Relevance of home range concepts to game biology

Abstract

include the circular normal model proposed by Calhoun and Casby (1958) and a more general model based on an elliptical shape considered by . Jennrich and Turner (1969), and further modified by Koeppl et al. (1973).These models result in an area estimate, and sometime6 a variance statement. The form developed by Koeppl et al· (1973) includes parameters which take into account home range size, shape, and orientation in space.\ While newer models are including more than one characteristic, it would seem that we should strive for models where estimated parameters include the major variables affecting home range. Furthermore, if the concept is to be useful for comparisons within and among species, the model must allow for statistical testing of differences among these parameters. Similar suggestions were made by Mdiabb (1963) and Schoener (1971) who indicated that the home range concept is closely tied to energy requirements of the particular species. They further suggest that factors such as food density, food selectivity and metabolic rate are important variables in the determination of the home range characteristics.Since it is clear that food can be highly variable in space and time, it is likely that home range size and shape will also vary according to this important parameter.There are many other factors which one can visualize as influencing home range. In following paragraphs, we consider examples of these factors and also review some data which indicate their importance in the concept of home range.We wish to thank the staff and students associated with the Cedar Creek Telemetry Project for ideas and data included in this report.

Home range and activity patterns of red fox Vulpes vulpes breeding females

“…During the breeding season habitat requirements may be quite different from those during the rest of the year (Tester and Siniff 1974). The home range concept is closely tied to energy requirements of each species at any moment of its life (McNab 1963, Goszczyński 1986).…”

Biotelemetry monitoring of translocated Crocodylus niloticus in Lake Ngezi, Zimbabwe

“…Home range is traditionally thought of as the cumulative area over which an animal normally travels per unit of time (Hayne, 1949;Jewell, 1966). In the course of a lifetime, factors such as feeding, breeding and shelter requirements, and social interactions (Tester & Siniff, 1973) result in the formation of activity centres within the home range, which change with the overriding stimulus (Ables, 1969) on a daily or seasonal basis.…”

Dynamics of Moose populations near Rochester, Alberta, 1975-1978

“…As Tester and Siniff (1973) pointed out in assessing the measurement of home range, size generally increases with the number of observations and/ or the length of the observation period. At Rochester there was a direct relationship (r?= 0.71) between the number of Moose locations and the resulting estimate of home range size.…”