Birds in a sagebrush sea : managing sagebrush habitats for bird communities /

Paige, Christine; Ritter, Sharon A.

doi:10.5962/bhl.title.141890

Cited by 48 publications

(110 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…The condition of these habitats, however, has changed considerably. Floristic composition and structure in western forests has been altered by timber harvest, grazing, changes in the intensity and frequency of fires, and other silvicultural practices resulting in forests that differ greatly from pre-settlement forests (Hejl et al 1995 (Paige and Ritter 1999). About 35% of the shrubsteppe in the Columbia Plateau has been eliminated (Hann et al 1997), and in the west as a whole less than 1% has been spared of grazing (West 1996).…”

Section: Regional Research Prioritiesmentioning

confidence: 97%

Priority research needs for the conservation of Neotropical migrant landbirds

Donovan¹,

Beardmore²,

Bonter³

et al. 2002

Journal of Field Ornithology

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Section: Regional Research Prioritiesmentioning

confidence: 97%

Priority research needs for the conservation of Neotropical migrant landbirds

Donovan¹,

Beardmore²,

Bonter³

et al. 2002

Journal of Field Ornithology

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“…High rates of nest mortality demonstrated by birds that breed in these habitats may make their populations particularly vulnerable to habitat degradation (Martin 1993). Shrubsteppe communities of the Intermountain West have a unique avifauna that includes several species that are declining (Saab andRich 1997, Dobkin andSauder 2004) and numerous others that are of conservation concern (Paige and Ritter 1999). Sagebrush habitats are among the most imperiled ecosystems in North America as a result of conversion to agricultural fields, removal of sagebrush and planting of introduced grasses to improve livestock forage, widespread energy development, and increasing fire frequency that converts shrubsteppe to annual grasslands (Knick et al 2003; see Plate 1).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fragmention by Agriculture Influences Reproductive Success of Birds in a Shrubsteppe Landscape

Haegen

2007

Ecological Applications

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Shrubsteppe communities are among the most imperiled ecosystems in North America as a result of conversion to agriculture and other anthropogenic changes. In the Intermountain West of the United States, these communities support a unique avifauna, including several species that are declining and numerous others that are of conservation concern. Extensive research in the eastern and central United States and in Scandinavia suggests that fragmentation of formerly continuous forests and grasslands adversely affects reproductive success of birds, yet little is known of the potential effects on avian communities in Western shrublands. I used multi-model inference to evaluate the potential effects of local and landscape variables on nest predation and brood parasitism, and behavioral observations of color-banded birds to evaluate the potential effects of habitat fragmentation on seasonal reproductive success of passerines in the shrubsteppe of eastern Washington State, USA. Reproductive success of shrubsteppe-obligate passerines was lower in landscapes fragmented by agriculture than in continuous shrubsteppe landscapes. Daily survival rates for nests of Brewer's Sparrows (Spizella breweri; n=496) and Sage Thrashers (Oreoscoptes montanus; n=128) were lower in fragmented landscapes, and seasonal reproductive success (percentage of pairs fledging young) of Sage Sparrows (Amphispiza belli; n=146) and Brewer's Sparrows (n=59) was lower in fragmented landscapes. Rates of parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) overall were low (4%) but were significantly greater in fragmented landscapes for Brewer's Sparrows, and parasitism resulted in fewer young fledged from successful nests. Simple models of population growth using landscape-specific fecundity and estimates of adult survival derived from return rates of banded male Sage Sparrows and Brewer's Sparrows suggest that fragmented shrubsteppe in Washington may be acting as a population sink for some species. Immediate conservation needs include halting further fragmentation of shrubsteppe, restoring low-productivity agricultural lands and annual grasslands to shrubsteppe where possible, and convincing the public of the intrinsic value of these imperiled ecosystems.

