Space‐use behaviour reflects trade‐offs in meeting ecological needs and can have consequences for individual survival and population demographics. The mechanisms underlying space use can be understood by simultaneously evaluating habitat selection and movement patterns, and fine‐resolution locational data are increasing our ability to do so. We use high‐resolution location data and an integrated step‐selection analysis to evaluate caribou, moose, bear, and wolf habitat selection and movement behaviour in response to anthropogenic habitat modification, though caribou data were limited. Space‐use response to anthropogenic linear features (LFs) by predators and prey is hypothesized to increase predator hunting efficiency and is thus believed to be a leading factor in woodland caribou declines in western Canada. We found that all species moved faster while on LFs. Wolves and bears were also attracted towards LFs, whereas prey species avoided them. Predators and prey responded less strongly and consistently to natural features such as streams, rivers and lakeshores. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that LFs facilitate predator movement and increase hunting efficiency, while prey perceive such features as risky. Understanding the behavioural mechanisms underlying space‐use patterns is important in understanding how future land‐use may impact predator–prey interactions. Explicitly linking behaviour to fitness and demography will be important to fully understand the implications of management strategies.

Abstract:The issue of Woodland caribou decline has been identified corporately as a top environmental priority for Cenovus energy Inc. Pursuant to this priority, a habitat centric environmental strategy and performance commitments have been developed. Beginning in 2008, Cenovus began applied investigation into the use of silviculture techniques for accelerated restoration, emphasizing the bog and fen forest site types that are characteristic of Boreal caribou habitat. In a larger scale project called LiDea, restoration treatments were ultimately applied to linear features throughout an area of 370 km2 within the Cold Lake herd range. As indicated by metrics at the site level, as well as GPS collar relocations, plant and animal response to restoration treatment are positive from a caribou perspective. Results from the LiDea series of projects have been strong enough to warrant the extension of these forest habitat restoration methods to the landscape scale.PeerJ Preprints | https://doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.2082v1 | CC-BY 4.0

The issue of Woodland caribou decline has been identified corporately as a top environmental priority for Cenovus energy Inc. Pursuant to this priority, a habitat centric environmental strategy and performance commitments have been developed. Beginning in 2008, Cenovus began applied investigation into the use of silviculture techniques for accelerated restoration, emphasizing the bog and fen forest site types that are characteristic of Boreal caribou habitat. In a larger scale project called LiDea, restoration treatments were ultimately applied to linear features throughout an area of 370 km 2 within the Cold Lake herd range. As indicated by metrics at the site level, as well as GPS collar re-locations, plant and animal response to restoration treatment are positive from a caribou perspective. Results from the LiDea series of projects have been strong enough to warrant the extension of these forest habitat restoration methods to the landscape scale.