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JUNIPER REMOVAL IN SAGEBRUSH COMMUNITIES: IMPLICATIONS FOR SPECIES INTERACTIONS
Author
Young, Aaron C.
Johnson, Tracey N.
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
2018
Body

Invasion by western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) leads to fragmentation and alteration of sagebrush steppe and is a major consideration for managers concerned with the conservation of sagebrush-associated species. Recent efforts aimed at improving habitat for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) have involved reduction of juniper cover. However, for other species associated with sagebrush, effects of these management actions remain either untested or only partially understood. Little is known about small mammal communities in juniper-encroached sage habitats, and the use of these landscapes by aerial predators that influence sage-grouse individual and nest survival has not been explicitly examined. �For managers, balancing the requirements of a range of taxa necessitates an understanding of not only how management actions may influence population density and community structure, but also the mechanisms driving these changes. Altered habitat may affect species interactions at different spatial, temporal, and management thresholds through changes in predator-prey dynamics or habitat selection. Our objective is to examine how bird, small mammal, and predator communities respond to juniper removal and to identify how interactions among species may affect population demography. The Bruneau-Owyhee Sage-Grouse Habitat Project (BOSH) is expected to remove juniper across 600,000 acres of sage-grouse habitat in southwest Idaho. To evaluate this management, we have initiated a four-year �before-after control-impact� study to examine effects of juniper removal treatments on songbird and small mammal abundances and community structure. We will also evaluate site occupancy for corvid and raptor species to explore potential changes in landscape use for predators of both sage-grouse and songbirds. To address our objectives, we conducted songbird, small mammal, and raptor/corvid surveys within areas comprising three categories of juniper cover: 0-10%, 10-20%, and >20%. We present preliminary results from each of these surveys. One additional season of pre-removal surveys will be conducted, followed by two seasons of post-removal surveys.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Conference Name
SRM Reno, NV
Collection
SRM Annual Meeting Abstracts