My study area includes a number of residential areas (rural) with different population size that are distributed unequally from the grouse sites. Do you think that we can generate fuzzy map with population size (I feel population size variable is a discrete data) across region? if so, how?
On the modeling side of this question, you might benefit from thinking in terms of the Ideal Free Distribution (IFD). Classic source: Sutherland, William J. 1996 From Individual Behaviour to Population Ecology. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
In several carefully documented cases, the IFD predicts rather well how humans distribute themselves with respect to habitat suitability, whether in prehistory [Winterhalder, Bruce, et al. 2010 Ideal Free Settlement of California's Northern Channel Islands. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 29:469-490.] or contemporary circumstances [Mortiz, Mark, et al. 2014 Mobile pastoralists in the Logone floodplain distribute themselves in an ideal free distribution. Current Anthropology 55(1):115-122].
”How can we make a logical relation between human population size and the species habitat selection?”
Without any modeling the logical relation will (probably) be something like this: bigger human population = smaller wild species habitat.
I think you would benefit from considering both the human population size and the spatial distribution of human development. For instance, a clumped pattern of development usually have a lower impact in the environment than a scattered pattern. There are several spatially explicit indicators that allow you quantifying these dimensions. Please, let me know if you need further information on these indicators and provide more details about your study and available data.
Hi Torers
Thanks so much for your answer. As you may know, The Caucasian grouse (lyrurus mlokosiewiczi) is showing the courtship behavior in breeding season at some traditional sites named leks. These leks would not be inactive unless to be threatened. So, It is hypothesized that the locations of leks are dependent to some ecological parameters (biotic and abiotic factors, for example, the human population size(HPS)). About this variable (HPS), the thing that is seemingly ambiguous is that its effects by distance from leks and number of people of every settlements will be different. The question for this is that how to consider these effects on the probability of lek choice? My data in this regards is residential population size and lek locations.
Thank you
Hi Nader,
It sounds familiar since I have worked before with the great bustard (Otis tarda). My feeling with the great bustards is that they exhibit a lower avoidance behavior during the breeding season than the rest of the year, i.e., the individuals are very traditional with their lek sites and they are not going to move unless they are highly threatened, as you said. It does not mean that they are not affected, probably they are but in a different way. Anyway, you might find useful a work of my colleagues describing the most important variables for lek site selection in the great bustard (Alonso et al. Behavioral Ecology 2012 Leks in ground-displaying birds: hotspots or safe places? 23: 491-501). I think is a good example of how to incorporate anthropogenic variables into the analysis. You may try population density instead of human population size or even more complex metrics such as degree of urban dispersion/permeation if you have spatial information of the built-up areas.
Human population size and species habitat selection has no relation. when human population increase in number growth of their houses(habitat) spread horizontally and vertically along with modified environmental conditions. When population in wilderness increase, they face abiotic conditions and biotic interactions. Net results of the forces decides the suitability of habitat.
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