Regional Context for Balancing Sagebrush- and Woodland-Dependent Songbird Needs with Targeted Pinyon-Juniper Management

Tack, Jason D.; Smith, Joseph T.; Doherty, Kevin E.; Donnelly, Patrick J.; Maestas, Jeremy D.; Allred, Brady W.; Reinhardt, Jason R.; Morford, Scott L.; Naugle, David E.

doi:10.1016/j.rama.2023.03.006

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 76 publications

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“…Conifer removal is a restoration practice that has the potential to provide significant benefits for declining sagebrush‐associated species with limited harm to woodland‐associated species (Tack et al., 2023; Van Lanen et al., 2023b). Our demographic analysis provides confirmation of the assumed benefits for sagebrush songbirds and allows decision‐makers to quantify the impact of removal treatments on populations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Green‐tailed Towhees are associated with open forest habitats with a shrubby understorey, similar to conifer‐encroached sagebrush areas (Dobbs et al., 2020; Knick et al., 2003; Martin, 1998; Pavlacky & Anderson, 2004), and are a species of management concern in Montana due to population declines (MTNHP, 2021). Other conifer‐dependent species of concern, such as Pinyon Jays ( Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus ), were not present at the study site (Tack et al., 2023).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impacts of umbrella species management on non‐target species

Zarri,

Naugle,

Martin

2024

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Restoration of anthropogenically altered habitats has often focused on management for umbrella species—vulnerable species whose conservation is thought to benefit co‐occurring species. Woody plant encroachment is a form of habitat alteration occurring in grasslands and shrublands around the globe, driven by anthropogenic shifts in disturbance regimes. Conifer encroachment is a pervasive threat to historically widespread sagebrush communities, as trees outcompete sagebrush and can negatively affect sagebrush‐obligate animal species. Degradation and loss of sagebrush plant communities in western North America have been associated with drastic declines in wildlife populations. The imperilled Greater Sage‐Grouse is assumed to be an umbrella species for the sagebrush community, so habitat restoration, including removal of encroaching conifers, is commonly targeted towards sage‐grouse. How this conservation action affects the demography of species other than sage‐grouse is largely unknown. We quantified the demographic effects of landscape‐level restoration of sagebrush communities through conifer removal on an assemblage of sagebrush‐obligate, shrubland generalist and woodland‐associated songbirds. We compared songbird density and reproduction between adjacent restored and uncut conifer‐encroached sagebrush plots in southwest Montana. We found and monitored nests to record nest fate and number of offspring produced. We found demographic benefits for sagebrush‐obligate species in restored areas. Sage Thrashers colonized restored areas. Brewer's Sparrow density was 39% higher and nest success was 63% higher in removal treatments, resulting in 119% higher fledgling production compared with uncut areas. The density of Vesper Sparrows, a shrubland generalist, was 308% higher and fledgling production was 660% higher in restored areas. Another shrubland generalist, the White‐crowned Sparrow, experienced 55% lower density and 37% lower fledgling production in conifer removal areas. Two woodland‐associated species, Chipping Sparrows and Dark‐eyed Juncos, were nearly extirpated following conifer removal. A third woodland associate, the Green‐tailed Towhee, experienced 57% lower density and 69% lower fledgling production in removal than non‐removal areas. Synthesis and applications. Our study demonstrates the benefits of conifer removal for sagebrush‐obligate species, while highlighting species that may be sensitive. Umbrella species management can benefit co‐occurring species with similar habitat associations, but demographic analyses for all impacted species are essential for effective conservation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of umbrella species management on non‐target species

Zarri,

Naugle,

Martin

2024

Journal of Applied Ecology

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A Spatial Prioritization of Conifer Management to Defend and Grow Sagebrush Cores

Reinhardt,

Maestas,

Naugle

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Sagebrush ecosystems across the western U.S. are in decline due to numerous threats, including expansion of coniferous woodlands and forests. The interagency Sagebrush Conservation Design effort recently quantified sagebrush ecological integrity (SEI) to map remaining core sagebrush areas (relatively intact and functional sagebrush ecosystems) and understand spatial and temporal patterns of change relative to primary threats. This work identified conifer expansion as the second leading cause of decline in sagebrush ecological integrity biome wide. Here, we sought to create a spatial prioritization of conifer management that maximizes return-on-investment to defend and grow core sagebrush areas. Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) was used to incorporate a series of biome-level inputs including SEI, invasive annual grass cover and risk, structural connectivity, and conifer cover and expansion vulnerability into a single prioritization based on collaborative expert input. Our analysis identifies priority areas for conifer management across the sagebrush biome, simulates conifer treatments based on those priorities, and estimates potential changes in SEI as a result of targeted treatment. At a broad scale, we found that the highest priority areas for conifer management were largely located east of the Rocky Mountains. This represents a departure from recent landscape-level trends conifer management efforts in sagebrush systems, which were focused primarily pinyon-juniper expansion in the Great Basin. A majority (52%) of the highest priority areas are managed by the Bureau of Land Management, followed by a large proportion (26%) of priority areas located on privately-owned land - particularly in Wyoming and Montana. Targeting simulated conifer treatments using our prioritization resulted in higher within-core targeting percentages (≥93%) than business-as-usual efforts (23.8%), which would result in a four- to eight-fold reduction in the time to treat priority areas within cores. Finally, we demonstrate that these simulated treatments, targeted with our prioritization, have the capacity to improve SEI in and around treatment areas. This work provides an actionable path to 'Defend the Core' as outlined by the Sagebrush Conservation Design effort by helping conservationists more efficiently address conifer expansion in and around core sagebrush areas.

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Regional Context for Balancing Sagebrush- and Woodland-Dependent Songbird Needs with Targeted Pinyon-Juniper Management

Cited by 2 publications

References 76 publications

Impacts of umbrella species management on non‐target species

Impacts of umbrella species management on non‐target species

A Spatial Prioritization of Conifer Management to Defend and Grow Sagebrush Cores

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