Accuracy of estimating wolf summer territories by daytime locations

American Midland Naturalist
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Abstract

We used locations of 6 wolves (Canis lupus) in Minnesota from Global Positioning System (GPS) collars to compare day-versus-night locations to estimate territory size and location during summer. We employed both minimum convex polygon (MCP) and fixed kernel (FK) methods. We used two methods to partition GPS locations for day-versus-night home-range comparisons: (1) daytime = 0800–2000 h; nighttime = 2000–0800 h; and (2) sunup versus sundown. Regardless of location-partitioning method, mean area of daytime MCPs did not differ significantly from nighttime MCPs. Similarly, mean area of daytime FKs (95% probability contour) were not significantly different from nightime FKs. FK core use areas (50% probability contour) did not differ between daytime and nighttime nor between sunup and sundown locations. We conclude that in areas similar to our study area day-only locations are adequate for describing the location, extent and core use areas of summer wolf territories by both MCP and FK methods.
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Accuracy of estimating wolf summer territories by daytime locations
Series title American Midland Naturalist
DOI 10.1674/0003-0031-165.2.436
Volume 165
Issue 2
Year Published 2011
Language English
Publisher University of Notre Dame
Publisher location Notre Dame, IN
Contributing office(s) Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Description 10 p.
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title American Midland Naturalist
First page 436
Last page 445
Country United States
State Minnesota
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