Table 1. Description of variables included in the panther hunting habitat model for private lands in the primary, secondary, and dispersal zones of panther habitat in southwest Florida.
| Variable | Description | Hypothesis |
|---|---|---|
| Cattle Density | # of cattle/km2 [26]. | Areas of low cattle density will contain a high probability of panther presence |
| Distance from edge (m) | Distance from edge between cover and open environments (forest and shrub cover = cover environments; improved pasture and prairie = open environments). Distance measured in 10 m intervals (10 m into cover, the edge, and 10 to ≥60 m into open environment). | Panthers use edge as a hunting environment so the probability of presence will be higher close to edge environments [13]. |
| Forest edge density (km/4.5 km2) | Forest edge defined as the line between forest polygons (upland and wetland forests) and any land cover polygon forming a natural edge with the forest (excludes urban, crops, mines). Forest edge density measured within 4.5km2.* | Surrogate for prey abundance / availability as primary prey species (white tailed deer and hog) are considered edge species [14,15]. Probability of presence will be higher in areas of high forest edge density |
| Forest patch size (ha) | Patch size (ha) of wetland and upland forests | Panthers select for the smallest (0.1–1.0 ha), intermediate (5.1–10.0 ha) and largest (>1000 ha) classes of forest patch size [12]. Probability of presence will be higher in these patch sizes. |
| Percent forest cover | The percent of upland and wetland forests within 4.5km2. * | Panthers select for upland and wetland forests and panthers use upland forests more than other habitat classes during nighttime hours [12]: Probability of presence will be greater in areas of high % forest cover. |
| Improved pasture patch size | Patch size (ha) of improved pastures. | Small patches of improved pasture that lie within a heterogeneous landscape create hunting edge for panthers and will have higher probability of presence [12,13]. Large patches create areas of poor stalking habitat that will have lower probability of presence. |
| Land cover | Land cover classes reclassified from the FNAI Cooperative Land Cover database v.2.3 (upland forest, wetland forest, shrub-brush-prairie, non-forested wetlands, unimproved pasture, improved pasture, row crops, citrus groves). | Panthers select for upland and wetland forest [12]. Probability of presence will be highest in these land cover classes. |
| Dominant land cover | Land cover class that occurs most often within 4.5 km2.* | Panthers select for upland and wetland forest [12]. Probability of presence will be highest in areas where these land cover classes occur most often. |
*Scale based on average area used by panthers during a 24-hr period.