Data for: Mechanisms and impacts of migration by moose: the role of wildfire
Data files
May 13, 2026 version files 56.45 KB
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Data_migration_for_Dryad.csv
29.68 KB
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Data_summary_for_Dryad.csv
24.53 KB
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README.md
2.24 KB
Abstract
This dataset contains movement‑strategy classifications and monitoring metadata for GPS‑collared moose (Alces americanus) used to evaluate the ecological drivers and consequences of partial migration in landscapes affected by wildfire and other natural and anthropogenic disturbances (Koetke et al. 2026). Individuals were classified as residents, migrants, nomads, dispersers, or mixed migrants using the migrateR package (Spitz et al. 2017). These data support analyses presented in the associated publication examining how wildfire disturbance influences migratory decisions, and how movement strategy relates to parturition, adult survival, and cause‑specific mortality.
The dataset includes:
- Movement classification data for each individual and year.
- Monitoring metadata, including number of GPS fixes and start/end dates of collar deployment.
Raw GPS locations are not included due to data‑ownership restrictions and the sensitivity of high‑resolution wildlife location data.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.ns1rn8q79
Description of the data and file structure
This dataset contains derived movement‑strategy classifications and monitoring metadata for GPS‑collared moose used to evaluate the ecological drivers and consequences of partial migration in landscapes influenced by wildfire and other disturbances.
The dataset does not include raw GPS telemetry locations due to data‑ownership restrictions and the sensitivity of high‑resolution wildlife location data. Only non‑spatial, non‑sensitive derived data are provided.
Files and variables
File: Data_migration_for_Dryad.csv
Description: Annual movement‑strategy classifications for each individual moose.
Variables
- studyarea: BigCreek, Bonaparte, Entiako, JPRF, or PGS
- collarID: unique individual identifier
- year: calendar year of classification
- movement: resident, migrant, nomad, disperser, or mixed migrant
File: Data_summary_for_Dryad.csv
Description: Monitoring metadata for each collared moose.
Variables
- studyarea: BigCreek, Bonaparte, Entiako, JPRF, or PGS
- collarID: unique individual identifier
- GPS_locations: number of GPS collar locations
- monitoring_start: date and time of start of monitoring using GPS collar (MM/DD/YY HH:MM)
- monitoring_end: date and time of end of monitoring using GPS collar (MM/DD/YY HH:MM)
Access information
Raw data used to derive the data provided here can be obtained by contacting the Integrated Data and Analysis Services Branch, BC Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship (SPI_Mail@gov.bc.ca) and the John Prince Research Forest (dexter.hodder@unbc.ca).
References
Koetke, L. J., C. J. Johnson, D. P. Hodder, M. Anderson, and C. Horn. 2026. Mechanisms and impacts of migration by moose: the role of wildfire. Ecological Applications. In press.
Spitz, D. B., M. Hebblewhite, and T. R. Stephenson. 2017. ‘MigrateR’: extending model-driven methods for classifying and quantifying animal movement behavior. Ecography 40:788-799.