Results
After you submit, the result block stays here above the form and below the header.
No calculation yet. Use the sample coordinates or paste your own projected movement fixes, then press Calculate Home Range.
Calculator Inputs
Example Data Table
| Fix | X | Y | Field Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | Morning shelter point |
| 2 | 2 | 1 | Feeding movement |
| 3 | 4 | 2 | Transit path |
| 4 | 5 | 4 | Water edge usage |
| 5 | 3 | 6 | Upper slope activity |
| 6 | 1 | 5 | Resting zone |
| 7 | -1 | 3 | Cover patch entry |
| 8 | -2 | 1 | Return route |
The included sample assumes coordinates are in kilometers, so the default meters-per-unit value is 1000.
Formula Used
1) Minimum Convex Polygon area: The calculator builds a convex hull around all fixes and computes area with the shoelace formula.
2) Equivalent circle area: It measures the farthest fix from the centroid, then applies A = πr².
3) Bounding box area: It multiplies the horizontal span by the vertical span.
4) Unit conversion: Raw coordinate-area units are converted using (meters per unit)².
5) Adjusted home range: Adjusted Area = Raw Area × (1 + Buffer%) × Habitat Factor × Seasonal Factor × (1 − Overlap%).
6) Core area: Core Area = Adjusted Area × Core Percent.
7) Optional allometric comparison: Expected Area = a × Massb. Supply your own species-specific parameters if you use this comparison.
How to Use This Calculator
Prepare animal movement fixes in one projected coordinate system. UTM meters or local kilometer grids work well.
Paste one point per line in the coordinates box. Each line should contain x,y or x y.
Choose the primary model. MCP is common for quick field summaries, while circle and bounding box offer simpler envelope checks.
Set the conversion scale. If your coordinates are already meters, use 1. If coordinates are kilometers, use 1000.
Add optional ecological adjustments. Use habitat and seasonal factors to widen or narrow the estimate, then subtract any overlap you want excluded.
Select your output unit, press Calculate Home Range, and review the result cards, plot, and downloadable reports.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) What does this calculator estimate?
It estimates the area regularly used by an animal based on coordinate fixes. It also reports core area, centroid, spread, and optional ecological adjustments.
2) Should I use latitude and longitude directly?
No. Convert geographic coordinates into a projected system first. Area formulas work best when x and y are in consistent distance units like meters or kilometers.
3) When is MCP the best choice?
MCP is useful when you want a standard outer envelope around observed fixes. It is common in ecological summaries, but it can be sensitive to outlier points.
4) Why include habitat and seasonal factors?
Field data often need interpretation. These factors let you widen or narrow the raw estimate to reflect habitat suitability, drought, breeding season, or other ecological context.
5) What does overlap percent mean?
Overlap percent subtracts a chosen share from the adjusted range. It is useful when you want a net usable area after accounting for overlap with another range or restricted habitat.
6) What is core area?
Core area is a selected fraction of the adjusted home range. Researchers often use it to represent the most intensively used portion of the animal’s space.
7) What is the allometric comparison for?
It provides a reference estimate using your own coefficient and exponent. Because species vary greatly, you should only use parameters supported by your study design.
8) Can I export the results?
Yes. After calculating, you can download a CSV summary and a PDF report containing the main metrics and plotted output.