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“…This response could impact occupancy on a larger scale by this species if habitat treatments for Gunnison Sage-Grouse are designed to reduce sagebrush cover and increase forb understory. The reason for the negative relationship measured is probably due to Sage Sparrows being ground foragers with abundant ground cover impacting their ability to feed (Kingery 1998, Martin and Carlson 1998, Paige and Ritter 1999. Wiens and Rotenberry (1985) found after a habitat treatment reduced sagebrush cover and increased the understory of grasses, Sage Sparrow abundance declined.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fish andWildlife Service 2013). These sagebrush systems have also seen population declines for associated sagebrush song birds (Paige andRitter 1999, North American Bird Conservation Initiative 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Gunnison Sage-Grouse habitat treatment efforts on associated avifauna and vegetation structure

Lukacs¹,

Seglund²,

Boyle³

2015

ACE

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ABSTRACT. Conservation efforts over the last 20 years for the Gunnison Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus minimus) have involved extensive habitat manipulations done predominantly to improve brood rearing habitat for the grouse. However, the effects of Gunnison Sage-Grouse habitat treatments on sympatric avifauna and responses of vegetation to manipulations are rarely measured, and if they are, it is immediately following treatment implementation. This study examined the concept of umbrella species management by retrospectively comparing density and occupancy of eight sagebrush associated songbird species and six measures of vegetation in treated and control sites. Our results suggested that songbird densities and occupancy changed for birds at the extreme ends of their association with sagebrush and varied with fine-scale habitat structure. We found Brewer's Sparrows (Spizella breweri) decreased in density on treated sites and Vesper Sparrows (Pooecetes gramineus) increased. Occupancy estimation revealed that Brewer's Sparrows and Green-tailed Towhees (Pipilo chlorurus) occupied significantly fewer treated points whereas Vesper Sparrows occupied significantly more. Vegetation comparisons between treated and control areas found shrub cover to be 26% lower in treated sites. Lower shrub cover in treated areas may explain the differences in occupancy and densities of the species sampled based on known habitat needs. The fine-scale analysis showed a negative relationship to forb height and cover for the Sage Sparrow (Amphispiza belli) indicating, from vegetation measures showing grass and forb cover during a good precipitation year covered significantly more area in the treatment than the control sites, that Sage Sparrows may also not respond favorably to Gunnison Sage-Grouse habitat treatments. While the concept of an umbrella species is appealing, evidence from this study suggests that conservation efforts aimed at the Gunnison Sage-Grouse may not be particularly effective for conserving other sagebrush obligate species of concern. This is probably due to Gunnison Sage-Grouse habitat management being focused on the improvement of brood rearing habitat which reduces sagebrush cover and promotes development of understory forbs and grasses.Effets des efforts d'aménagement de l'habitat du Tétras du Gunnison sur l'avifaune associée et la structure de la végétation RÉSUMÉ. Les efforts de conservation du Tétras du Gunnison (Centrocercus minimus) au cours des 20 dernières années se sont transposés en d'importantes manipulations de l'habitat visant d'abord à améliorer l'habitat d'élevage des jeunes. Toutefois, les effets de l'aménagement de l'habitat du Tétras du Gunnison sur l'avifaune sympatrique et l'évolution de la végétation à la suite des manipulations sont rarement mesurés, et dans les cas où ils le sont, ces mesures sont prises immédiatement à la suite de l'aménagement. La présente étude examine le concept de gestion par espèces parapluie en comparant rétrospectivement la densité et l'occurrence de huit passereaux associés ...

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Birds in a sagebrush sea : managing sagebrush habitats for bird communities /

Cited by 48 publications

References 44 publications

Priority research needs for the conservation of Neotropical migrant landbirds

Priority research needs for the conservation of Neotropical migrant landbirds

Fragmention by Agriculture Influences Reproductive Success of Birds in a Shrubsteppe Landscape

Effects of Gunnison Sage-Grouse habitat treatment efforts on associated avifauna and vegetation structure

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