Rangeland Ecology & Management

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SAGE-GROUSE AS AN UMBRELLA SPECIES IN NORTHWESTERN COLORADO.
Author
Timmer, Jennifer M.
Aldridge, Cameron
Bruegger, Retta
Fernandez-Gimenez, Maria
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
2016
Body

Reduction in sagebrush rangelands has resulted in sagebrush avifauna population declines across western North America, triggering a need to better understand relationships between environmental characteristics and avifauna resource needs. Sage-grouse may act as an umbrella species to manage for multiple species that rely entirely or partially on sagebrush rangelands, but the efficacy of such approaches is often assumed. Therefore, we surveyed greater sage-grouse [GRSG] and sagebrush songbird habitat use in northwestern Colorado in order to determine the amount of habitat overlap between sage-grouse and three sagebrush-obligate songbirds (Brewer's sparrow [BRSP], sage thrasher [SATH], and sagebrush sparrow [SASP]), and one shrub-obligate species (green-tailed towhee [GTTO]. During May and June 2013-15, we conducted standard point count breeding surveys for songbirds and GRSG pellet count surveys within a 10-m radius plot at each songbird point. We then modeled songbird abundance or GRSG relative abundance using remotely-sensed data to create count-based regression models and determine correlation in predicted counts for GRSG and the songbird species. Greater sage-grouse, BRSP, SATH, and GTTO counts increased with an increase in sagebrush cover and species responded to a different scale of sagebrush cover, as well as different non-sagebrush predictors. There was a high, positive correlation between GRSG and BRSP and SATH predicted counts and a weak positive correlation between GRSG and GTTO counts. Sagebrush sparrow counts increased with moderate amounts of sagebrush cover, resulting in a negative correlation between predicted GRSG and SASP counts. In our study area, GRSG may be an effective umbrella species for some sagebrush-obligate species, but SASP appear to use areas with less shrub cover. Given the potential federal listing of GRSG, land managers and biologists should have an understanding of how managing for GRSG habitat could affect other sagebrush avifauna species. Managers and landowners could also incorporate avifauna habitat use into state-and-transition models to more effectively manage for multiple ecosystem services.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Conference Name
SRM Corpus Christi, TX