Locations of GPS-collared moose and geographic correlates, as well as for random points within study area

Moose are among the many species that are vulnerable to both direcdt and indirect effects of climate change. Habitat selection is one framework to assist investigators in disentangling the various factors (including weather) that ultimately dictate how animals respond to their environment. We investigated patterns of winter habitat selecdtion by adult female moose in southerwestern MOntana, USA, during 2007-2010, and how that selection was affected by snow (quantified by snow water equivalent) and winter temperatures. We used data from GPS colalrs and a suite of environmental covariates to quantify winter habitat selection at both study area (2nd order) and home range (3rd order) spatial scales using resource selection functions. Moose strongly select for the willow (Salix spp.) cover type, and against grassland cover. Moose use of conifer cover at the home range scale increased when either amount of snow or ambient temperature was higher, altough the latter only during periods of the d...驼鹿是受气候变化直接与间接影响的脆弱物种之一。生境选择是帮助研究人员厘清最终决定动物如何响应所处环境的各类因素（包括天气状况）的分析框架之一。本研究于2007-2010年间，针对美国蒙大拿州西南部的成年雌性驼鹿，调查了其冬季生境选择模式，以及该选择如何受积雪（以雪水当量（snow water equivalent）量化）与冬季气温的影响。本研究借助GPS项圈（GPS collars）采集的数据与一系列环境协变量，采用资源选择函数（resource selection functions），在研究区域（二阶）与家域（三阶）两个空间尺度上量化了驼鹿的冬季生境选择。驼鹿对杨柳属（Salix spp.）覆被类型具有强烈的选择偏好，同时规避草原覆被。当积雪量或环境气温升高时，驼鹿在家域尺度上对针叶林覆被的利用比例会上升，不过后者仅在……时期才会出现该效应