereas most areas affected by human activities and steeper slopes were avoided by the majority of animals included in the study. Conclusions As expected, AKDEC estimates were much larger than those obtained using conventional methods because conventional methods have a tendency to underestimate home range size when confronted with autocorrelated movement data and produce estimates that refer to the limited study period only, whereas AKDEC estimates include the predicted animal’s long-term space use. The extremely large AKDEC estimate obtained for a subadult male most likely represents a combination of population dispersal range and temporary home range rather than its final adult home range. Regardless, it appears that Sumatran elephants roam over much larger areas than previously assumed. Natural forests and relatively flat areas are of great importance for Sumatran elephants. The observed intensive use of pulpwood plantations by one individual is likely because of limited availability of alternative suitable habitats. Implications A landscape-wide approach to elephant conservation that takes large home ranges into account, is required, and should include forest protection and restoration and elephant friendly management of existing pulpwood concessions, with special focus on areas with relatively gentle slopes.

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