Survival and Habitat of Ruffed Grouse Nests in Northern Michigan

Larson, Michael; Clark, Margaret E.; Winterstein, Scott R.

doi:10.1676/02-080

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Davis (2017) found that male ruffed grouse selected display locations with greater conifer stem density, and both Berkeley and Gutiérrez (2017) and Davis (2017) showed no effect of conifer use on male display behaviors. Other previous studies observed either limited (< 5%; Bump et al 1947, Maxson 1978) or more frequent use (> 33%; Larson et al 2003) of conifer cover types, but said little regarding their possible effects on vital rates. Thus, the role of conifers in affecting ruffed grouse demographics as a whole remains unclear, but during our study it played a negative role in female survival during nesting.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…Traditional ruffed grouse habitat management suggested that stands with dense midstories are optimal for ruffed grouse nesting because such areas inhibit the growth of an understory (Gullion 1984, Thompson et al 1987), which was thought to be unnecessary for nesting given the concealment provided by the cryptic coloration of females (Bergerud and Gratson 1988). Other studies have supported this claim by showing no effect of nest concealment on either ruffed grouse nest‐site selection or nest success (Larson et al 2003, Tirpak et al 2006), however another study observed greater nesting success in areas with dense understories (Maxson 1978). Although we observed selection of horizontal visual obstruction, this characteristic did not appear to benefit females by increasing their nest success.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Effects of forest characteristics on ruffed grouse nesting ecology in central Maine, USA

et al. 2020

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Effective wildlife management requires a broad understanding of how forest structure and composition influence habitat use and vital rates during all aspects of species' life‐cycles, however habitat characteristics may have variable importance during different life phases. Even though the ruffed grouse Bonasa umbellus is a popular game bird that has long been a focal species for management, a greater understanding of the links between forest characteristics and components of ruffed grouse reproduction would enhance managers' ability to promote the species. We monitored 45 nests belonging to 37 females during 2015–2017 in central Maine, USA, and evaluated the influence of forest characteristics on nest‐site selection, nest survival and female survival while nesting. Ruffed grouse females selected nest sites with greater horizontal visual obstruction (β = 0.16 ± 0.06 85% CI) than found at other sites that were locally available to them, however this characteristic did not appear to improve nest survival or female survival while nesting. Cumulative nest success was 42.8% and daily nest survival was reduced when coarse woody debris (CWD) was present at nest sites (β = –0.41 ± 0.33 85% CI), but we found no evidence that other habitat characteristics or features of nests themselves were related to nest survival. However, reduced female survival while nesting was associated with presence of CWD (β = –1.27 ± 0.91 85% CI), greater tree basal area (β = –0.96 ± 0.81 85% CI) and greater conifer stem density (β = –0.45 ± 0.28 85% CI) at nest sites; females had a 74.4% chance of survival during the length of time required to successfully nest. Our results demonstrate the importance of forest characteristics on multiple components of species' nesting ecology, and we provided management suggestions to promote attractive ruffed grouse nesting habitat while potentially mitigating sources of nesting failure.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Effects of forest characteristics on ruffed grouse nesting ecology in central Maine, USA

et al. 2020

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“…Given that these nest substrates are directly related to the basal area and amount of coarse woody debris in a stand, we believe nest habitat selection in grouse may be driven primarily by the availability of suitable nest sites. Of basal area and coarse woody debris, the former may be the more important predictor of nest habitat because of the greater frequency with which grouse nest against large trees rather than logs or stumps (approximately 2:1; Bump et al 1947, Larson et al 2003. This affinity may also influence the stand timber size classes utilized for nesting.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although brood survival is often considered the more significant of these factors, its importance may be overstated because of systematic underestimation of brood size (Godfrey 1975). Alternatively, nest success may be a more important factor than previously believed; nest survival typically is overestimated because of bias toward locating successful nests (Larson et al 2003). The greater suite of nest predators in the CSA, compared with more northern and central regions, may also exacerbate the role nest success plays in the dynamics of CSA grouse populations (Bergerud and Gratson 1988).…”

