We used standardized regression coefficients to assess the effect size of the predictor variables on the three response variables. Continuous predictor variables were standardized and scaled by dividing their mean by two standard deviations (Gelman, 2008 ). sFMR and the total number of predators were log10 transformed to normalize a right-skewed distribution. Multicollinearity of continuous predictor variables was not an issue because the variance inflation factor (VIF) of all continuous predictor variables remained below 1.5 for all models. We tested the linearity between the predictors and the response variables using a generalized additive mixed model (package gamm4 version 0.2-6). The predictors had an effective degree of freedom (edf) close to 1 and were therefore linearly related to the response variables. Model selection was performed by using the “drop1” protocol of Zuur et al. ( 2009 ) and the Akaike information criteria (AIC). The fit of the models was assessed using plots of model residuals.
For the metabolic rate models on body condition, the final model included sFMR, age class, and days since the start of the data collection, whereas for predator number models, the final model only included number of predators and age class (Table 1). The sum of the field metabolic rate of predators (sFMR) was negatively related to the body condition index of hares (Marginal R 2 = .61) (Table 1). Adult hares had a 21.8% higher body condition index than subadult (p < .001), whereas the body condition index of hares increased during the research period from autumn–winter) (p = .017). For the number of predators' models, while age class was correlated to body condition, the number of predators was not (Table 1).
The full total occupation kcalorie burning of predators (sFMR) is actually positively pertaining to the extra weight of adrenals (Marginal R 2 = .14) (Table dos). The complete quantity of predators, not, is actually unrelated towards weight off hare adrenals (Dining table dos). Additionally, adrenal glands of females have been 0.04 ± 0.017 grams ( ± SE) big than that men throughout the model that have sFMR, not from the design into the total number out of predators. In both cases, brand new portion of hares decide to try, age category, and you will days since the analysis were gathered are not related towards lbs of your adrenals.
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