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Relationship of Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) Home Range Size to Landscape Characteristics

Abstract We investigated how size and spatial arrangement of landscape-level habitat types influenced home range size of ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) in Virginia. Grouse home ranges were overlaid onto a GIS database derived from Landsat TM imagery (30-m pixel scale) and landscape metrics were calculated for 22 habitat types. We used multiple regression to relate home range size to landscape metrics. The amount of core area within the habitat patches in a bird's home range, number of different habitat types, mean shape index of the habitat patches (all positive relations), and amount of high contrast edge (negative relation) predicted home range size (Radj2 = 0.617, P < 0.01). Our results suggested that landscapes containing small (0.5–5 ha), regularly shaped (e.g., square) patches with high interspersion of preferred habitat types and an extensive amount of high contrast edge will decrease ruffed grouse home range size and movement. Such landscapes may contain ruffed grouse habitat requirements within smaller areas, thereby reducing travel costs, decreasing exposure to predators and increasing survival.