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Nesting And Brood Rearing Success And Resource Selection Of Greater Sage Grouse In Northwestern South Dakota
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Book Synopsis Nesting and Brood-rearing Success and Resource Selection of Greater Sage-grouse in Northwestern South Dakota by : Nicholas W. Kaczor
Download or read book Nesting and Brood-rearing Success and Resource Selection of Greater Sage-grouse in Northwestern South Dakota written by Nicholas W. Kaczor and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 170 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Book Synopsis Nesting and Brood-rearing Habitat Selection of Greater Sage-grouse and Associated Survival of Hens and Broods at the Edge of Their Historic Distribution by : Katie M. Herman-Brunson
Download or read book Nesting and Brood-rearing Habitat Selection of Greater Sage-grouse and Associated Survival of Hens and Broods at the Edge of Their Historic Distribution written by Katie M. Herman-Brunson and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Book Synopsis Ecology, Conservation, and Management of Grouse by : Brett K. Sandercock
Download or read book Ecology, Conservation, and Management of Grouse written by Brett K. Sandercock and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2011-09-04 with total page 376 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Summarizing current knowledge of grouse biology, this volume is organized in four sections--spatial ecology, habitat relationships, population biology, and conservation and management--and offers insights into spatial requirements, movements, and demography of grouse. Much of the research employs emerging tools in ecology that span biogeochemistry, molecular genetics, endocrinology, radio-telemetry, and remote sensing".--Adapted from publisher descrip tion on back cover
Book Synopsis Greater Sage-grouse Nest Site Selection, Brood-rearing Site Selection, and Chick Survival in Wyoming by : Leslie Ann Schreiber
Download or read book Greater Sage-grouse Nest Site Selection, Brood-rearing Site Selection, and Chick Survival in Wyoming written by Leslie Ann Schreiber and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 97 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) populations have been declining across North America since at least the 1960's due to degradation of essential sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) habitat, resulting in their recent listing as "warranted but precluded" under the Endangered Species Act. These declines have been linked to measures of reproductive success which may be affected by nesting habitat. Inadequate nesting habitat may contribute to decreased nesting success; consequently, knowledge of vegetation and structural characteristics selected by nesting female sage-grouse at the microhabitat scale might promote effective conservation and management of sage-grouse habitat. We monitored radio-equipped female sage-grouse (n = 44 in 2011, 52 in 2012, 46 in 2013) in south-central Wyoming to assess nest-site selection prior to construction of a wind energy facility. Sage-grouse selected nest-sites with increased lateral visual obstruction 22.9−45.7 cm above the ground. Our findings are supported by previous research demonstrating that sage-grouse, and tetraonids in general, select for structural cover to conceal nests from predators and to possibly facilitate a favorable microclimate for the nest. Currently, the required structural cover is supplied by sagebrush and tall bunchgrasses. If improving sage-grouse nesting habitat is a priority, managers should consider practices aimed at enhancing plant communities composed of tall bunchgrasses and sagebrush.
Book Synopsis Greater Sage-Grouse by : Steven T. Knick
Download or read book Greater Sage-Grouse written by Steven T. Knick and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2011-05-19 with total page 664 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Here's everything one needs to know about sage-grouse, but it's much more than that. From the probing analyses of sage-grouse biology, one gains a broader understanding the ecology and conservation imperatives of sagebrush habitats throughout the West."—John A. Wiens, Chief Conservation Science Officer, PRBO Conservation Science "The threats facing Sage-grouse and the sagebrush habitats of the West are as vast as the landscape itself. Anyone’s foray into confronting this monumental conservation challenge should begin in the pages of this book.”-Ben Deeble, Sagebrush-Steppe Project Leader
Book Synopsis Seasonal Habitat Selection and Breeding Ecology of Greater-sage-grouse in Carbon County, Montana by : Erin Leslie Gelling
