Scale-dependent Habitat Selection by Female Florida Black Bears in Ocala National Forest, Florida

Abstract

Abstract Habitat selection influences many aspects of a species' ecology, and can have substantial management implications. We studied habitat selection by female Ursus americanus floridanus (Florida black bears), a threatened species in Florida, at two different scales: selection of home ranges within the population range and selection of habitat types within home ranges. At the scale of home range selection within the population range, bears showed preference for xeric habitats (xeric oak scrub and Pinus clausa [sand pine] forest) during summer; there was no evidence of habitat selection during fall. At the scale of habitat selection within the home range, bears showed preference for mesic (pine flatwood and swamp forest) and preference against xeric (xeric oak scrub and sand pine forests) habitats; again, there was no evidence of habitat selection during fall. Contrary to expectations, bears did not show preference for habitats that contained hard mast-producing plants. This was at least in part becaus...