Relationships between gas field development and the presence and abundance of pygmy rabbits in southwestern Wyoming

Germaine, Stephen S.; Carter, Sarah K.; Ignizio, Drew A.; Freeman, Aaron T.

doi:10.1002/ecs2.1817

Cited by 9 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…We hypothesize that a similar decrease in space use also affected pygmy rabbits during construction in other areas of available habitat along the Ruby Pipeline. Additionally, that short‐term reduction in space use could eventually lead to a reduction in the presence and abundance of pygmy rabbits in our study area, as has been documented in other studies (Pierce et al , Germaine et al ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

“…That avoidance likely occurred from habitat loss and an increase in edge along the ROW. In other studies, pygmy rabbits avoided open areas associated with mechanical treatment where sagebrush was removed (Wilson et al , Pierce et al ), as well as where roads, well pads, and buried utility lines from oil and gas development were constructed (Germaine et al ). Additionally, the proportion of active pygmy rabbit burrows and relative abundance of pygmy rabbits near areas cleared of sagebrush were reduced after mechanical treatments (Pierce et al ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We expected to document direct mortality as a result of construction activities at the pipeline ROW ( sensu United States Fish and Wildlife Service , Germaine et al ). However, we did not document increased mortality of pygmy rabbits associated with construction, although variation was relatively large around that estimate of survival.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The pipeline ROW in our study area was much larger (i.e., $75 m) than a 2-lane highway, and the restriction in movements across the pipeline ROW we observed may reduce gene flow for rabbits in our study area, as well as for rabbits along the length of the Ruby Pipeline in potential habitat until sagebrush is restored. We expected to document direct mortality as a result of construction activities at the pipeline ROW (sensu United States Fish and Wildlife Service 2010, Germaine et al 2017). However, we did not document increased mortality of pygmy rabbits associated with construction, although variation was relatively large around that estimate of survival.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…steppe is being removed and fragmented (Knick 1999, Knick et al 2003, Morris and Rowe 2014. This vegetation type has been negatively influenced by a variety of anthropogenic impacts (Germaine et al 2017). Energy development, conversion to agriculture, unmanaged grazing, invasive species, and changes in fire frequency have resulted in the loss and fragmentation of sagebrush landscapes (Barney and Frischknecht 1974, D'Antonio and Vitousek 1992, Braun et al 2002, Thines et al 2004, Evans and Rollins 2008.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Space use, movements, and survival of pygmy rabbits in response to construction of a large pipeline

et al. 2018

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Little is known about how energy development affects pygmy rabbits (Brachylagus idahoensis). We quantified space use, movements, and survival of pygmy rabbits before and after construction of the Ruby Pipeline in Utah, USA, from 2010 to 2012. For 18 rabbits captured in and near the pipeline right‐of‐way (ROW) 1 month before construction, 95% kernel home ranges and 50% core areas were ≥3.7 times smaller 1 month after construction. Additionally, those 18 pygmy rabbits shifted the center of 50% core areas away from the ROW following construction (truex¯ = 34 m, SD = 36.3, range = −11 to 119 m). Also, 95% kernel home ranges and 50% core areas for 40 rabbits captured in and near the ROW and monitored for 18 months after construction were ≥2.6 times smaller than estimates of similar space use for 25 rabbits in a reference area during the same time. Only 3 of 22 rabbits captured in or near the ROW before construction began crossed the ROW during the 18 months following construction. Weekly estimates of survival for rabbits in or near the ROW were similar before, during, and after construction; and similar to survival rates for rabbits in a reference area. Our results will contribute to biologists’ understanding of the influence of habitat removal and fragmentation associated with the construction of linear features on pygmy rabbits and their habitat. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Space use, movements, and survival of pygmy rabbits in response to construction of a large pipeline

et al. 2018

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Greater Sage‐Grouse Response to the Physical Footprint of Energy Development

