scholarly journals Greater sage-grouse nest survival in Northwestern Wyoming

2017 ◽  
Vol 81 (7) ◽  
pp. 1219-1227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jimmy D. Taylor ◽  
R. Douglas Holt ◽  
Elizabeth K. Orning ◽  
Julie K. Young
Keyword(s):  
2007 ◽  
Vol 71 (6) ◽  
pp. 1773-1783 ◽  
Author(s):  
BRENDAN J. MOYNAHAN ◽  
MARK S. LINDBERG ◽  
JAY J. ROTELLA ◽  
JACK WARD THOMAS

The Condor ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 123 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher R Anthony ◽  
Christian A Hagen ◽  
Katie M Dugger ◽  
R Dwayne Elmore

Abstract Temperature at fine spatial scales is an important driver of nest site selection for many avian species during the breeding season and can influence nest success. Sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) communities have areas with high levels of vegetation heterogeneity and high thermal variation; however, fire removes vegetation that provides protection from predators and extreme environmental conditions. To examine the influence of microclimates on Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) nest site selection and nest success in a fire-affected landscape, we measured black bulb temperature (Tbb) and vegetation attributes (e.g., visual obstruction) at 3 spatial scales (i.e. nest bowl, microsite, and landscape) in unburned and burned areas. Nest bowls exhibited greater buffering of Tbb than both nearby microsites and the broader landscape. Notably, nest bowls were warmer in cold temperatures, and cooler in hot temperatures, than nearby microsites and the broader landscape, regardless of burn stage. Nest survival (NS) was higher for nests in unburned areas compared to nests in burned areas (unburned NS = 0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.33–0.54; burned NS = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.10–0.46). The amount of bare ground was negatively associated with NS, but effects diminished as the amount of bare ground reached low levels. Shrub height and visual obstruction were positively associated with NS during the entire study period, whereas minimum Tbb had a weaker effect. Our findings demonstrate that thermoregulatory selection by Greater Sage-Grouse at nest sites had marginal effects on their NS. However, given that increases in vegetation structure (e.g., shrub height) provide thermal refuge and increase NS, vegetation remnants or regeneration in a post-fire landscape could be critical to Greater Sage-Grouse nesting ecology.


2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 320-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin E. Doherty ◽  
David E. Naugle ◽  
Jason D. Tack ◽  
Brett L. Walker ◽  
Jon M. Graham ◽  
...  

2009 ◽  
Vol 73 (8) ◽  
pp. 1341-1347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric J. Kolada ◽  
Michael L. Casazza ◽  
James S. Sedinger

The Condor ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 118 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danny Caudill ◽  
Theron M. Terhune ◽  
Brent Bibles ◽  
Terry A. Messmer

2015 ◽  
Vol 127 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas R. Stanley ◽  
Cameron L. Aldridge ◽  
D. Joanne Saher ◽  
Theresa M. Childers

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 242-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary B. Lockyer ◽  
Peter S. Coates ◽  
Michael L. Casazza ◽  
Shawn Espinosa ◽  
David J. Delehanty

Abstract Greater sage-grouse Centrocercus urophasianus, hereafter sage-grouse, populations have declined across their range due to the loss, degradation, and fragmentation of habitat. Habitat alterations can lead not only to vegetative changes but also to shifts in animal behavior and predator composition that may influence population vital rates, such as nest success. For example, common ravens Corvus corax are sage-grouse nest predators, and common raven abundance is positively associated with human-caused habitat alterations. Because nest success is a central component to sage-grouse population persistence, research that identifies factors influencing nest success will better inform conservation efforts. We used videography to unequivocally identify sage-grouse nest predators within the Virginia Mountains of northwestern Nevada, USA, from 2009 to 2011 and used maximum likelihood to calculate daily probability of nest survival. In the Virginia Mountains, fires, energy exploration, and other anthropogenic activities have altered historic sage-grouse habitat. We monitored 71 sage-grouse nests during the study, placing video cameras at 39 nests. Cumulative nest survival for all nests was 22.4% (95% CI, 13.0–33.4%), a survival rate that was significantly lower than other published results for sage-grouse in the Great Basin. Depredation was the primary cause for nest failure in our study (82.5%), and common ravens were the most frequent sage-grouse nest predator, accounting for 46.7% of nest depredations. We also successfully documented a suite of mammalian and reptilian species depredating sage-grouse nests, including some predators never previously confirmed in the literature to be sage-grouse nest predators (i.e., bobcats Lynx rufus and long-tailed weasels Mephitis frenata). Within the high elevation, disturbed habitat of the Virginia Mountains, low sage-grouse nest success may be limiting sage-grouse population growth. These results suggest that management actions that restore habitat in the Virginia Mountains and decrease anthropogenic subsidies of ravens will benefit sage-grouse.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Finch ◽  
D. A. Boyce ◽  
J. C. Chambers ◽  
C. J. Colt ◽  
K. Dumroese ◽  
...  

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