Eurasian lynx GLCs' characteristics for classification with random forest algorithm

Kill rates are a central parameter to assess the impact of predation on prey species. An accurate estimation of kill rates requires correct identification of kill sites, often achieved by field-checking GPS location clusters (GLCs). However, there are potential sources of error included in kill site identification, such as failing to detect GLCs that are kill sites and misclassifying the generated GLCs (e.g. kill for non-kill) that were not field-checked. Here, we address these two sources of error using a large GPS dataset of collared Eurasian lynx, an apex predator of conservation concern in Europe, in three multi-prey systems, with different combinations of wild, semi-domestic, and domestic prey. We first used a subsampling approach to investigate how different GPS-fix schedules affect the detection of GLCs indicating kill sites. Then, we evaluated the potential of the random forest algorithm to classify GLCs as non-kills, small prey kills, and ungulate kills. We show that the number...