Download or read book Seasonal Habitat Selection and Breeding Ecology of Greater-sage-grouse in Carbon County, Montana written by Erin Leslie Gelling and published by . This book was released on 2022 with total page 139 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter ‘sage-grouse’) are the focus of much research and conservation efforts owing to their obligate relationship with sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) and dramatic population declines over the last 50 years. Sage-grouse are a partially migratory species with three main seasonal habitats during breeding, summer, and winter. Anthropogenic disturbances can impact habitat and areas used by sage-grouse during all three seasons. Sage-grouse also exhibit low productivity that is limited, in part, by nest and chick survival. As uniparental incubators, nesting can be energetically costly for female sage-grouse because they have limited mobility when their precocial chicks are young. In addition, habitat characteristics have been shown to differ between brood-rearing female sage-grouse and broodless females (i.e., females without broods). Therefore, to sustain sage-grouse populations, focus should be on increasing vital rates for adult females, chicks, and nests—the life stages that most influence population growth. Research is thus critical to better understand the relationships between life stages of sage-grouse and their seasonal habitats, particularly during breeding and summer brood-rearing. The focus of my thesis was to assess the influence of natural and anthropogenic features on sage-grouse seasonal habitat selection, assess factors influencing sage-grouse nest survival and attentiveness, and assess habitat selection and behavior between brood-rearing and broodless female sage-grouse. By focusing on habitat selection across three seasons, during reproductive and non-reproductive states, and across second, third, and fourth-order habitat selection, wildlife managers will have better information to manage sage-grouse habitat to sustain or increase survival for adult females, broods, and nests. More specifically, this information will inform areas to prioritize management, restoration, and conservation to benefit sage-grouse populations and add to the body of knowledge of basic sage-grouse breeding ecology. In Chapter 1, I examined natural and anthropogenic landscape features that influence sage-grouse habitat selection during breeding, summer, and winter seasons. I used data from 85 GPS-tagged female sage-grouse in Carbon County, Montana and Park County, Wyoming spanning April 2018–April 2020. I found natural and anthropogenic features combined best explained sage-grouse habitat selection for all three seasons. Sage-grouse habitat selection differed between each season with sagebrush cover being important for breeding and agricultural fields being important in summer. In general, sage-grouse selected for sagebrush or shrub characteristics and lower slopes and avoided major roads, residential development, and oil and gas. However, anthropogenic disturbances were not always avoided and sometimes sage-grouse selected areas closer to these disturbances, such as agricultural fields during summer or roads during winter. I created predictive maps from resource selection function modeling to depict relative probability of use for each seasonal range to be used in wildlife management and conservation planning. In Chapter 2, I focused on nest survival and attentiveness. Nest success is an important part of the breeding process that has implications for population growth. I described sage-grouse incubation behavior, examined whether sage-grouse incubation behavior influenced nest survival, and evaluated factors that influenced sage-grouse incubation behavior. For this chapter, I used data collected from my study area in Carbon County, Montana and Park County, Wyoming and a separate study area in the Red Desert of Carbon and Sweetwater counties, Wyoming. I used 131 nests to describe sage-grouse incubation behavior and 118 nests to examine nest survival and average recess duration. I found nest survival was higher in Bridger compared to Red Desert. I found incubation constancy was higher and recesses shorter for adults compared to yearlings. I found nest survival was higher with increased minimum temperature and reduced with longer recesses. Recess duration was shorter with greater sagebrush cover within 30 m and recesses were longer with higher minimum temperature and day of incubation. Factors influencing nest survival and incubation patterns will be important for directing management to improve sage-grouse nest success and to clarify to researchers and managers our understanding of the basics of sage-grouse nesting biology. In Chapter 3, I focused on habitat selection, activity patterns, and ranges of both brood-rearing and broodless females during the breeding season. I examined behavior and reproductive state influence on microhabitat selection, daily and seasonal range sizes, and daily activity levels for brood-rearing and broodless females. I sampled microhabitat for 36 females, estimated ranges for 38 females, and measured activity for 43 females. I found females with broods 0–2 weeks selected microhabitat characteristics when night roosting and females with broods 3–5 weeks selected microhabitat characteristics when foraging and night roosting. However, broodless females showed no selection for microhabitat based on behavior. I also found differences in activity levels for both brood-rearing and broodless females throughout the day. Broods 0–2 weeks had the smallest ranges while broods 3–5 weeks and broodless females had larger daily and seasonal ranges. Differences in habitat selection, range size, and behavior warrants management to conserve areas used by both brood-rearing and broodless female sage-grouse in a population, whereas most past efforts focused primarily on habitat used by brood-rearing females. The Wildlife Society Bulletin has accepted this chapter for publication with Drs. Jeffrey Beck and Aaron Pratt as coauthors.
