How to translate text using browser tools
1 July 2007 Utilization Distribution Estimation Using Weighted Kernel Density Estimators
JOHN FIEBERG
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Ecologists and wildlife biologists have long recognized the importance of random sampling but have largely used haphazard (i.e., nonrandom) designs for collecting location data for home-range and habitat-use studies. Using simulated movement paths, I illustrate the importance of random sampling in obtaining unbiased estimates of space use in home-range and habitat-use studies. Stratified random sampling will typically be more time efficient and easier to implement than simple random sampling. Therefore, I propose 2 weighted kernel density estimators (WKDEs) for use with stratified designs. Simulations indicate that these weighted estimators perform considerably better than traditional kernel density estimators when observations are sampled nonuniformly in time. Lastly, I illustrate the use of WKDEs to analyze data for a female northern white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) collected using Global Positioning Systems with seasonally varying intensity levels. By correcting for nonuniform sampling intensities, these estimators may provide a more accurate description of space use over the fixed study period.

JOHN FIEBERG "Utilization Distribution Estimation Using Weighted Kernel Density Estimators," Journal of Wildlife Management 71(5), 1669-1675, (1 July 2007). https://doi.org/10.2193/2006-370
Published: 1 July 2007
JOURNAL ARTICLE
7 PAGES

This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
+ SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

KEYWORDS
autocorrelation
home range
kernel density
smoothing parameter
Stratified random sampling
utilization distribution
weighted kernel density estimators
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top