A Multivariate Model of Female Black Bear Habitat Use for a Geographic Information System

Simple univariate statistical techniques may not adequately assess the multidimensional nature of habitats used by wildlife. Thus, we developed a multivariate method to model habitat-use potential using a set of female black bear (Ursus americanus) radio locations and habitat data consisting of fore...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of wildlife management 1993-07, Vol.57 (3), p.519-526
Main Authors: Clark, Joseph D., Dunn, James E., Smith, Kimberly G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Autumn
Bears
Biological and medical sciences
Black bears
Forest habitats
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects. Techniques
Geodetic position
Geographic information systems
Habitat selection
Habitat utilization
Habitats
Mathematical models
Methods and techniques (sampling, tagging, trapping, modelling...)
Remote sensing
Stream habitats
Summer
Wildlife conservation
Wildlife habitats
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Summary:Simple univariate statistical techniques may not adequately assess the multidimensional nature of habitats used by wildlife. Thus, we developed a multivariate method to model habitat-use potential using a set of female black bear (Ursus americanus) radio locations and habitat data consisting of forest cover type, elevation, slope, aspect, distance to roads, distance to streams, and forest cover type diversity score in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. The model is based on the Mahalanobis distance statistic coupled with Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. That statistic is a measure of dissimilarity and represents a standardized squared distance between a set of sample variates and an ideal based on the mean of variates associated with animal observations. Calculations were made with the GIS to produce a map containing Mahalanobis distance values within each cell on a 60- × 60-m grid. The model identified areas of high habitat use potential that could not otherwise be identified by independent perusal of any single map layer. This technique avoids many pitfalls that commonly affect typical multivariate analyses of habitat use and is a useful tool for habitat manipulation or mitigation to favor terrestrial vertebrates that use habitats on a landscape scale.
ISSN:0022-541X
1937-2817
DOI:10.2307/3809276