Book Synopsis Preliminary Analysis of Greater Sage-Grouse Reproduction in the Virginia Mountains of Northwestern Nevada by : U.S. Department of the Interior
Download or read book Preliminary Analysis of Greater Sage-Grouse Reproduction in the Virginia Mountains of Northwestern Nevada written by U.S. Department of the Interior and published by CreateSpace. This book was released on 2014-03-30 with total page 38 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Relationships between habitat selection and population vital rates of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter sage-grouse), recently designated as a candidate species under the Endangered Species Act, within the Great Basin are not well-understood. The growing development of renewable energy infrastructure within areas inhabited by sage-grouse is thought to influence predator and vegetation communities. For example, common ravens (Corvus corax), a synanthropic sage-grouse nest predator, are increasing range-wide and select transmission lines and other tall structures for nesting and perching. In the Virginia Mountains of northwestern Nevada, we collected preliminary information of space-use, habitat selection, and population vital rates during the nesting and brood-rearing period over two years on 56 sage-grouse. Additionally, videography at nest sites (n = 22) was used to identify sage-grouse nest predators. The study area is a potential site for renewable energy developments (i.e., wind and solar), and we plan to continue monitoring this population using a beforeafter- control-impact study design. The results reported here are preliminary and further data is required before conclusions can be drawn from this population of sage-grouse.
Book Synopsis Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus Urophasianus) Nesting and Brood-rearing Microhabitat in Nevada and California by : Peter S. Coates
Download or read book Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus Urophasianus) Nesting and Brood-rearing Microhabitat in Nevada and California written by Peter S. Coates and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 79 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Book Synopsis Resource Selection, and Demographic Rates of Female Greater Sage-Grouse Following Large-Scale Wildfire by : Lee Jacob Foster
Download or read book Resource Selection, and Demographic Rates of Female Greater Sage-Grouse Following Large-Scale Wildfire written by Lee Jacob Foster and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 181 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Understanding the effects of habitat disturbance on a species' habitat selection patterns, and demographic rates, is essential to projecting the trajectories of populations affected by disturbance, as well as for determining the appropriate conservation actions needed to maintain those populations. Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is a species of conservation concern in western North America. The distribution of the species has been reduced by approximately half since European settlement, with concurrent and continuing population declines across its occupied range. The primary threats to the species are habitat alteration and loss, caused by multiple factors. In the western portion of its distribution, increasing wildfire activity is a primary cause of habitat loss and degradation. Single wildfires in this area may now reach extremely large sizes (>100,000 ha), and wildfires have been linked to local population declines. However, no published studies, to date, have examined the immediate effects of large-scale wildfire on sage-grouse habitat selection and demographic rates, using modern telemetry methods. I studied the habitat selection patterns, nest success, and survival of adult, and yearling female sage-grouse, captured within or near the Holloway fire, using state-of-the-art GPS-PTT telemetry methods. The Holloway fire burned ~187,000 ha of highly productive sage-grouse habitat in August, 2012. My study began during the first spring post-fire (March, 2013), and continued through February, 2015. I monitored seasonal habitat use patterns, and site-fidelity of sage-grouse, and modeled third-order seasonal resource selection, using mixed effects resource selection functions, in relation to characteristics of the post-fire habitat mosaic, terrain, mesic habitat availability, and herbaceous vegetation regeneration. I described sage-grouse nesting habitat use, nesting effort, and modeled daily nest survival in relation to temporal patterns, patch scale vegetation, biological factors, and landscape-scale habitat composition. I