Resource Selection Function analyses: Assessing habitat use relative to behavior and resource characteristics/availability for five common marine mammal species in the Southern California Bight

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In 2008- 2012, fifteen aerial surveys of systematic line-transects were conducted in the Southern Californ ia Bight to monitor and obtain baseline data on occurrence, distribution, density, abundance and behavior of marine mammals. Site characteristics at marine mammal locations were analyzed by estimating Resource Selection Functions (RSF) which quantified and described baseline habitat use as a precursor to assessing potential changes in these patterns relative to anthropogenic activities, including Navy exercises.