et al. 2020

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Energy infrastructure and associated habitat loss can lead to reduced reproductive rates for a variety of species including the greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). Our goal was to refine our understanding of how the physical footprint of energy development relates to sage‐grouse nest and brood survival. Our survival analyses were conditional upon the amount of surface disturbance female sage‐grouse were exposed to during reproductive stages. We quantified levels of exposure and compared them to the surface disturbance levels of the surrounding area. From 2008–2014, we collected data in 6 study areas in Wyoming, USA, containing 4 primary types of renewable and nonrenewable energy development. Our research focused on press disturbance (i.e., disturbance sustained after initial disturbance and associated with existing energy infrastructure and human activity). Our results suggest exposure to press disturbance during nesting and brood‐rearing was related to lower nest and brood survival, which manifested at different spatial scales. Our analysis of nest survival suggested that the likelihood of a successful nest was negatively associated with the amount of press disturbance within an 8‐km² area. Broods exposed to any press disturbance within a 1‐km2 area were less likely to survive compared to broods not exposed to press disturbance. Female sage‐grouse consistently used habitat with lower disturbance levels during reproductive periods. Greater than 90% of nest and brood‐rearing locations were in habitat with <3% press disturbance within a 2.7‐km2 area. Our research links surface disturbance associated with press disturbance to reproductive costs incurred by sage‐grouse exposed to diverse energy development. Our results demonstrate a pattern of female avoidance of areas where press disturbance was high during nesting and brood‐rearing and survival of nests and broods were highest in areas that had the least amount of disturbance. Our findings underscore the importance of minimizing disturbance to maintain viable sage‐grouse populations. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.

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Response of greater sage‐grouse to sagebrush reduction treatments in Wyoming big sagebrush

Smith,

Levan,

Chalfoun

et al. 2023

Wildlife Monographs

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Vegetation treatments have been widely implemented in efforts to enhance conditions for wildlife populations. Yet the effectiveness of such efforts often lack rigorous evaluations to determine whether these practices are effective for targeted species. This is particularly important when manipulating wildlife habitats in ecosystems that are faced with multiple stressors. The sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystem has been altered extensively over the last century leading to declines of many associated species. Wyoming big sagebrush (A. tridentata wyomingensis) is the most widely distributed subspecies, providing important habitats for sagebrush‐obligate and associated wildlife. Sagebrush often has been treated with chemicals, mechanical treatments, and prescribed burning to increase herbaceous forage species released from competition with sagebrush overstory. Despite many studies documenting negative effects of sagebrush control on greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) habitat, treatments are still proposed as a means of improving habitat for sage‐grouse and other sagebrush‐dependent species. Furthermore, most studies have focused on vegetation response and none have rigorously evaluated the direct influence of these treatments on sage‐grouse. We initiated a 9‐year (2011–2019) experimental study in central Wyoming, USA, to better understand how greater sage‐grouse respond to sagebrush reduction treatments in Wyoming big sagebrush communities. We evaluated the influence of 2 common sagebrush treatments on greater sage‐grouse demography and resource selection. We implemented mowing and tebuthiuron application in winter and spring 2014 and evaluated the pre‐ (2011–2013) and post‐treatment (2014–2019) responses of sage‐grouse relative to these management actions. We evaluated responses to treatments using demographic and behavioral data collected from 620 radio‐marked female greater sage‐grouse. Our specific objectives were to evaluate how treatments influenced 1) sage‐grouse reproductive success and female survival; 2) sage‐grouse nesting, brood‐rearing, and female resource selection; 3) vegetation responses; and 4) forbs and invertebrates. Our results generally suggested neutral demographic responses and slight avoidance by greater sage‐grouse in response to Wyoming big sagebrush treated by mowing and tebuthiuron. Neither mowing nor tebuthiuron treatments influenced nest survival, brood survival, or female survival. Selection for nest and brood‐rearing sites did not differ before and after treatments. Females selected habitats near treatments before and after they were implemented; however, the strength of selection was lower after treatments compared with pre‐treatment periods, which may be explained by a lack of response in vegetation and invertebrates following treatments. Perennial grass cover and height varied temporally yet did not vary systematically between treatment and control plots. Forb cover and species richness varied annually but not in relation to either treatment type. Perennial gr...

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Relationships between gas field development and the presence and abundance of pygmy rabbits in southwestern Wyoming

Cited by 9 publications

References 46 publications

Space use, movements, and survival of pygmy rabbits in response to construction of a large pipeline

Space use, movements, and survival of pygmy rabbits in response to construction of a large pipeline

Greater Sage‐Grouse Response to the Physical Footprint of Energy Development

Response of greater sage‐grouse to sagebrush reduction treatments in Wyoming big sagebrush

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