Habitat complexity and prey composition shape an apex predator’s habitat use across contrasting landscapes

This dataset contains snow-track observations of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx)
and its main prey species collected across central and southern Finland
between 2016 and 2020 within the Wildlife Triangle Scheme. The data
include spatial records of species presence along standardized transects,
combined with environmental and landscape variables describing forest
structure, terrain complexity, and land cover. In addition, the dataset
integrates information on prey species, including mountain hare (Lepus
timidus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), and white-tailed deer
(Odocoileus virginianus), enabling the analysis of predator–prey spatial
associations. The dataset was used to support joint species distribution
modelling (HMSC) to evaluate relationships between lynx habitat use,
environmental conditions, and prey distribution at a large spatial scale.
Analyses based on these data indicate that lynx habitat use is
consistently associated with structurally complex forests and
heterogeneous terrain across regions. However, regional differences in
prey availability are reflected in contrasting spatial associations
between lynx and prey species. These results indicate that lynx adjust
their space use in response to prey availability while maintaining a
consistent preference for structurally complex habitats typical of
stalk-and-ambush predators. The analysis demonstrates how variation in
environmental conditions and prey community composition is reflected in
spatial patterns of habitat use, and how these patterns may contribute to
population-level resilience.