Parameterizing movement using generalized additive models.

aAs part of generalized additive modeling we specified the generalized cross validation option to assign parameters (df) to polynomials depicting daily changes in the distance moved by elk between successive locations.Maternal status was assigned to 34 female Rocky Mountain elk (10 non-parturient and 24 parturient) using information from blood samples (pregnancy-specific protein-B) and field observation (788 h). We assessed how generalized additive models of location data parameterized movement, and how parameterization corresponded with calf status as determined in the field. Results show that among 14 elk for which movement was parameterized by ≥3 df, 13 were observed in the field to be with calf.