We flew aerial line-transect surveys to estimate the range-wide population size of lesser prairiechickens (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) in the Great Plains, United States in 2012 and 2013. We also estimated the number of lesser prairie-chicken leks, the number of mixed-species leks that contained both lesser and greater prairie-chickens (T. cupido) and the number of hybrid lesser-greater prairie-chickens where these species' ranges overlap. The study area included the 2011 estimated occupied lesser prairie-chicken range in 5 states and was divided into 4 ecoregions. We created a sampling frame over the study area, consisting of 536 15-Â 15-km grid cells. We flew 512 transects within a probabilistic sample of 256 cells totaling 7,680 km in 2012 and 566 transects within a probabilistic sample of 283 cells totaling 8,490 km in 2013. We estimated a total of 34,440 individual lesser prairie-chickens in 2012 (17,615 in 2013) and 350 hybrid lesser-greater prairie-chickens in 2012 (342 in 2013) in the study area. We estimated a total of 2,930 lesser prairie-chicken leks in 2012 (2,037 in 2013) and 453 lesser and greater prairie-chicken mixed leks in 2012 (356 in 2013) in the study area. We discuss the implications of alternative sampling designs with regard to conservation questions to be addressed. Ó 2014 The Wildlife Society.
There are three species of Neotropical cats whose northernmost distribution reaches the USA-Mexico border region: the jaguar Panthera onca, ocelot Leopardus pardalis and jaguarundi Herpailurus yagouaroundi. To ensure the long-term viability of Neotropical cat populations in this region it is imperative to identify current distribution and status in the northern limits of their range to conserve important populations effectively. The purpose of this study was to construct a blueprint of priority conservation areas for each species in the border region. This was done by (1) compiling reliable sightings for each species from the early 1900s to 2003, (2) conducting field surveys to ascertain species presence, and (3) conducting a geographical information system based habitat mapping workshop in which 29 scientists and conservationists provided information on the distribution and status of each species. Participants were asked to delineate and describe specific areas in the border region where historical and recent sightings of Neotropical cats have occurred, resulting in a compilation of 864 felid sightings of which 283 where reliable and had physical evidence. Twenty-one Cat Conservation Units and seven Cat Conservation Corridors were identified as areas in which to concentrate efforts for protecting felids. Only 8.9% of these Corridors and 1.1% of the Units currently have any protection. An additional 12 Corridors and 12 Units were identified as areas requiring further study.
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