Search

The home-range models are subjected to correction for the location of mule deer and the results with uncorrected models were found to be biased low by 18.4% and high by 19.2% compared to corrected estimates.

Habitat use by ruffed grouse during the brood-rearing period is assessed by comparing characteristics of tree, shrub, and ground layers at ruffed grouse brood, and random locations in forests of Quebec, Canada. Females with broods are found to use specific mixed and regenerated clearcut stands, and grouse locations are found to have higher lateral obstruction, higher small-stem density and are closer to roads and trails than random locations.

The estimation of survival distributions for radio-tagged animals is important to wildlife ecologists. Allowance must be made for animals being lost (or censored) due to radio failure, radio loss, or emigration of the animal from the study area. The Kaplan-Meier procedure (Kaplan and Meier 1958), widely used in medical studies to censoring, can be applied to this problem. We developed a simple modification of the Kaplan-Meier procedure that allows for new animals to be added after the study begun. We present 2 examples using telemetry data collected from nothern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) to show the simplicity and utility of the Kaplan-Meier procedure and its modifications. The log rank test used to compare 2 survival distributions can also be modified to allow for additions during the study. Simple computer programs that can be run on a personal computer are available from the authors.