RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A ‘How-to’ Guide for Interpreting Parameters in Resource- and Step-Selection Analyses
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2020.11.12.379834
DO 10.1101/2020.11.12.379834
A1 John Fieberg
A1 Johannes Signer
A1 Brian Smith
A1 Tal Avgar
YR 2020
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/11/25/2020.11.12.379834.abstract
AB Resource-selection and step-selection analyses allow researchers to link animals to their environment and are commonly used to address questions related to wildlife management and conservation efforts. Step-selection analyses that incorporate movement characteristics, referred to as integrated step-selection analyses, are particularly appealing because they allow modeling of both movement and habitat-selection processes.Despite their popularity, many users struggle with interpreting parameters in resource-selection and step-selection functions. Integrated step-selection analyses also require several additional steps to translate model parameters into a full-fledged movement model, and the mathematics supporting this approach can be challenging for biologists to understand.Using simple examples, we demonstrate how weighted distribution theory and the inhomogeneous Poisson point-process model can facilitate parameter interpretation in resource-selection and step-selection analyses. Further, we provide a “how to” guide illustrating the steps required to implement integrated step-selection analyses using the amt package.By providing clear examples with open-source code, we hope to make resource-selection and integrated step-selection analyses more understandable and accessible to end users.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.