Woodland caribou habitat selection patterns in relation to predation risk and forage abundance depend on reproductive state.

ABSTRACT: The ideal free distribution assumes that animals select habitats that are beneficial to their fitness. When the needs of dependent offspring differ from those of the parent, ideal habitat selection patterns could vary with the presence or absence of offspring. We test whether habitat selection depends on reproductive state due to top-down or bottom-up influences on the fitness of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), a threatened, wide-ranging herbivore. We combined established methods of fitting resource and step selection functions derived from locations of collared animals in Ontario with newer techniques, including identifying calf status from video collar footage and seasonal habitat selection analysis through latent selection difference functions. We found that females

SUBMITTER: Viejou R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6010817 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature