Spatial Patterns
Worksheet 3.1
Supplemental Instruction
Iowa State University
Leader:
Course:
Instructor:
Date:
Hannah
AECL 365
Dr. Waldman
11-03-15
1.) The __home__ ___range__ is the area over which a group or individual travels during
normal daily movements.
a.
Name some characteristics of home ranges.
 May be linear (in the ground), 2D (on the ground), or 3D (in the trees,
air)
 NOT defended
 Commonly overlap, yet individuals often avoid each other
 Both individuals and groups can have home ranges
 Larger animals tend to have larger home ranges (reason why males
tend to have large home ranges—usually larger body mass)
 Can be permanent or seasonal home ranges
b. Which species generally have a permanent home range and which are seasonal?
 Many species have permanent home ranges
o Frogs, salamanders, lizards, turtles, snakes, moles, shrews,
woodchucks, etc.
 Migratory species have seasonal home ranges
o Sea turtles, many birds, elk, caribou, etc.
2.) Why is a home range important/valuable (hint: what does familiarity do)?
 Familiarity aids in efficiency of:
o Gathering food
o Seeking shelter
o Avoiding predators (e.g. owl, mice: residents more prepared than
transients since they know how to avoid predators in that range)
o Knowing neighbors (sight, sound; recognizing intruders)
a. The ultimate benefit to having a HR is to increase __fitness__
(reproductive/survival advantage).
3.) The size and shape of a home range depends on the __distribution__ of needed
resources, individual resource needs, and sex of the organism.
a. What happens to HR size when resources are patchy vs. widely dispersed?
 Patchy, locally abundant: tend to decrease home range (e.g. smaller
home range)
 Widely dispersed: tend to increase home range (e.g. larger home
range)
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4.) Name some factors that affect the size of home ranges.
 Age
 Reproductive state
 Population density (higher density  smaller HR)
 Body mass
 Season (change)
 Productivity/Resources
 Diet (herbivore/omnivore vs. carnivore)
 Elevation (larger home range as you go up—less resources)
 Latitude (the further you get from the equator, the larger the HR)
a. These ultimately are related to ___energetics___ (calorie consumption).
5.) A __territory___ is the defended space around a high priority –limited resource from
which competitors are excluded (exclusive occupancy)
a. Why is this type of space defended but a home range is not?
 Access to limited resources
o Food
o Mates
o Nest, sleeping, and display sites
b. The ultimate benefit of this is to increase __fitness___ (reproductive/survival
advantage).
6.) What types of areas are defendable?
 An area that is “economically defendable”—usually an optimal territory
size
 Feeding area: food patch/ Caching area: food storage
 Refuge: burrow, lodge, ledge
 Nest: eggs, sleeping
 Mates: usually temporary (seasonal)
7.) __Interspecific__ __territoriality___ is when different species compete for the same
limited resource.
8.) Explain the difference between fixed and mobile territories.
 Fixed = where animals normally live (physically set area)
 Mobile = for migratory animals
o Can follow a female
9.) Just as in home ranges, territory size depends on the __size__ of the animal and on their
__diet__ (carnivore vs. herbivore).
10.) Defending a territory can lead to ___agonistic____ behaviors including visual, auditory,
and chemical displays/markings (to avoid fighting).
1060 Hixson-Lied Student Success Center  515-294-6624  sistaff@iastate.edu  http://www.si.iastate.edu