Data from: "Imprinted habitat selection varies across dispersal phases in a raptor species"

Natal Habitat Preference Induction (NHPI) plays a significant role in shaping settlement decisions in dispersive animals. Despite its importance, limited research has explored how NHPI varies during natal dispersal phases and across different types of natal habitats. In this study, we examined NHPI in 77 GPS-tagged juvenile red kites (Milvus milvus) originating from different natal habitats along an elevational gradient in Switzerland. We applied individual-based step selection analysis to investigate habitat selection from independence to settlement. We found that during the prospecting phase, individuals predominantly selected habitats similar to their natal environments. However, this pattern changed in the settlement phase: individuals fledged from habitats at higher elevations or closer to urban areas mostly avoided similar habitats (negative NHPI), while those from areas with more farmlands or pastures (combined with forests) showed a preference for similar habitats (positive NHPI). Moreover, the magnitude and individual variation in NHPI differed depending on the natal habitat types from which individuals originated. These findings highlight that strength, direction, and individual variation in NHPI differ between natal habitat types and dispersal phases. Natal habitats therefore can have pervasive legacy effects on subsequent habitat selection, likely affecting population and range dynamics.出生栖息地偏好诱导（Natal Habitat Preference Induction, NHPI）对扩散性动物的定居决策具有显著的塑造作用。尽管其重要性不言而喻，但目前仅有有限的研究探讨了NHPI在出生扩散阶段以及不同类型出生栖息地间的变化特征。本研究针对77只佩戴GPS追踪器的幼年红鸢（Milvus milvus）展开分析，这些个体的出生栖息地均来自瑞士境内沿海拔梯度分布的不同类型区域。我们采用基于个体的步长选择分析方法，探究个体从独立生活到最终定居过程中的栖息地选择行为。研究发现，在探勘阶段，幼年红鸢主要选择与其出生环境相似的栖息地。但这一模式在定居阶段发生了转变：从高海拔或靠近城区的栖息地出飞的个体，大多回避与其出生环境相似的栖息地（表现为负向NHPI）；而从多农田或牧场（结合森林覆盖）的栖息地出飞的个体，则偏好相似栖息地（表现为正向NHPI）。此外，NHPI的强度与个体间差异因个体来源的出生栖息地类型不同而存在差异。上述研究结果表明，NHPI的强度、方向以及个体间差异均因出生栖息地类型和扩散阶段而异。因此，出生栖息地会对后续的栖息地选择产生广泛的遗留效应，进而可能对种群动态与分布范围动态产生影响。