Rangeland Ecology & Management

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SAGEBRUSH RESTORATION FOR GREATER SAGE-GROUSE HABITAT: GLEANING WHEN, WHERE, AND HOW FROM PAST SUCCESSES
Author
Arkle, Robert S.
Pilliod, David S.
Welty, Justin L.
Germino, Matthew J.
Pyke, David A.
Bradford, John B.
Duniway, Michael C.
Manier, Daniel
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
2018
Body

Despite decades of sagebrush restoration efforts spanning millions of hectares, information on the likelihood, rate, and factors governing post-fire sagebrush establishment is still lacking. Using field data from over 150 sites across the Great Basin, we examined how post-wildfire sagebrush establishment was influenced by pre-treatment vegetation, sagebrush seed source, climate, post-treatment weather, soils, topography, fire history, and treatment implementation method. Preliminary results indicate that big sagebrush is difficult to restore at most seeding sites and takes decades to provide cover meeting habitat guidelines for Greater Sage-grouse. However, successful establishment of sagebrush did occur at many sites and was related to microsites left by pre-fire sagebrush, post-treatment temperature and precipitation, and treatment implementation methods. About 10% of plots at sites where sagebrush successfully established were used by Greater Sage-grouse based on fecal pellet surveys. These findings could help guide decisions regarding when, where, and how to invest limited resources in post-wildfire big sagebrush restoration for the benefit of sagebrush obligate species like the Greater Sage-grouse.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Conference Name
SRM Reno, NV