modeled adult and yearling female sage-grouse survival in relation to temporal patterns, biological factors, and landscape-scale habitat composition. Female sage-grouse primarily exhibited a three range seasonal movement pattern, with differentiation between breeding-nesting-early brood-rearing habitat (mean use dates: 8 Mar - 12 Jun), late brood-rearing-summer habitat (13 Jun - 20 Oct), and winter habitat (21 Oct - 7 Mar). However there was variation in seasonal range behavior among individuals. Sage-grouse exhibited considerable fidelity to all seasonal ranges, for individuals which survived >1 yr, mean distance between seasonal range centroids of the same type were 1.80 km, 1.65 km, and 3.96 km, for breeding ranges, summer ranges, and winter ranges, respectively. Within seasonal ranges, sage-grouse exhibited third-order resource selection patterns similar to those observed for populations in undisturbed habitats. Sage-grouse, at the population level, selected for level terrain throughout the year. During the breeding season sage-grouse selected for areas with increased amounts of intact sagebrush land-cover within a 1-km2 area around used locations, areas of increased NDVI values within a 6.25-km2 area, an amount of mesic habitat within a 6.25-km2 area roughly equal to that available on the landscape, and mid-level elevations. During summer, sage-grouse, at the population level, selected for an areas with an intermediate density of burned-intact habitat edge within a 1 km2 area, areas of increased NDVI values within a 6.25-km2 area, intermediate distances to mesic habitat, and high elevations. During winter, sage-grouse, at the population level, selected for increased amounts of intact sagebrush land-cover within a 0.089-km2 area, areas with decreased variation in NDVI within a 0.089-km2 area, an amount of mesic habitat within a 6.25-km2 area roughly equal to that available on the landscape, and intermediate elevations. There was considerable variation in third-order resource selection patterns among individuals during all seasons. Sage-grouse nest success was consistently low during the study (2013: 19.3%, 2014: 30.1%), and nest initiation rates were average to high (2013: 1st nest initiation = 90.5%, 2nd nest initiation = 23.1%; 2014: 1st nest initiation = 100%, 2nd nest initiation = 57.1%). Daily nest survival rates were influenced by an interaction between year and nesting attempt, and by forb cover within 5 m of the nest. Nest survival over the incubation period was consistently low for 1st and 2nd nests during 2013, and for 1st nests during 2014 (range: 0.131 - 0.212), but increased to 0.744 for 2nd nests during 2014. Forb cover within 5 m of the nest had a positive effect on daily nest survival rates, with a 1% increase in forb cover increasing the probability of a nest surviving a given day by 1.02 times. We did not detect strong direct effects of habitat or biological characteristics on survival of adult and yearling female sage-grouse. Rather, survival varied by month with lowest survival occurring in April and August of each year, and highest survival occurring during the winter. While patterns of monthly survival were similar between years, there was a strong, negative additive effect on survival which extended from the beginning of the study (March, 2013), through the end of the first post fire growing season (July, 2013). Although monthly survival increased following the end of the 1st post-fire growing season, yearly survival over both the 1st and 2nd biological years post-fire was low (March 2013 - February 2014: 24.0%; March 2014 - February 2015: 37.9%). These results indicate that female greater-sage grouse do not respond to wildfire related habitat disturbance through emigration, and rather continue to attempt to exist and reproduce in habitats disturbed by wildfire during the immediate years following a fire. While, due to site-fidelity, sage-grouse are not able to leave wildfire affected seasonal ranges, within those seasonal ranges they still attempt to utilize habitat components which most closely match their life-history requirements. However, this behavior appears to have an acute fitness cost to individuals, with reduced nesting success and survival of individuals utilizing fire-affected habitats during the first two years post-fire. This reduction in demographic rates likely explains observed sage-grouse population declines following wildfire, and indicates that these population declines are not the result of sage-grouse emigration away from fire-affected leks, but rather a true decline in the number of individual sage-grouse on the landscape following large-scale wildfire.
