Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Journal of Animal Ecology
Author ORCID Identifier
John Fieberg: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3180-7021
Johannes Signer: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1771-7775
Brian Smith: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0531-0492
Tal Avgar: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8764-6976
Volume
90
Issue
5
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Publication Date
2-14-2021
First Page
1027
Last Page
1043
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Abstract
- Habitat-selection analyses allow researchers to link animals to their environment via habitat-selection or step-selection functions, and are commonly used to address questions related to wildlife management and conservation efforts. Habitat-selection analyses that incorporate movement characteristics, referred to as integrated step-selection analyses, are particularly appealing because they allow modelling of both movement and habitat-selection processes.
- Despite their popularity, many users struggle with interpreting parameters in habitat-selection and step-selection functions. Integrated step-selection analyses also require several additional steps to translate model parameters into a full-fledged movement model, and the mathematics supporting this approach can be challenging for many to understand.
- Using simple examples, we demonstrate how weighted distribution theory and the inhomogeneous Poisson point process can facilitate parameter interpretation in habitat-selection analyses. Furthermore, we provide a ‘how to’ guide illustrating the steps required to implement integrated step-selection analyses using the AMT package
- By providing clear examples with open-source code, we hope to make habitat-selection analyses more understandable and accessible to end users.
Recommended Citation
Fieberg J, Signer J, Smith B, Avgar T. A ‘How to’ guide for interpreting parameters in habitat-selection analyses. J Anim Ecol. 2021;90:1027–43. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.13441.
