Relating populations to habitats using resource selection functions

Abstract

Habitat use can be characterized by resource selection functions (RSFs) that are proportional to the probability of an area being used by an animal. We highlight two procedures that have recently been used to relate RSFs to population density, dependent upon which field procedures are practical for a species. These new developments allow RSF models to be interfaced with geographical information systems (GIS) to map the probability of use, and ultimately populations, across landscapes.