UVM Theses and Dissertations
Format:
Print
Author:
Abouelezz, Hanem Grace
Title:
Dept./Program:
Natural Resources
Year:
2009
Degree:
MS
Abstract:
The analysis of individual movement choices can be used to make inferences about population level resource selection. Understanding the resource selection of populations can aid in their management and conservation. Resource selection inherently involves some inference about choice and this is often accomplished by quantifying the habitat an individual used and comparing it to the habitat that was available to that individual. The definitions of use and availability can vary widely, with availability often being considered the study area. However, the entire study area may not actually be available to an individual at all times. Here we use a method which quantifies available habitat based on the location in which an individual is currently located and the rate at which it is traveling. We investigated the movements of 13 bobcats (Lynx rufus) in the Champlain Valley and Green Mountain regions of Vermont, USA. Bobcats moved an average of 0.48 krnlhr and traveled an average of 11.56 km in a 24 hour period.
Males traveled farther and faster than females and all bobcats traveled more during evening hours. Based on compositional analysis on land cover types, forest, scrub and rock habitats were more preferred by the sampled population for movement paths, while agricultural and developed land cover types were least preferred. Bobcats used forest edge and wetland edge more than it was available and avoided deep forest core. These results suggest that edge habitat and landscape scale forest connectivity may be important to facilitate bobcat movement. Used stream density was higher than available density, indicating bobcats may prefer riparian zones for travel. Paved roads were highly avoided, while dirt roads were used only slightly less than expected. Used slope was slightly higher than available slope, suggesting bobcats may utilize steeper areas for travel, access to rocky ledges and avoidance of developed areas. Individuals differed widely in their land cover preferences, which may be a function of landscape scale characteristics or highly plastic movement behavior.
Males traveled farther and faster than females and all bobcats traveled more during evening hours. Based on compositional analysis on land cover types, forest, scrub and rock habitats were more preferred by the sampled population for movement paths, while agricultural and developed land cover types were least preferred. Bobcats used forest edge and wetland edge more than it was available and avoided deep forest core. These results suggest that edge habitat and landscape scale forest connectivity may be important to facilitate bobcat movement. Used stream density was higher than available density, indicating bobcats may prefer riparian zones for travel. Paved roads were highly avoided, while dirt roads were used only slightly less than expected. Used slope was slightly higher than available slope, suggesting bobcats may utilize steeper areas for travel, access to rocky ledges and avoidance of developed areas. Individuals differed widely in their land cover preferences, which may be a function of landscape scale characteristics or highly plastic movement behavior.