EVALUATION OF RESOURCE SELECTION METHODS WITH DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS OF AVAILABILITY

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.