A hierarchical integrated population model for greater sage-grouse (&lt;i&gt;Centrocercus urophasianus&lt;/i&gt;) in the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment, California and Nevada

Coates, Peter S.; Halstead, Brian J.; Blomberg, Erik J.; Brussee, Brianne E.; Howe, Kristy B.; Wiechman, Lief A.; Tebbenkamp, Joel; Reese, Kerry P.; Gardner, Scott; Casazza, Michael L.

doi:10.3133/ofr20141165

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…To map high‐abundance population centers, we followed the methods and logic very similar to the models developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for the Bi‐State Distinct Population Segment of sage‐grouse (Coates et al. ). Distribution models that combine information about habitat quality and abundance of sage‐grouse from multiple data sources are valuable given recent intensification of sage‐grouse management and policymaking (Coates et al.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Distribution models that combine information about habitat quality and abundance of sage‐grouse from multiple data sources are valuable given recent intensification of sage‐grouse management and policymaking (Coates et al. ). We modified their methods (Coates et al.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We modified their methods (Coates et al. ) to better represent a sage‐grouse population index, because their original technique was developed to highlight management priority areas. Our final population index model incorporated two standardized kernel‐based point density models, representing local and regional scales and our breeding habitat model described earlier.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Importance of regional variation in conservation planning: a rangewide example of the Greater Sage‐Grouse

et al. 2016

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Citation: Doherty, K. E., J. S. Evans, P. S. Coates, L. M. Juliusson, and B. C. Fedy. 2016. Importance of regional variation in conservation planning: a rangewide example of the Greater Sage-Grouse. Ecosphere 7(10):e01462. 10.1002/ecs2.1462Abstract. We developed rangewide population and habitat models for Greater Sage-Grouse (Centro cercus urophasianus) that account for regional variation in habitat selection and relative densities of birds for use in conservation planning and risk assessments. We developed a probabilistic model of occupied breeding habitat by statistically linking habitat characteristics within 4 miles of an occupied lek using a nonlinear machine learning technique (Random Forests). Habitat characteristics used were quantified in GIS and represent standard abiotic and biotic variables related to sage-grouse biology. Statistical model fit was high (mean correctly classified = 82.0%, range = 75.4-88.0%) as were cross-validation statistics (mean = 80.9%, range = 75.1-85.8%). We also developed a spatially explicit model to quantify the relative density of breeding birds across each Greater Sage-Grouse management zone. The models demonstrate distinct clustering of relative abundance of sage-grouse populations across all management zones. On average, approximately half of the breeding population is predicted to be within 10% of the occupied range. We also found that 80% of sage-grouse populations were contained in 25-34% of the occupied range within each management zone. Our rangewide population and habitat models account for regional variation in habitat selection and the relative densities of birds, and thus, they can serve as a consistent and common currency to assess how sage-grouse habitat and populations overlap with conservation actions or threats over the entire sage-grouse range. We also quantified differences in functional habitat responses and disturbance thresholds across the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) management zones using statistical relationships identified during habitat modeling. Even for a species as specialized as Greater Sage-Grouse, our results show that ecological context matters in both the strength of habitat selection (i.e., functional response curves) and response to disturbance.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Importance of regional variation in conservation planning: a rangewide example of the Greater Sage‐Grouse

et al. 2016

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“…Researchers have begun to use IPMs to evaluate population trends and viability in sage‐grouse (Coates et al. , Davis et al. ).…”

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confidence: 99%

A generalized integrated population model to estimate greater sage‐grouse population dynamics

McCaffery

Lukacs

2016

Ecosphere

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Citation: McCaffery, R., and P. M. Lukacs. 2016. A generalized integrated population model to estimate greater sagegrouse population dynamics. Ecosphere 7(11):Abstract. For species of conservation concern, assessing population dynamics consistently across different populations is of paramount importance to effective conservation and restoration planning. This effort presents a challenge for wide-ranging species with considerable variation in both abundance and demographic rates. Raw counts of individuals are typically used to assess population trends at broad scales, but the demographic rates that explain changes in population size can only feasibly be measured at local scales. We developed a generalized integrated population model, which combines the strengths of these two data types, for the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). We used N-mixture models to estimate annual abundance from counts of males at breeding leks and constructed a two-sex, demographic matrix model using published vital rate estimates for male and female sage-grouse from across their range. We applied the model to 13 years of statewide lek counts for Montana, USA. Then, we applied the model to local, annually varying vital rate estimates and lek count data from a population in the Powder River Basin in Montana and Wyoming. We demonstrate potential for this modeling approach to improve our understanding of sage-grouse population dynamics in a consistent and robust framework, especially as data quality and quantity increases. We use our results to highlight the need for better data on sex and age ratios, female population size, and the proportion of active leks being monitored each year. While our model was focused on the greater sage-grouse, this approach could be applied to a variety of sensitive species to compare population dynamics across a species' range.

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Prairie Grouse

McNew,

Dwayne Elmore,

Hagen

2023

Rangeland Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

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Prairie grouse, which include greater prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido), lesser prairie-chicken (T. pallidicinctus), and sharp-tailed grouse (T. phasianellus), are species of high conservation concern and have been identified as potential indicator species for various rangeland ecosystems. Greater prairie-chickens are found in scattered populations in isolated tallgrass prairie throughout the Midwest, but primarily occur in the more expansive tallgrass and mixed-grass prairies in the Great Plains. Lesser prairie-chickens occur in mixed-grass, shortgrass, and arid shrublands of the southern Great Plains. Sharp-tailed grouse occur in mixed-grass, shortgrass, shrub steppe, and prairie parkland vegetation types and are broadly distributed across the northern Great Plains, portions of the Great Basin, and boreal parkland areas of Alaska and Canada. Due to reliance on a variety of rangeland types, consideration of management and anthropogenic activities on rangelands are critical for prairie grouse conservation. Grazing is one of the more prominent activities that has the potential to affect prairie grouse by altering plant structure and composition, and recent research has attempted to identify the mechanisms of grazing effects on prairie grouse. Fire is another important disturbance affecting grouse habitat, especially considering how the current distribution and intensity of fire differs from what occurred historically. Additionally, human infrastructure in the form of roads and energy development, as well as land conversion and degradation such as tillage and tree encroachment can fragment and reduce habitat for prairie grouse. Finally, weather including drought, extended rain, and temperature extremes are common across the distribution of prairie grouse. Although not directly under management control, the effects of weather are an overarching factor that need to be considered in conservation planning. This chapter will summarize the life-histories and habitat requirements of prairie grouse, discuss how rangeland management and other human activities affect them, highlight major threats to prairie grouse and provide recommendations for future management and research.

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A hierarchical integrated population model for greater sage-grouse (<i>Centrocercus urophasianus</i>) in the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment, California and Nevada

Cited by 5 publications

References 7 publications

Importance of regional variation in conservation planning: a rangewide example of the Greater Sage‐Grouse

Importance of regional variation in conservation planning: a rangewide example of the Greater Sage‐Grouse

A generalized integrated population model to estimate greater sage‐grouse population dynamics

Prairie Grouse

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