Home Range, Movements, and Habitat Selection

Abstract

Home range, movements, and habitat selection are commonly used metrics to examine the response of vertebrates to habitat change. Localized habitat disturbance from land management activities, such as forest management, have been proposed as a threat to Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister) populations (Castleberry et al. 2001). Dependence upon rock outcrops makes Allegheny woodrats especially vulnerable to disturbance in habitat surrounding the outcrop. Local disturbances can change vegetative structure and resource distribution, and these have been shown to influence demographics, home range size, and microhabitat use of rodents (Yahner 1986, Bowers et al. 1990, Jones 1990, Lacher and Mares 1996, Taulman et al. 1998). Few data are available on home range, movements, and habitat selection by the Allegheny woodrat. Furthermore, few studies have examined the effects of local disturbances on these aspects of woodrat ecology. In this chapter, I summarize the existing knowledge on home range, movements, and habitat use in general and how these variables are influenced by local disturbance, such as timber harvesting.