Sa. Mcclean et al., EVALUATION OF RESOURCE SELECTION METHODS WITH DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS OF AVAILABILITY, The Journal of wildlife management, 62(2), 1998, pp. 793-801
Because resource selection is of paramount importance to ecology and m
anagement of any species, we compared 6 statistical methods of analyzi
ng resource selection data, given the known biological requirements of
radiomarked Merriam's wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo; merriami) hen
s with poults in the Black Hills of South Dakota. A single variable, h
abitat, was used for the comparisons. Hen turkeys with poults are idea
l for these comparisons because poults have narrow dietary protein req
uirements, and habitats that meet these requirements are well document
ed. We also tested the effects on the statistical methods of varying t
he habitats considered as available. Availability of habitats was defi
ned by 100-, 200-, and 400-m-radii buffers around individual poult loc
ations and also as the total study area. The 6 statistical techniques
gave different results because of how the methods addressed variabilit
y in habitat use of individual birds and how availability was defined.
These differences made identification of a ''best'' technique difficu
lt. Only 1 method (Neu's) identified habitat selection patterns consis
tent with known requirements of poults at all levels of habitat availa
bility.: However defining availability at the study-area level was gen
erally superior to use of circular buffers. We recommend that during a
nalyses of resource selection researchers include the study-area level
of habitat availability based on the distribution of radiomarked anim
als.