Home range analysis using a mechanistic home range model

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1999 · Ecology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1890/0012-9658(1999)080[1656:HRAUAM]2.0.CO;2· OSTI ID:6299575

Moorcroft, P R ^[1]

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1. Princeton Univ., NJ (United States). Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

The traditional models used to characterize animal home ranges have no mechanistic basis underlying their descriptions of space use, and as a result, the analysis of animal home ranges has primarily been a descriptive endeavor. In this paper, the authors characterize coyote (Canis latrans) home range patterns using partial differential equations for expected space use that are formally derived from underlying descriptions of individual movement behavior. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first time that mechanistic models have been used to characterize animal home ranges. The results provide empirical support for a model formulation of movement response to scent marks, and suggest that having relocation data for individuals in adjacent groups is necessary to capture the spatial arrangement of home range boundaries. The authors then show how the model fits can be used to obtain predictions for individual movement and scent marking behavior and to predict changes in home range patterns. More generally, the findings illustrate how mechanistic models permit the development of a predictive theory for the relationship between movement behavior and animal spatial distribution.

• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; NSF; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States); National Science Foundation, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 6299575
• Journal Information: Ecology, Journal Name: Ecology Vol. 80:5; ISSN 0012-9658; ISSN ECOLAR
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540210* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
ANIMALS
BEHAVIOR
COYOTES
ECOLOGY
HOME RANGE
MAMMALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
VERTEBRATES
WILD ANIMALS