Book Synopsis Breeding Season Habitat Use and Response to Management Activities by Greater Sage-grouse on Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada by : Dawn M. Davis
Download or read book Breeding Season Habitat Use and Response to Management Activities by Greater Sage-grouse on Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada written by Dawn M. Davis and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page 268 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) have experienced declines throughout their range over the last 50 years. Long-term declines in sage-grouse abundance in Nevada and Oregon have been attributed to reduced productivity. From 1995-1997, sage-grouse production on Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge (SNWR), Nevada was greater compared to Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge (HMNAR), Oregon. Specific causes for the difference were unknown. Thus, the objectives were to: 1) Determine sage-grouse breeding season habitat use (especially with regard to wildfire) on SNWR; 2) Evaluate reproductive parameters to discern differences between SNWR and HMNAR; 3) Compare habitat components which may relate to differences in sage-grouse reproductive success on SNWR and HMNAR; and 4) Establish hematological and serum chemistry reference ranges for sage-grouse hens to assess physiological condition. Cover type was important in selection of nest sites at SNWR; however, nest cover did not affect nesting success and nest-site selection was not related to experience. Vegetative characteristics at successful nest sites were similar to unsuccessful nests but nest sites had greater amounts of tall residual grass (≥18 cm) and medium height shrub cover (40-80 cm) than at random sites. Broods used areas with greater forb cover than random sites, indicating use was influenced by availability of forbs. Plant communities in wildfire and associated control sites did not differ appreciably in species composition. Although burning had little stimulatory effect on total forb cover 10-12 years post-burn, alteration of the sagebrush community did not limit sage-grouse use for successful nesting and brood-rearing. Fire did not negatively impact arthropod abundance. Differences in habitat use and sage-grouse productivity between SNWR and HMNAR may be related to differences in forb availability. Forb cover was greater at HMNAR than at SNWR for all cover types. Correspondingly, home range size for sage-grouse broods was greater on SNWR than at HMNAR. Nutrient analysis of forbs indicated higher crude protein, potassium, and magnesium levels at HMNAR than at SNWR; however, these nutrients are not likely to be deficient in most sage-grouse diets. Thus sagebrush-steppe communities supporting these forbs likely meet the dietary nutritional requirements of sage-grouse. Although blood calcium and uric acid levels were greater in sage-grouse hens on HMNAR than at SNWR, differences were attributed to capture date. Furthermore, physiological condition did not affect a hen's ability to nest successfully, nor was condition related to a hen's ability to recruit chicks to 1 August. Causes of sage-grouse decline are varied, but ultimately they are habitat based. Comparisons of reproductive parameters and habitat evaluations, combined with sage-grouse physiology data, may provide insight into habitat differences between study areas not previously recognized. Land management practices (e.g., prescribed fire) which recast the balance of native herbaceous species in degraded big sagebrush communities, may be necessary in the restoration of sagebrush-steppe ecosystems, and ultimately, the recovery of sage-grouse populations.
Book Synopsis Influence of Habitat Characteristics on Greater Sage-grouse Reproductive Success in the Montana Mountains, Nevada by : James L. Rebholz
Download or read book Influence of Habitat Characteristics on Greater Sage-grouse Reproductive Success in the Montana Mountains, Nevada written by James L. Rebholz and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 128 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) populations have declined across their geographic range during the last century. They were once widespread throughout the Intermountain West, but lower annual productivity, likely caused by degradation and loss of suitable habitat, has greatly reduced their distribution and population densities. Habitat used for reproduction has been well described, but relationships between habitat characteristics and reproductive output are less understood. Nesting success and chick survival are both important factors influencing annual productivity of sage-grouse. Several studies have investigated the effects of vegetation characteristics on nest success, but due to the variability of vegetation communities across the range, further work is necessary to clarify results from these studies. The relationships between habitat characteristics and chick survival are not as clearly understood. We initiated a study in the Montana Mountains of northwestern Nevada to describe nesting and early brood-rearing habitat and compare hypotheses describing potential relationships between habitat characteristics and reproductive success. In 2004 and 2005, we monitored 84 sage-grouse hens during the reproductive period and quantified fine-scale habitat characteristics at nest and brood sites. We quantified the vegetation structure at successful and unsuccessful nests and related individual habitat characteristics to the odds of a nest hatching successfully. Individually marked chicks were monitored for 3 weeks after hatching to measure associations of forb, grass and sagebrush cover, and food availability with chick survival. Grass cover beneath the nest shrub was the best predictor of nest outcome, and increasing amounts of grass cover improved the likelihood of a nest hatching successfully. Conversely, grass cover at early brood sites was negatively associated with chick survival. Early brood sites with greater forb cover were associated with higher sage-grouse chick survival. There was a weak relationship between sagebrush canopy cover at the nest shrub and hatch success, but sagebrush cover did not appear to have an effect on chick survival in the Montana Mountains. Finally, we examined the relative importance of maternally-influenced variables for chick survival. Total plasma protein levels (TPP) of pre-laying hens have been linked to reproductive success and may be an indication of early spring habitat quality. We evaluated the association of TPP levels with sage-grouse chick survival, and also tested chick weight and chick sex to determine if they influenced chick survival. Total plasma protein levels were a good indicator of chick survival and may indicate a relationship between early spring forb availability and chick survival. Chick survival did not appear to be related to sex or weight at capture. These results are similar to earlier studies that described the importance of herbaceous understory for both nest success and early brood-rearing. Management activities focusing on the restoration and maintenance of vegetation communities with intact herbaceous understories will likely improve sage-grouse reproductive success and annual production.
