A utilization distribution is a probability distribution giving the probability density that an animal is found at a given point in space. It is estimated from data sampling the location of an individual or individuals in space over a period of time using, for example, telemetry or GPS based methods.

Estimation of utilization distribution was traditionally based on histograms but newer nonparametric methods based on Fourier transformations,[1] kernel density[2] and local convex hull methods have been developed.

The typical application for this distribution is estimating the home range distribution of animals. According to Lichti & Swihart (2011),[3] kernel density methods provided, in many cases, less biased home-range area estimates compared to convex hull methods.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Anderson, D. John (February 1982). "The Home Range: A New Nonparametric Estimation Technique". Ecology. 63 (1): 103–112. doi:10.2307/1937036. ISSN 0012-9658. JSTOR 1937036.
  2. ↑ Worton, B. J. (February 1989). "Kernel Methods for Estimating the Utilization Distribution in Home-Range Studies". Ecology. 70 (1): 164–168. doi:10.2307/1938423. ISSN 0012-9658. JSTOR 1938423.
  3. ↑ Lichti, Nathanael I.; Swihart, Robert K. (February 2011). "Estimating utilization distributions with kernel versus local convex hull methods". The Journal of Wildlife Management. 75 (2): 413–422. doi:10.1002/jwmg.48. ISSN 0022-541X.


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