DOI: 10.5061/dryad.djh9w0vxd
title: The density of anthropogenic features explains seasonal and behaviour-based functional responses in selection of linear features by a social predator

description: Anthropogenic linear features facilitate access and travel efficiency for
 predators, and can influence predator distribution and encounter rates
 with prey. We used GPS collar data from eight wolf packs and
 characteristics of seismic lines to investigate whether (1) ease-of-travel
 or (2) access to areas presumed to be preferred by prey best explained
 seasonal selection patterns of wolves near seismic lines, and whether the
 density of anthropogenic features led to functional responses in habitat
 selection. At a broad scale, wolves showed evidence of habitat-driven
 functional responses by exhibiting greater selection for areas near
 low-vegetation height seismic lines in areas with low densities of
 anthropogenic features. We highlight the importance of considering
 landscape heterogeneity and habitat characteristics, and the functional
 response in habitat selection when investigating seasonal behaviour-based
 selection patterns. Our results support behaviour in line with search for
 primary prey during summer and fall, and ease-of-travel during spring,
 while patterns of selection during winter aligned best with ease-of-travel
 for the less-industrialized foothills landscape, and with search for
 primary prey in the more-industrialized boreal landscape. These results
 highlight that time-sensitive restoration actions on anthropogenic
 features can affect the probability of overlap between predators and
 threatened prey within different landscapes.
description: see Methods in SREP-18-16624D
description: This file explains all of the variables in each of the datasets
 that accompany:                         <br> "Pigeon, EK, D.
 MacNearney, M. Hebblewhite, M. Musiani, L. Neufeld, J. Cranston, G.
 Stenhouse, F. Schmiegelow, and L. Finnegan"                      
  <br> The density of anthropogenic features explains seasonal and
 behaviour-based functional responses in selection of linear features by a
 social predator<br>                         <br>           
          <br> Dataset files:<br> wDen_LSMALP_m.csv,
 wRend_LSMALP_m.csv, wNom_LSMALP_m.csv, wDen_LSMALP_r.csv,
 wRend_LSMALP_r.csv, wNom_LSMALP_r.csv, <br> wDen_RPCNAR_m.csv,
 wRend_RPCNAR_m.csv, wNom_RPCNAR_m.csv, wDen_RPCNAR_r.csv,
 wRend_RPCNAR_r.csv, wNom_RPCNAR_r.csv                <br> <br>
 File name description:<br> RPCNAR        less-industrialized
 foothills landscape <br> LSMALP        more-industrialized boreal  
      <br> m        travelling<br> r      
  resting-feeding  Variables:   <br> Use      
  used (1) or available (0) steps        <br> pfix        probability
 of obtaining a fix - models from Frair et al. (2004) and Hebblewhite et
 al. (2007)        <br> fAnimalID_YR    animal ID                  
  <br> VEGHT_MEAN    "mean height of vegetation along 100 m
 section of seismic line, m"    <br> SEIS_NEARM  
  "distance to the nearest seismic line (m)"        <br>
 WAM        "mean wet areas mapping (depth to water, m) underneath
 seismic line sections represented as an exponential decay function with a
 threshold of 3 m"        <br> A1k        "density of
 anthropogenic features within 1km radius, km/km2"        <br>
 A70        "density of anthropogenic features within 70m radius,
 km/km2"                    <br> DST_HWY40    "distance to
 highway 40, km"<br> DST_W1M        "distance to 1M
 streams, m"<br> DST_W20k    "distance to 20k streams,
 m"<br> ELEV        "elevation, derived from 25-m digital
 elevation model, m"    <br> TPI        "topographic
 position index from Jenness (2006)"<br> CC        "%
 canopy cover from MODIS & Landsat imagery, 30m resolution from
 Frnaklin et al. (2002) and McDermid et al (2009)", <br>
 CTIPoint    "compound topographic index, terrain wetness from Gessler
 (2000)"<br> E.Seral        "binary variable for early
 seral stage (1), other (0) landcover classification from MODIS &
 Landsat imagery, 30m resolution from Franklin et al. (2002) and McDermid
 et al (2009)"<br> Slope        "slope, derived from 25-m
 digital elevation model, degree"<br> fLee        "binary
 variable for fLee = from NW to E aspect (1) or not (0)"<br>
 fFlat        "binary variable for fFlat = 0° (1), other
 (0) <br> fMixed        "binary variable for mixed forest (1),
 other (0) landcover classification from MODIS & Landsat imagery,
 30m resolution from Franklin et al. (2002) and McDermid et al
 (2009)"<br>                         <br>               
          <br> References                        <br>
 "Frair JL, Nielsen SE, Merrill EH, Lele SR, Boyce MS, Munro RHM, et
 al. Removing GPS collar bias in habitat selection studies. J Appl Ecol.
 2004;41: 201–212. doi:10.1111/j.0021-8901.2004.00902.x"              
          <br> "Hebblewhite M, Percy M, Merrill EH. Are All
 Global Positioning System Collars Created Equal? Correcting
 Habitat-Induced Bias Using Three Brands in the Central Canadian Rockies. J
 Wildl Manage. 2007;71: 2026–2033. doi:10.2193/2006-238"              
          <br> "Jenness J. Topographic position index
 (tpi_jen.avx) extension for ArcView 3.x v. 1.3a
 http://www.jennessent.com/arcview/tpi.htm (2006).<br> "Gessler
 P.E., Chadwick, O.A., Chamran, F., Althouse, L. & Holmes, K.
 Modeling soil–landscape and ecosystem properties using terrain attributes.
 Soil Science Society of America Journal. 64, 2046 (2000).<br>
 "Franklin S.E., Peddle, D.R., & Dechka, J.A. Evidential
 reasoning with Landsat TM, DEM and GIS data for landcover classification
 in support of grizzly bear habitat mapping. International Journal of
 Remote Sensing. 23, 4633-4652 (2002).<br> "McDermid G.J., Hall,
 R.J., Sanchez-azofeifa, G.A., Franklin, S.E., Stenhouse, G.B., Kobliuk, T.
 & Ledrew, E.F. Remote sensing and forest inventory for wildlife
 habitat assessment, Forest Ecology and Management. 257, 2262-2269
 (2009).