Book Synopsis Nest Site Selection and Brood Home Ranges of Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus Urophasianus) in the Centennial Valley, Montana by : Sean Rudolf Schroff
Download or read book Nest Site Selection and Brood Home Ranges of Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus Urophasianus) in the Centennial Valley, Montana written by Sean Rudolf Schroff and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 82 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The purpose of this study was to estimate the fine-scale nest site selection of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) and to investigate the differences in brood home range size in response to cattle grazing in the Centennial Valley, Montana. A total of 111 sage-grouse hens were captured across two breeding seasons (2014-2015). Hens were captured on leks using spotlighting/dip netting techniques. A total of 90 nests were found across both breeding seasons using radio-collared sage-grouse (VHF). Vegetation surveys were conducted at nests and random sites that measured the nest shrub and the cover within 3 m of the nest. All habitat variables that were included in the top model (GLMs) were nest shrub morphological characteristics and the cover provided by the nest shrub. It appears that sage-grouse are selecting nest sites based on the concealment provided by the nest shrub. Forty-five percent of nests were under mountain big sagebrush plants (Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana), 21% nests were under three-tip sagebrush (A. tripartita), and 20% of nests were under basin big sagebrush plants (A. tridentata ssp. tridentata). Nests under mountain big sagebrush and three-tip sagebrush shrubs provided twice the amount of lateral cover that basin big sagebrush provided. Of the 90 nests found, 18 produced successful broods. Grazing utilization levels, grass heights, and dominant sagebrush type were recorded at brood locations and extrapolated to estimate those values across the brood’s home range. Two sample t-tests were used to test if there was a difference between the habitat variables in grazed and ungrazed pastures as well as by habitat type. Grazing utilization levels were on average 4% in brood home ranges across both years of the study. There was no year effect in brood home range size and brood home range size did not differ by grazed and ungrazed pastures or across the two habitat types the broods used. Brood home range size is most likely delineated by other factor(s) besides cattle grazing. Managers should focus on conserving continuous stands of mountain big sagebrush and three-tip sagebrush habitats because they provide higher concealment for nesting and were highly used for brood-rearing.
Book Synopsis Nesting and Brood Rearing Ecology of Sharp-tailed Grouse in Relation to Specialized Grazing Systems by :
Download or read book Nesting and Brood Rearing Ecology of Sharp-tailed Grouse in Relation to Specialized Grazing Systems written by and published by . This book was released on 1988 with total page 170 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Book Synopsis Habitat Requirements and Management Recommendations for Sage Grouse by : Mayo W. Call
Download or read book Habitat Requirements and Management Recommendations for Sage Grouse written by Mayo W. Call and published by . This book was released on 1974 with total page 46 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This Technical Note is primarily a review of literature on the fundamental habitat requirements of sage grouse and habitat management methods that may be used to perpetuate the species. It does not reiterate the life history, past distribution, species characteristics, and population dynamics"--Page 1.
Book Synopsis Greater Sage-Grouse by : Steve Knick
Download or read book Greater Sage-Grouse written by Steve Knick and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2011-05-19 with total page 665 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Admired for its elaborate breeding displays and treasured as a game bird, the Greater Sage-Grouse is a charismatic symbol of the broad open spaces in western North America. Unfortunately these birds have declined across much of their range—which stretches across 11 western states and reaches into Canada—mostly due to loss of critical sagebrush habitat. Today the Greater Sage-Grouse is at the center of a complex conservation challenge. This multifaceted volume, an important foundation for developing conservation strategies and actions, provides a comprehensive synthesis of scientific information on the biology and ecology of the Greater Sage-Grouse. Bringing together the experience of thirty-eight researchers, it describes the bird’s population trends, its sagebrush habitat, and potential limitations to conservation, including the effects of rangeland fire, climate change, invasive plants, disease, and land uses such as energy development, grazing, and agriculture.
