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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 20, 2026

Integrating Remote Sensing with Species Distribution Models; Mapping Tamarisk Invasions Using the Software for Assisted Habitat Modeling (SAHM)

Integrating Remote Sensing with Species Distribution Models; Mapping Tamarisk Invasions Using the Software for Assisted Habitat Modeling (SAHM)

Published on: October 11, 2016

Transcending scale dependence in identifying habitat with resource selection functions.

Nicholas J DeCesare¹, Mark Hebblewhite, Fiona Schmiegelow

¹Wildlife Biology Program, Department of Ecosystem Sciences and Conservation, College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812, USA. nick_decesare@hotmail.com

Ecological Applications : a Publication of the Ecological Society of America

|July 26, 2012

Summary

Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) avoid forestry at broad scales and linear features at fine scales. A single scale-integrated resource selection function (SRSF) effectively maps habitat suitability for conservation.

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Last Updated: May 20, 2026

Integrating Remote Sensing with Species Distribution Models; Mapping Tamarisk Invasions Using the Software for Assisted Habitat Modeling (SAHM)

Integrating Remote Sensing with Species Distribution Models; Mapping Tamarisk Invasions Using the Software for Assisted Habitat Modeling (SAHM)

Published on: October 11, 2016

Watershed Planning within a Quantitative Scenario Analysis Framework

Watershed Planning within a Quantitative Scenario Analysis Framework

Published on: July 24, 2016

Area of Science:

Ecology
Wildlife Conservation
Spatial Modeling

Background:

Species distribution is influenced by habitat suitability across multiple spatial and temporal scales.
Translating multi-scale habitat suitability to single spatial maps for conservation is challenging.
Anthropogenic disturbances like forestry and linear features can impact species distributions.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the multi-scale effects of forestry and linear features on woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) distribution.
To develop and validate scale-integrated resource selection functions (SRSFs) for habitat suitability mapping.
To support conservation efforts for threatened species through improved habitat mapping.

Main Methods:

Estimation of resource selection functions (RSFs) at three distinct spatial scales for woodland caribou.
Analysis of avoidance patterns related to forestry cut-blocks and linear features across scales.
Development and validation of a single SRSF synthesizing multi-scale selection data.

Main Results:

A scale-specific avoidance pattern was observed: woodland caribou avoided forestry at broad scales and linear features at fine scales.
These avoidance patterns align with predictions of predator-mediated effects.
A single SRSF demonstrated comparable predictive accuracy to single-scale RSFs across different prediction scales.

Conclusions:

Resource selection by woodland caribou exhibits scale-dependent responses to anthropogenic disturbances.
A single SRSF can effectively integrate multi-scale selection data for habitat suitability mapping.
SRSFs offer a valuable tool for critical habitat identification and species recovery planning.