Lek fidelity and movement among leks by male Greater Sage‐grouse<i><scp>C</scp>entrocercus urophasianus</i>: a capture‐mark‐recapture approach

Gibson, Daniel D.; Blomberg, Erik J.; Atamian, Michael T.; Sedinger, James S.

doi:10.1111/ibi.12192

Cited by 24 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…Quad = quadratic constraint applied across within‐year interval transition probabilities. N = estimated male population size (Gibson et al ). Age 2 = quadratic relationship of minimum hen age.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variable drivers of primary versus secondary nesting; density‐dependence and drought effects on greater sage‐grouse

Blomberg

Gibson

Atamian

et al. 2017

Journal of Avian Biology

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Organisms seek to maximize fitness by balancing reproductive allocations against mortality risk, given selection pressures inherent to the environment. However, environmental conditions are often dynamic and unpredictable, which complicates the ability to achieve such a balance, and may require reproductive adjustments depending on prevailing conditions. We evaluated the effects of density‐dependent, density‐independent (drought), and individual (age, body condition) factors on nesting decisions of female greater sage‐grouse in the American Great Basin. We obtained relocations and recorded reproductive histories from 287 radio‐marked females over a period of 10 yr, and applied these data to a multi‐state model that estimated probabilities of initiating a first nest (primary nesting rate) or a second nest, given loss of a first (secondary nesting rate). This approach allowed us to evaluate the relative association between nesting rates and covariates while accounting for imperfect detection of nests. Sage‐grouse primary and secondary nesting were influenced differently by density dependence and drought. Primary nesting was high and relatively constant among years despite variable drought conditions, but was negatively associated with population size (density dependence). Secondary nesting was lower and more variable compared to primary nesting, was similarly influenced by density‐dependence, and was also sensitive to drought conditions. Females known to initiate second nests were in better body condition than females that only initiated first nests, and females of intermediate age had higher primary nesting rates, whereas secondary nesting was unaffected by age. Our results suggest that females were more flexible and responded more readily to changing conditions when allocating resources to second nests. These results are consistent with patterns that have been demonstrated for female allocation to clutch size in this system, and suggest that when conditions are poor second nests reflect a tipping point where reproductive costs (increased mortality) outweigh benefits (offspring reproductive value).

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variable drivers of primary versus secondary nesting; density‐dependence and drought effects on greater sage‐grouse

Blomberg

Gibson

Atamian

et al. 2017

Journal of Avian Biology

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“…Previous research observed 15–27% of adult males on ≥2 leks (Wallestad and Schladweiler , Emmons and Braun , Dunn and Braun ), and reported a 3% chance annually a male would move from the lek where it was captured (Gibson et al ). Our estimates were likely higher because we knew where each bird was daily, whereas other studies relied on very high frequency telemetry (Wallestad and Schladweiler , Emmons and Braun , Dunn and Braun ) and resighting and recapturing banded birds (Gibson et al ), which would result in substantially fewer opportunities to observe male sage‐grouse interlek movements. Although we observed wide credible intervals around our seasonal interlek movement estimates (e.g., 95% CI = 0.081–0.686 for 2014), we believe the estimates are reasonable because 67% of the male‐sage‐grouse population never moved among leks, and 33% of males moved among leks, sometimes >10 times.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Male greater sage‐grouse movements among leks

et al. 2017

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Movements among leks by breeding birds (i.e., interlek movements) could affect the population's genetic flow, complicate use of lek counts as a population index, and indicate a change in breeding behavior following a disturbance. We used a Bayesian multi‐state mark‐recapture model to assess the daily probability of male greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) interlek movements and estimate factors influencing movements among leks. We fitted 145 males with solar Argos global positioning systems platform transmitter terminals over 4 years (2011–2014) in Carbon County, Wyoming, USA. The daily probability of a male sage‐grouse moving among leks ranged 0.003 (95% CI = 0.000–0.010) in 2011 to 0.010 (95% CI = 0.001–0.021) in 2013, indicating high daily lek fidelity throughout the season, although there was a 5–42% chance annually a male would move at least once to another lek throughout the season (x¯ days analyzed/M = 55 ± 3.3 days [SE]). Interlek movement probabilities were strongly affected by day of year, peaking early in the lek season. Interlek movements were positively associated with elevation. Seasonal interlek movements occurred more frequently than previously reported, and can bias lek counts in early spring as males move from low to high elevation leks, which reinforces interlek movements as a critical component of lek ecology. © 2016 The Wildlife Society.

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“…These factors may enhance the successful breeding of sage‐grouse at leks in unburned islands. Although movement between leks is uncommon (e.g., Fremgen et al, ; Gibson, Blomberg, Atamian, & Sedinger, ), male sage‐grouse may experience lower lek fidelity in disturbed and fragmented landscapes as compared to intact habitats (Foster et al, ; Schroeder & Robb, ). As a result, the apparent high persistence within unburned islands may also be partly caused by postfire movements of male sage‐grouse from burned leks to unburned island leks.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The potential importance of unburned islands as refugia for the persistence of wildlife species in fire‐prone ecosystems

Steenvoorden

Meddens

Martinez

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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The persistence of wildlife species in fire‐prone ecosystems is under increasing pressure from global change, including alterations in fire regimes caused by climate change. However, unburned islands might act to mitigate negative effects of fire on wildlife populations by providing habitat in which species can survive and recolonize burned areas. Nevertheless, the characteristics of unburned islands and their role as potential refugia for the postfire population dynamics of wildlife species remain poorly understood. We used a newly developed unburned island database of the northwestern United States from 1984 to 2014 to assess the postfire response of the greater sage‐grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus ), a large gallinaceous bird inhabiting the sagebrush ecosystems of North America, in which wildfires are common. Specifically, we tested whether prefire and postfire male attendance trends at mating locations (leks) differed between burned and unburned areas, and to what extent postfire habitat composition at multiple scales could explain such trends. Using time‐series of male counts at leks together with spatially explicit fire history information, we modeled whether male attendance was negatively affected by fire events. Results revealed that burned leks often exhibit sustained decline in male attendance, whereas leks within unburned islands or >1.5 km away from fire perimeters tend to show stable or increasing trends. Analyses of postfire habitat composition further revealed that sagebrush vegetation height within 0.8 km around leks, as well elevation within 0.8 km, 6.4 km, and 18 km around leks, had a positive effect on male attendance trends. Moreover, the proportion of the landscape with cheatgrass ( Bromus tectorum ) cover >8% had negative effects on male attendance trends within 0.8 km, 6.4 km, and 18 km of leks, respectively. Synthesis and applications . Our results indicate that maintaining areas of unburned vegetation within and outside fire perimeters may be crucial for sustaining sage‐grouse populations following wildfire. The role of unburned islands as fire refugia requires more attention in wildlife management and conservation planning because their creation, protection, and maintenance may positively affect wildlife population dynamics in fire‐prone ecosystems.

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Lek fidelity and movement among leks by male Greater Sage‐grouseCentrocercus urophasianus: a capture‐mark‐recapture approach

Cited by 24 publications

References 66 publications

Variable drivers of primary versus secondary nesting; density‐dependence and drought effects on greater sage‐grouse

Variable drivers of primary versus secondary nesting; density‐dependence and drought effects on greater sage‐grouse

Male greater sage‐grouse movements among leks

The potential importance of unburned islands as refugia for the persistence of wildlife species in fire‐prone ecosystems

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