Inference from habitat-selection analysis depends on foraging strategies

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Wildlife Biology
• Behavioral Ecology

Background:

• Habitat selection is crucial for species survival and is often assessed using methods like resource selection functions (RSFs).
• Residency-time analysis, a newer approach, assumes longer stays in preferred habitats indicate selection.
• However, the relationship between residency time and actual habitat selection can be complex.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the information provided by RSF and residency-time analyses in understanding habitat selection.
• To investigate how interpatch movement influences habitat selection assessments.
• To reveal the underlying mechanisms of habitat selection strategies.

Main Methods:

• Spatially explicit, individual-based modeling was employed to simulate foragers with different foraging strategies.
• Simulated foragers exhibited various patch-departure and interpatch movement rules (random or biased).
• Habitat selection was analyzed using resource selection functions (RSFs), residency-time analysis, and interpatch-movement analysis.

Main Results:

• RSF and residency-time analyses do not always yield equivalent results.
• Residency-time analysis alone can be misleading when foragers exhibit non-random movement or do not adjust residency based on resource availability.
• Interpatch movement decisions significantly impact the overall time spent in different habitat patches.

Conclusions:

• RSFs reflect the outcome of habitat selection, while residency-time and interpatch-movement analyses elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
• Relying solely on residency-time analysis risks misinterpreting habitat selection strategies.
• Integrating RSF, residency-time, and interpatch-movement analyses offers a robust understanding of habitat selection for effective wildlife management.