Diel and Seasonal Elk Habitat Selection and Use in the Jemez Mountains Roberts, Caleb; Cox, Robert; Cain, James; Wallace, Mark (1)Elk habitat selection choices shift throughout temporal periods. (2) Considering temporal scale in habitat selection studies and conservation strategies is crucial for understanding and meeting elk habitat needs. Implicati ons Results Method s Introduct ion (2) Temporal delineations: •We recorded elk behavior and habitat use for at least three 24 hour periods per month. •Seasonal delineations were determined by climatic data. •Diel delineations were determined by linear regression, predicting elk behavior by time of day. (3) Habitat selection: •Temporally delineated elk locations were overlaid on the habitat model. •Resource Selection Probability Functions (RSPFs) generated habitat selection models for each temporal delineation. •Other variables considered in the RSPF were distance to roads, distance to water, and distance to recreational trails. •We compared diel and seasonal models to the null model (the model not considering temporal (1) Habitat modeling: •We sampled stratified-random vegetation transects based on vegetation type, aspect, canopy cover, treatment history, and fire history. •At each transect, we measured herbaceous and shrub biomass, herbaceous cover and diversity, tree basal area, and visibility. •Transect data was used to predict vegetative biomass and visibility with generalized linear models across the study area using spatial covariates (vegetation type, aspect, canopy cover, treatment history, and fire history). Diel Behavioral Patterns 12:00: Elk Locations RSPF: Summer - Dawn 06:00: Elk locations Problem: Temporal scale has been neglected in studies of habitat selection, although it has been shown to alter data interpretation in studies of behavior, habitat use, and habitat selection. Project Objective: We tested for seasonal and diel differences in elk habitat selection for 25 GPS-collared elk (Cervus canadensis) in the Jemez Mountains of north-central New Mexico. Problem: •Temporal scale has been neglected in studies of habitat selection, although it has been shown to alter data interpretation in studies of behavior, habitat use, and habitat selection. Project Objective: •We tested for seasonal and diel differences in elk habitat selection for 25 GPS-collared elk (Cervus canadensis). Problem: Temporal scale has been neglected in studies of habitat selection, although it has been shown to alter data interpretation in studies of behavior, habitat use, and habitat selection. Diel location comparisons: 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 Foraging Resting Vigilant Traveling Variable Mean SE CI.LL CI.UL P-value (Intercept) - 17.0091 1.64313 - 19.8365 - 14.1817 0 Fire (within 1 year) -1.3669 1.11464 - 3.28491 0.55111 0.234 Fire (1-2 years since) - 0.09383 0.14403 - 0.34167 0.15401 0.522 Fire (> 10 years since) - 1.29791 0.85084 - 2.76199 0.16617 0.142 Grassland 8.13831 2.11378 4.50104 11.7755 8 0.001 Ponderosa Forest 3.60226 1.65726 0.75054 6.45398 0.041 Spruce-Fir Forest 8.24299 2.10012 4.62922 11.8567 6 0.001 Canopy (Closed) - 0.42074 0.24149 - 0.83628 -0.0052 0.096 Variable Mean SE CI.LL CI.UL P-value (Intercept) - 16.78594 1.6254 4 - 19.5829 - 13.98898 0 Fire (within 1 year) -1.52632 1.1000 2 - 3.41917 0.36653 0.18 Fire (1-2 years since) -0.35148 0.1261 3 - 0.56852 -0.13444 0.011 Fire (> 10 years since) -1.5635 0.8546 1 - 3.03406 -0.09294 0.082 Grassland 4.81003 2.1581 1.09649 8.52357 0.037 Ponderosa Forest 2.58244 1.5517 8 - 0.08777 5.25265 0.111 Spruce-Fir Forest 7.30477 2.0225 9 3.82441 10.78513 0.002 Canopy (Closed) 0.67912 0.7581 3 - 0.62543 1.98367 0.381 RSPF: Summer - Midday P T V V 0 1

Diel and Seasonal Elk Habitat Selection and Use in the Jemez Mountains Roberts, Caleb; Cox, Robert; Cain, James; Wallace, Mark (1)Elk habitat selection

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Diel and Seasonal Elk Habitat Selection and Use in the Jemez MountainsRoberts, Caleb; Cox, Robert; Cain, James; Wallace, Mark

(1) Elk habitat selection choices shift throughout temporal periods.

(2) Considering temporal scale in habitat selection studies and conservation strategies is crucial for understanding and meeting elk habitat needs.

Implications

Results

Methods

Introduction

(2) Temporal delineations:•We recorded elk behavior and habitat use for at least three 24 hour periods per month.•Seasonal delineations were determined by climatic data.•Diel delineations were determined by linear regression, predicting elk behavior by time of day.

(3) Habitat selection:•Temporally delineated elk locations were overlaid on the habitat model.•Resource Selection Probability Functions (RSPFs) generated habitat selection models for each temporal delineation. •Other variables considered in the RSPF were distance to roads, distance to water, and distance to recreational trails.•We compared diel and seasonal models to the null model (the model not considering temporal scale) by information criteria.

(1) Habitat modeling:•We sampled stratified-random vegetation transects based on vegetation type, aspect, canopy cover, treatment history, and fire history. •At each transect, we measured herbaceous and shrub biomass, herbaceous cover and diversity, tree basal area, and visibility. •Transect data was used to predict vegetative biomass and visibility with generalized linear models across the study area using spatial covariates (vegetation type, aspect, canopy cover, treatment history, and fire history).

Diel Behavioral Patterns 12:00: Elk Locations

RSPF: Summer - Dawn

06:00: Elk locations

Problem:Temporal scale has been neglected in studies of habitat selection, although it has been shown to alter data interpretation in studies of behavior, habitat use, and habitat selection. Project Objective:We tested for seasonal and diel differences in elk habitat selection for 25 GPS-collared elk (Cervus canadensis) in the Jemez Mountains of north-central New Mexico.

Problem:•Temporal scale has been neglected in studies of habitat selection, although it has been shown to alter data interpretation in studies of behavior, habitat use, and habitat selection.

Project Objective:•We tested for seasonal and diel differences in elk habitat selection for 25 GPS-collared elk (Cervus canadensis).

Problem:Temporal scale has been neglected in studies of habitat selection, although it has been shown to alter data interpretation in studies of behavior, habitat use, and habitat selection.

Diel location comparisons:

100

120

Foraging Resting Vigilant Traveling

Variable Mean SE CI.LL CI.UL P-value

(Intercept) -17.0091 1.64313 -19.8365 -14.1817 0

Fire (within 1 year) -1.3669 1.11464 -3.28491 0.55111 0.234

Fire (1-2 years since) -0.09383 0.14403 -0.34167 0.15401 0.522

Fire (> 10 years since) -1.29791 0.85084 -2.76199 0.16617 0.142

Grassland 8.13831 2.11378 4.50104 11.77558 0.001

Ponderosa Forest 3.60226 1.65726 0.75054 6.45398 0.041

Spruce-Fir Forest 8.24299 2.10012 4.62922 11.85676 0.001