Book Synopsis Habitat Resource Selection by Greater Sage Grouse Within Oil and Gas Development Areas in North Dakota and Montana by : Kristin A. Fritz
Download or read book Habitat Resource Selection by Greater Sage Grouse Within Oil and Gas Development Areas in North Dakota and Montana written by Kristin A. Fritz and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 94 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Book Synopsis Evaluation of Greater Sage-grouse Reproductive Habitat and Response to Wind Energy Development in South-central, Wyoming by : Chad W. LeBeau
Download or read book Evaluation of Greater Sage-grouse Reproductive Habitat and Response to Wind Energy Development in South-central, Wyoming written by Chad W. LeBeau and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 120 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The demand for clean renewable energies and tax incentives has prompted a nationwide increase in wind energy development. Renewable energy development is occurring in a wide variety of habitats potentially impacting many species including greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). Greater sage-grouse require contiguous intact sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) habitats. The addition of wind energy infrastructure to these landscapes may negatively impact population viability. Greater sage-grouse are experiencing range-wide population declines and are currently listed as a candidate species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The purpose of my study was to investigate the response of greater sage-grouse to wind energy development. Mine is the first study to document the short-term effects of wind energy infrastructure on greater sage-grouse habitat selection, nest, brood, and female survival, and male lek attendance. I hypothesized that greater sage-grouse would select for habitats farther from wind energy infrastructure, particularly wind turbines, during the nesting, brood-rearing, and summer periods. In addition, I hypothesized that greater sage-grouse nest, brood, and female survival would decline in habitats with close proximity to wind turbines. Lastly, I hypothesized that greater sage-grouse male lek attendance would experience greater declines from pre wind energy development to 4 years post development at leks with close proximity to wind turbines compared to leks farther from turbines. My study area was located in south-central Wyoming between the towns of Medicine Bow and Hanna and consisted of one study area influenced by wind energy development (Seven Mile Hill) and a second study area that was not impacted by wind energy development (Simpson Ridge). I identified 14 leks within both study areas and conducted lek counts at each of these leks from 2008 to 2012. I captured 116 female greater sage-grouse from both study areas from 2009 to 2010. I equipped each female grouse with a VHF necklace-mounted transmitter and monitored them via telemetry during the nesting, brood-rearing, and summer periods within both study areas from 2009 to 2010. I documented greater sage-grouse habitat selection as well as nest and brood-rearing success and female survival. I used binary logistic regression in a use versus availability study design to estimate the odds of habitat selection within both study areas during the nesting, brood-rearing, and summer periods. I used Cox proportional hazards and Andersen-Gill survival models to estimate nest, brood, and female survival relative to wind energy infrastructure. Lastly, I used ratio of means tests and linear mixed effects models to estimate the degree of decline in male lek attendance at leks influenced by wind energy development versus leks with no influence 1 year prior to development to 4 years post development. Greater sage-grouse did not avoid wind turbines during the nesting and brood-rearing periods, but did select for habitats closer to turbines during the summer season. Greater sage-grouse nest and brood survival decreased in habitats in close proximity to wind turbines, whereas female survival appeared not to be affected by wind turbines. Peak male lek attendance within both study areas experienced significant declines from 1 year pre development to 4 years post development; however, this decline was not attributed to the presence of the wind energy facility. The results from my study are the first examining the short-term impacts to greater sage-grouse populations from wind energy development. Greater sage-grouse were not avoiding the wind energy development two years following construction and operation of the wind energy facility. This is likely related to high site fidelity inherent in sage-grouse. In addition, more suitable habitat may exist closer to turbines at Seven Mile Hill, which may also be driving selection. Fitness parameters including nest and brood survival were reduced in habitats of close proximity to wind turbines and may be the result of increased predation and edge effects associated with the wind energy facility. Lastly, wind energy infrastructure appears not to be affecting male lek attendance 4 years post development; however, time lags are characteristic in greater sage-grouse populations, which may result in impacts not being quantified until 2-10 years following development. Future wind energy developments should identify greater sage-grouse nest and brood-rearing habitats prior to project development to account for the decreased survival in habitats of close proximity to wind turbines. More than 2 years of occurrence data and more than 4 years of male lek attendance data may be necessary to account for the strong site fidelity and time lags present in greater sage-grouse populations.