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confidence: 99%

Ruffed Grouse Nest Success and Habitat Selection in the Central and Southern Appalachians

Tirpak

Giuliano

Miller

et al. 2006

Journal of Wildlife Management

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Ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus; hereafter, grouse) populations in the central and southern Appalachians are experiencing declines, which may be linked to deteriorating recruitment. Because nest success is an important component of recruitment, understanding the influence of habitat on nest success is important for developing regional grouse management strategies. Therefore, our objectives were to determine grouse nest success rates, characterize nest site selection, and identify habitat characteristics associated with successful nests in this region. From 1995 to 2002, we located 234 nests, of which 147 (63%) were successful (≥1 egg hatched). We characterized habitat at 167 of these nests and compared successful and unsuccessful nests using logistic regression and Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC). Similarly, we characterized nest site selection by pairing 73 nests with 1–8 nearby systematic sites and conducting a matched‐pairs logistic regression followed by AIC. Eleven of 25 candidate models of nest success were supported; distance to a road or opening, ground cover, deciduous canopy cover, coarse woody debris, and basal area were increasingly important predictors of nest success. Increases in basal area, coarse woody debris, and deciduous canopy cover improved the odds of nest success. Alternatively, greater amounts of ground cover and increased distance to a road or opening decreased the odds of a nest being successful. The two supported models of habitat selection were basal area with coarse woody debris and basal area alone. Odds of a habitat being selected increased with both variables. Selection of these habitat elements likely reflects the tendency for females to nest at the base of large trees, stumps, or logs, which can reduce their exposure to predators and seems to improve nest success. Increased ground cover may reduce the female's ability to detect a predator and increase the susceptibility of a nest. We recommend managers ensure coarse woody debris is available for nest sites, particularly when logging operations (e.g., clearcuts, thinnings) remove a high proportion of the standing basal area.

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“…Ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) use different habitats during a year (Bump et al 1947, Gullion and Svoboda 1972, Gullion 1977a). More particularly, adult females use young forests with dense regeneration in summer for brood rearing (Kubisiak 1978, Scott et al 1998, Haulton et al 2003, Giroux et al 2007) and older forests the rest of the year (Berner and Gysel 1969, Thompson et al 1987, Larson et al 2003. Ruffed grouse winter habitat has been described in areas dominated by aspen (Populus spp.)…”

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confidence: 99%

Ruffed Grouse Winter Habitat Use in Mixed Softwood‐Hardwood Forests, Québec, Canada

2007

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Ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) is a popular small game species in northeastern North America. We assessed female ruffed grouse habitat characteristics during winter of 2001‐2002 and 2002‐2003 in a region dominated by mixed softwood‐hardwood forests by comparing used and random locations. We followed 23 radiotagged adult females in 2 forest sites of the Réserve faunique de Portneuf, Québec, Canada, from late November to mid‐April. We described grouse habitat using ground surveys and identified selected habitat characteristics using analysis of variance and logistic regression. Females preferred mixed softwood‐hardwood stands > 17 m tall and 61‐120 years old. Compared with random locations, grouse locations had more well‐developed total canopy cover (>4m;75%), canopy (>4m;35%), midstory (1‐4 m tall; 35%), and lower‐story (<1 m tall; 23%) coniferous cover, and higher coniferous stem density and tree basal area (dbh > 9 cm; 343 stems/ha and 9.0 m2/ha, respectively). Forest management should maintain mature mixed softwood‐hardwood stands (50% coniferous), which are adequate winter habitat for ruffed grouse.

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Survival and Habitat of Ruffed Grouse Nests in Northern Michigan

Cited by 7 publications

References 18 publications

Effects of forest characteristics on ruffed grouse nesting ecology in central Maine, USA

Effects of forest characteristics on ruffed grouse nesting ecology in central Maine, USA

Ruffed Grouse Nest Success and Habitat Selection in the Central and Southern Appalachians

Ruffed Grouse Winter Habitat Use in Mixed Softwood‐Hardwood Forests, Québec, Canada

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